Choose expertise that fits the decision you need to make.
A consulting engagement depends on the people doing the work, their relevant experience and the responsibilities they will hold. Explore Deb Keen’s published biography below, then discuss the expertise and project roles your assignment requires.
Explore Arcus Indigenous consulting · Services and deliverables
Deb Keen — experience and approach
Deb Keen
Competencies: Indigenous rights, healthcare strategy, policy development, and reconciliation-focused partnerships
With a distinguished career spanning over two decades, Deb Keen is a trusted advisor and leader in Indigenous healthcare strategy, policy development, and reconciliation-focused partnerships. Specializing in First Nations, Inuit, and Métis health initiatives, Deb has successfully led large-scale projects that drive systemic change and foster meaningful collaboration between Indigenous communities, governments, and healthcare organizations across Canada.
As a seasoned First Nations Consultant, Deb offers expertise in program development, funding frameworks, and culturally responsive healthcare strategies. Her work has been instrumental in shaping self-determined Indigenous health priorities, ensuring that First Nations, Inuit, and Métis voices are at the forefront of decision-making.
Previously, Deb served as Director of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Cancer Strategy at the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer, where she built and maintained partnerships with 29 Indigenous governments and organizations. She spearheaded a $26-million national initiative to improve cancer prevention and care for Indigenous populations and developed a reconciliation plan for healthcare institutions to work effectively with Indigenous partners.
Her career has also included leadership roles in public health, cancer prevention, policy advocacy, and research, where she has directed multi-disciplinary teams and led pan-Canadian projects focused on Indigenous health equity.
Deb holds a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Western Ontario and has completed extensive training in First Nations, Inuit, and Métis cultural competency, equity in healthcare, and system-level change management.
As a consultant, Deb is committed to supporting organizations in building respectful, effective, and sustainable partnerships with Indigenous communities. Her approach is deeply rooted in reconciliation, cultural safety, and the recognition of Indigenous rights to self-determined healthcare solutions.
For organizations seeking a strategic, experienced, and culturally competent Indigenous consultant, Deb Keen brings the leadership, expertise, and collaborative approach needed to make a meaningful impact.
A framework for assessing consulting fit
Use this Arcus discussion framework to connect a consultant’s background to the assignment. It supports a practical scoping conversation; it is not a credential or a guarantee of results.
Decision fit
What decision must the work support? Identify the organizational or health-system challenge, the sponsor and the people authorized to act on the findings.
Experience fit
Which aspects of the consultant’s previous work are relevant? Ask how that experience applies to your mandate, governance context and service responsibilities.
Working fit
How will the consultant collaborate with leadership, administration and agreed participants? Establish protocols, availability and the process for testing findings.
Delivery fit
What will the named consultant personally lead or produce? Confirm responsibilities, deliverables, review points and the expertise needed elsewhere on the team.
Connect expertise to a defined engagement
For health strategy, policy or reconciliation-focused partnership work, begin by describing your mandate, participating organizations and the decision required. For an organizational review, workforce or strategic planning assignment, identify how those needs connect to the wider consulting scope.
The proposal should identify the consultants assigned, their responsibilities and the work to be delivered. Confirm project fit, availability and team composition during scoping.
Review consulting services and engagement steps or explore management perspectives in the First Nations Knowledge Centre.