Our Associate Deputy Ministers

Karen Ellis
Associate Deputy Minister
Natural Resources Canada

Karen Ellis was appointed Associate Deputy Minister of Natural Resources Canada in February 2011. Prior to this, Ms. Ellis served as Assistant Commissioner for the Ontario Region at the Canada Revenue Agency (2008–2011), Vice-President and Senior Vice-President at the Canada Public Service Agency (2006–2008) and Assistant Deputy Minister, Infrastructure and Environment, at the Department of National Defence (2002–2006).

Before joining National Defence, Ms. Ellis held the position of Director General at Canadian Heritage and at Public Works and Government Services Canada. She has also worked at the Privy Council Office and held various positions with Industry Canada and Environment Canada.

Ms. Ellis holds a Master of Arts degree in history from Carleton University and a Bachelor of Education from the University of Ottawa. She is a graduate of both the Advanced Leadership Program and the Accelerated Executive Development Program.

Michael Keenan
Associate Deputy Minister
Natural Resources Canada

Michael Keenan was appointed Associate Deputy Minister of Natural Resources Canada on January 14, 2013.

Mr. Keenan has extensive experience in economic analysis and policy development in the Government of Canada. He comes to Natural Resources Canada from Environment Canada, where he served as the Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic Policy, since 2009, responsible for strategic policy planning, economic analysis of environmental policy issues, coordination of federal/provincial relations, regional issues and the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy.

Prior to that position, he served as the Vice-President of Organizational Leadership at the Canada School of Public Service and as the Director General of Economic Analysis at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, where he also served as the chair of the OECD Committee of Agriculture.

Earlier in his public service career, Mr. Keenan worked in central agencies, in the Priorities and Planning Secretariat at the Privy Council Office, in various positions at Finance Canada and at the British Columbia Ministry of Finance.

Mr. Keenan holds a B.A. (Honours) from Saint Francis Xavier University and an M.A. in economics from Queen’s University.