Karen Cumberland, MPA
Vice President, Strategic Initiatives and Community OutreachKaren Cumberland's Area of expertise
Karen’s areas of expertise include mental health, policy development and partner engagement.
Roles and responsibilities
Karen oversees and provides leadership to the Data as Power, Health Promotion, and Convening Communities streams. She is responsible for framing policy and advancing initiatives to address national and international substance use health issues. Karen also fosters education, prevention and justice partnerships, and is working at expanding CCSA's international presence in substance use health issues.
About Karen
Karen Cumberland serves as Vice President of Strategic Initiatives and Community Outreach at CCSA. Her academic journey began at Carleton University, where she earned a Bachelor of Social Sciences in Canadian Policy, followed by a Master of Public Administration from Queen’s University.
Karen’s career in public service started with the Government of Prince Edward Island as a Communications Advisor and Associate Producer. Her passion for policy brought her to Ottawa, where she joined CCSA as a National Policy Coordinator, laying the groundwork for her career in strategic policy development.
After six years at CCSA, Karen transitioned to Environment Canada, serving as Senior Policy Advisor in Aboriginal, Northern and Stakeholder Affairs. Over eight impactful years, she spearheaded initiatives that advanced policy collaboration across diverse partners.
Later, in her role as Senior Advisor to the Assistant Deputy Minister at Health Canada, Karen contributed to regulatory advancements, including critical pandemic-related initiatives.
Karen’s dedication to mental health and wellness took center stage during her tenure as Executive Director of the PEI Alliance for Mental Well-Being. There, she led upstream prevention initiatives to improve Islanders’ mental well-being, earning her the prestigious Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal for Prince Edward Island.
Rejoining CCSA in May 2024, Karen brings over a decade of executive-level experience in strategic policy advising and program development. She continues to lead national initiatives that leverage government resources to enhance the health and well-being of people in Canada.
