As USAID’s adviser for indigenous peoples issues, Brian Keane is spearheading efforts to ensure that U.S. development assistance is carried out in a way that recognizes and respects the rights of the world's indigenous peoples and ensures that they are partners in the design, implementation and evaluation of programs and projects that affect their lands, lives and livelihoods.

Keane has over 20 years of experience working with indigenous communities in Africa, Asia, the Pacific and the Americas. As executive director of the international organization, Land is Life, he worked to ensure that indigenous peoples have a seat at the table in international policy-making processes regarding conservation, protection of biodiversity, development and climate change. While there, he worked extensively with indigenous women to design and implement development and conservation projects. He also worked with indigenous youth to develop networks to more effectively promote and protect indigenous peoples' rights.