Deborah Poff is a retired Professor of Philosophy and Senior Academic Administrator. She holds four degrees from three universities in Canada (University of Guelph, Queen's University, Carleton University). Her PhD was in Philosophy of Science. During Deborah's career, she was variously the Director of a Research Institute; a Dean of Arts of Science; a Vice-President Academic and Provost and a President and Vice-Chancellor at various Canadian Universities.

During her career, she has also been an active researcher, teacher and editor and currently edits the Journal of Academic Ethics. Her research areas are: Applied Ethics, including Business and Professional Ethics; Research Ethics, Publication Ethics and Feminist Studies. She is Editor in Chief of the Encyclopedia of Business and Professional Ethics and a book series entitled Advances in Business Ethics Research. In 1995, she was awarded a lifetime honorary membership by the Canadian Research Institute for the Advancement of Women in the category of "Outstanding Contribution to Feminist Scholarship".

In 2016, Deborah Poff was awarded the Order of Canada through the Office of the Governor General of Canada.

For many years, Deborah Poff has been a member of the Committee on Publication Ethics Council and Trustee Board where she was Chair from 2019-2021.