Elaine Keenan Bengts is a long-time northerner, having moved to Yellowknife from Edmonton with her family in 1970. She completed her junior high and high school education at St. Patrick's High School in Yellowknife, graduating in 1976. From there she went on the to the University of Alberta where she completed her B.A. in Political Science and Economics and later her LLB in 1982. She returned to Yellowknife to article under J. E. Richard with the firm now known as Peterson Stang & Malakoe. She continued in her practice with that firm for three years before heading out to start her own firm in 1988. She has been practicing in her own firm since 1988, largely in the area of family law.

In 1997, Ms Keenan Bengts was appointed as the first Information and Privacy Commissioner of the Northwest Territories. That appointment was extended for a five year term on July 1, 2000. In 1999 Ms. Keenan Bengts also became the first Information and Privacy Commissioner of Nunavut and was re-appointed to a second five year term in October, 2004.

Ms. Bengts is married and has three daughters. She is active in the community and spends many volunteer hours working with youth sports, particularly gymnastics.