Council Member
Dr. Joël Blit is a professor of economics, the Co-Founder of the Canadian AI Adoption Initiative, and a Senior Fellow at the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI). Prior to joining UW, Joël was a professor of economics and international affairs at the Elliott School of International Affairs at George Washington University, in Washington, DC.
He is a leading expert on innovation policy and strategy, studying the impact of foreign direct investment on innovation, the effects of patents, whether skilled immigration fosters innovation, and disruptive technologies. His most recent work on artificial intelligence, automation, and the future of work has featured in numerous national and international media outlets including The Globe and Mail, the CBC and The Economist.
Joël leverages his expertise to advise industry leaders and policymakers on the transformative potential of artificial intelligence. He has advised CEOs, Deputy Ministers, and the G7 representatives, among others. His innovative framework for thinking about technological disruption has been adopted by a multi-billion-dollar financial firm as the foundation of its AI strategy.
Joël was appointed to the NRC Council in February 2025.