Professor Fred Olayele’s research and practice focus on trade policy, innovation, FDI, urban policy, political economy, and inclusive development. A distinguished economist and public policy expert, he has published and shared best practices in these areas at numerous conferences and institutions around the world. He has consulted widely and advised many public and private organizations in Canada, United States, and Africa.

He has held academic positions and taught courses in corporate strategy, international business, public policy, and applied economics at Carleton University and the University of Regina, Canada. He has served as a visiting professor and guest speaker across universities and academic institutions abroad. He is currently a Visiting Professor of

Trade and Development at the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria in Spain. He was a Visiting Scholar at the World Trade Institute in Bern, Switzerland.

Prior to academia, Dr. Olayele held several economic policy positions and advised the Canadian provincial governments of British Columbia and Saskatchewan in the FDI, economic development, and energy policy domains. Earlier in his career, he was a global trade finance specialist with Citigroup. As Chief Economist with the New York City Economic Development Corporation, his work cuts across the public, private, philanthropic, and academic sectors.

A public intellectual and mentor to countless public policy professionals, Professor Olayele serves on various non-profit boards and supports many social causes. He is President, Economic Innovation Institute for Africa; Director, Centre for African Research and Business at the Sprott School of Business, Carleton University; Board Chair with the Economic Club for Africa in New York; and International Advisory Board Member with the International Economic Development Council in Washington, D.C.