Jean Lebel was appointed president of the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) on May 1, 2013. Mr Lebel leads IDRC’s contributions to Canada’s international development priorities. He is responsible for significant funding partnerships with foreign governments, philanthropic organizations, and the private sector.

Mr Lebel previously served as vice-president of the Program and Partnership Branch, overseeing all IDRC programming. Before joining IDRC, he worked in both the academic and private sectors. He holds a PhD in environmental sciences from l’Université du Québec à Montréal and an MScA in occupational health sciences from McGill University. IDRC plays a key role in Canada’s foreign policy efforts, supporting research in developing countries to promote prosperity and security.