Jean Lebel has extensive experience in research and knowledge diplomacy, having worked for 26 years at Canada's International Development Research Centre (IDRC), including ten years as President.
His current professional activities include serving as chair of the steering committee of the Institut de la Francophonie pour le développement durable (IFDD). He is also a member of the advisory committee to the Quebec Government's Science and Policy Forum and a member of the advisory committee to the International Economic Forum of the Americas (FEIA). He also contributes to the blog of the Montreal Council on Foreign Relations (CORIM).
He holds a PhD in environmental sciences from UQAM, where he conducted his research project on mercury contamination in the Brazilian Amazon.