Nigerian-Canadian. Economist, scholar, public policy expert. Chief Economist at NYCEDC, New York. Focused on trade policy, innovation, FDI, urban policy, and inclusive development. A distinguished economist, professor, and public policy expert, Fred Olayele’s research and practice focus on trade policy, innovation, FDI, urban policy, and inclusive development. He has published and shared best practices in these areas at numerous conferences and institutions around the world. With a diverse career spanning academia, government, banking, management consulting, and international development, he has consulted widely and advised many public and private organizations in Canada, United States, and Africa. He is Chief Economist with the New York City Economic Development Corporation where he oversees economic research and policy initiatives, with collaborations across the public, private, philanthropic, and academic sectors. He has taught courses in strategy, public policy, theoretical economics, and applied economics at Carleton University and the University of Regina, both in Canada. He has served as a visiting professor and guest speaker at many universities and academic institutions abroad. He was a Visiting Scholar at the World Trade Institute in Bern, Switzerland, and a Visiting Professor of Trade and Development at the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria in Spain. A results-oriented leader, he sits on several non-profit boards and supports many social causes. He sits on the International Advisory Board of the International Economic Development Council in Washington, D.C.; he chairs the boards of the Economic Innovation Institute for Africa in Ottawa, and the Economic Club of Africa in New York. He earned his PhD in Economics from Lancaster University, United Kingdom; his MA in Economics from the University of Victoria in British Columbia, Canada; and a BSc in Economics (with First Class Honors) from the University of Ado-Ekiti in Nigeria, where he was awarded the university prize for the best overall performance.
