Top Policy Experts Reappointed as C.D. Howe Institute Fellows-in-Residence for 2026

January 8, 2026 – William B.P. Robson, President and CEO of the C.D. Howe Institute, is pleased to announce the re-appointment of Steve Ambler, Gherardo Caracciolo, John Lester, and Mark Zelmer as Fellows-in-Residence for 2026.

“Steve, Gherardo, John and Mark have all made key contributions to the C.D. Howe Institute’s research and its policy impact,” said Robson. “We value their expertise, and look forward to continuing our strong and productive collaboration.”

Steve Ambler will continue as the David Dodge Chair in Monetary Policy. For 35 years, Professor Ambler taught at l’École des sciences de la gestion de l’Université du Québec à Montréal and chaired the Department of Economics from 2012 to 2015. In 2023, he won the Doug Purvis Memorial Prize alongside Jeremy Kronick and Thor Koeppl for their C.D. Howe Institute Commentary on monetary policy.

“I am honoured and proud to be associated with an institute long recognized as a leader in research on Canadian monetary policy,” said Ambler. “My experience as the David Dodge Chair and as a partner of the C.D. Howe Institute continues to be a gratifying and insightful opportunity.”

Gherardo Caracciolo and Mark Zelmer will also remain as scholars and contributors to the C.D. Howe Institute’s Centre on Financial and Monetary Policy.

Caracciolo is a lecturer for the Beedie Business School at Simon Fraser University and a former Senior Policy Analyst at the C.D. Howe Institute. His research interests lie primarily in macroeconomics, finance, information economics, and monetary economics.

"Rigorous research and critical thinking are key to better policy and better outcomes,” said Caracciolo. “The Institute plays a vital role in fostering evidence-based analysis and constructive debate on Canada’s most important policy challenges, and I am pleased to continue my work as a Fellow-in-Residence."

Zelmer brings more than 40 years of experience in financial sector policy and regulatory issues, having worked at the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions, the Bank of Canada, and the International Monetary Fund. He currently serves on the boards of Assuris and State Street Trust Company of Canada.

“With Canada at a crossroads, the need for first-class public policy advice has never been more acute,” said Zelmer. “The C.D. Howe Institute has an important role to play in this respect, and I am deeply honoured to be given the opportunity to contribute to their team’s work.”

John Lester, a former federal government economist, will also continue as an advisor to the C.D. Howe Institute’s Fiscal and Tax Competitiveness program.

Prior to retirement, his last public service assignment was as Director of Research for the Expert Panel Review of Federal Support to Research and Development. Since then, he has authored numerous publications for the Institute, examining federal expenditures, proposing budget-balancing solutions, and offering analysis on innovation, trade and tariffs, productivity, and a wide range of other public policy issues.

“The C.D. Howe Institute has an unmatched peer-review process – one of many qualities that set it apart,” said Lester. “My papers for the Institute have benefited greatly from high-quality and timely feedback from reviewers.”

Learn more about the accomplishments, research, and contributions of these experts here.

For more information contact: Raquel Schneider, Communications Officer, C.D. Howe Institute, 647-805-3918, rschneider@cdhowe.org.

The C.D. Howe Institute is an independent not-for-profit research institute whose mission is to raise living standards by fostering economically sound public policies. Widely considered to be Canada’s most influential think tank, the Institute is a trusted source of essential policy intelligence, distinguished by research that is nonpartisan, evidence-based and subject to definitive expert review.

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