Wesley Nicol

PhD Candidate (Security, Intelligence, and Defence)

• BA (Honours), Political Science (University of Guelph); MA, Political Studies (Queen’s University)

Wesley’s dissertation research examines geoeconomic competition and Chinese economic statecraft, with a focus on how middle power states manage the relationship between economic and national security interests in the critical minerals, critical infrastructure, and research security sectors.

Wesley is currently a principal investigator for a MINDS-funded project on critical minerals. He has also published work on AUKUS, NATO and UN peacekeeping operations, and topics in the Canadian Armed Forces.

Wesley’s professional experience is with the Department of National Defence.