Leah West

Leah West is an Associate Professor of International Affairs at the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs, Carleton University. She maintains dual roles as counsel at Friedman Mansour LLP (specializing in criminal and administrative law) and Senior Fellow at the Centre for International Governance Innovation, where she co-leads the military AI ethics program. Her extensive government consulting includes advising Public Safety Canada, Department of Justice, CSIS, and CSE.

Education:

• Doctorate of Juridical Science, University of Toronto
• Master of Laws, University of Ottawa
• Master of Arts in Intelligence Studies, American Military University
• Juris Doctor, University of Toronto Faculty of Law
• B.A. (Honours) in Politics, Royal Military College of Canada

Research Focus: Professor West's work examines constitutional, criminal, and international legal frameworks applied to national security operations, with specializations in cyber conflict, counterterrorism legislation, and military applications of artificial intelligence. Her scholarship addresses jurisdictional challenges in digital espionage and counterterrorism.

Honors & Fellowships:

• Canada Graduate Scholarship to Honour Nelson Mandela (doctoral research)
• McCain Institute National Security & Counterterrorism Fellowship (2019 inaugural cohort)

Professional Impact: Served on the 2024 Research Council for the Public Inquiry into Foreign Electoral Interference. Regularly testifies before Parliament and European Union bodies. Editorial board member for Journal of National Security Law & Policy and Terrorism and Political Violence. Former armored officer in Canadian Armed Forces with Afghanistan deployment (2010).