Bio
Aaron Shull is research director of digitalization, security and democracy at the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI). He is recognized as a leading expert on complex issues at the intersection of public policy, emerging technology, cybersecurity, privacy and data protection, and democratic resilience.
In his role at CIGI, Aaron leads research and policy engagement on how digital transformation is reshaping national and international security, democratic governance and public trust. His work focuses on the governance challenges posed by artificial intelligence (AI), cyberthreats, surveillance, disinformation and foreign interference, as well as the evolving role of private sector actors in security and governance ecosystems.
As a legal and national security analyst, Aaron has written for The Globe and Mail, The Hill Times, the National Post and the Toronto Star. He is a frequent media contributor, with live interviews on CBC News, CTV and BNN Bloomberg, among others. He has spoken on expert panels and delivered keynote lectures internationally, including at the International Bar Association, RightsCon and the annual meeting of federal, provincial and territorial information and privacy commissioners and ombuds.
Aaron is regularly called upon to provide expert testimony to parliamentary committees in both the House of Commons and the Senate and has appeared before the Standing Committee on National Defence, the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security, the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, and the Senate Standing Committee on National Security, Defence and Veterans Affairs.
Aaron has held teaching appointments at the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Law, Carleton University’s Norman Paterson School of International Affairs (NPSIA) and Wilfrid Laurier University.
Outside of his role at CIGI, Aaron maintains a focused legal practice through Shull Law Professional Corporation, advising clients on issues at the intersection of technology and the law, with a focus on privacy, cybersecurity, data protection, AI governance and technology risk.
Aaron holds an LL.M. from Columbia Law School, where he graduated as a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar. He earned his LL.B. from the University of Ottawa (cum laude, first-class honours), an M.A. in international affairs from NPSIA (with distinction), and a B.A. in political science and history from the University of Waterloo, where he graduated first in his class and was recognized as the departmental scholar.