Joel has a joint defence-academic career focused on public opinion and international security, with roles including the academic director at YouGov, captain in the British Army, research officer at the Cambridge University POLIS Department (where he co-runs the YouGov-Cambridge Centre), and associate fellow at RUSI, the Whitehall defence think-tank. He began his career as the analyst and ghostwriter for Stefan Halper, a US Government advisor. His education includes a masters, doctorate and post-doctoral studies at Cambridge University, an undergraduate First from Birmingham University, and an officer commission from Sandhurst Royal Military Academy.

(Nb: his writing reflects personal opinion and not that of any organisation.)