Joel has a joint defence-academic career focused on public opinion and international security, with roles including academic director at YouGov, captain in the British Army, research officer at Cambridge University (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.)