Prof. Shauna Brail
Professor, Institute for Management & Innovation, University of Toronto, Canada
Profile
ACADEMIC HOST
Prof. Amal Jamal
Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences
IAS Distinguished Scholar
1.5.27-1.7.27
Education
- Ph.D. in Geography, University of Toronto, Canada (1998)
- M.A. in Planning, University of British Columbia, Canada (1994)
- B.A. in Urban Studies and Geography, University of Toronto, Canada (1992)
Academic Appointments
- Professor, Institute for Management & Innovation, University of Toronto (2025–present)
- Associate Professor, Institute for Management & Innovation, University of Toronto (2020–2025)
- Associate Professor, Teaching Stream, Urban Studies Program (2015–2020)
- Senior Lecturer, Urban Studies Program, Innis College (2010–2015)
- Lecturer, Urban Studies Program, Innis College (2005–2010)
- Senior Policy Advisor, Ontario Ministry of Economic Development and Trade (2004–2005)
- Senior Policy Analyst, Ontario Ministry of Economic Development and Trade (2000–2004)
Academic Leadership
- Director, Institute for Management & Innovation, University of Toronto (2023–June 2026)
- Associate Director, School of Cities, Partnerships & Outreach (2018–2020)
- Director, Urban Studies Program (2016–2020)
- Presidential Advisor on Urban Engagement, University of Toronto (2015–2018)
Fellowships, Awards, and Honors
- Dean’s Excellence Award, University of Toronto Mississauga (2024, 2025, 2026)
- Institute for Management & Innovation Research Award (2025)
- Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada Doctoral Fellowship (1996–1998)
- Ontario Graduate Scholarship (1995–1996)
Research and Areas of Expertise
- Urban innovation and economic geography
- Digital platforms and platform economies
- Urban mobility and transportation policy
- Smart cities and urban governance
- Urban policy and planning
- The effects of COVID-19 on cities and urban economies
- Remote work and urban change
- Innovation policy and city-region development
Faculty
Social Sciences
Framework of visit
IAS Distinguished ScholarsPeriod of visit
2026-2027Selected Publications
- Brail, S., and B. Donald, eds. Urban Mobility: How the iPhone, COVID, and Climate Changed Everything. University of Toronto Press, 2024.
- Brail, S., and O. Woods. “Urban Innovation in the Smart City: Technologies, Transformations, and New Regimes of Governance.” Applied Geography (2026).
- Brail, S., and B. Donald. “From Ride Hailing to Food Hailing: Understanding On-Demand Food Delivery through Platform Urbanism and Urban Policy.” Journal of Urban Affairs 48, no. 3 (2026): 841–855.
- Brail, S., and J. Lorinc. “Rebuilding Public Housing in Regent Park: The Shifting Dynamics of Financialized Redevelopment Models.” Journal of Planning Education and Research 45, no. 1 (2025): 53–65.
- Brail, S. “COVID-19 and the Future of Urban Policy and Planning.” Current History 121, no. 838 (2022): 298–303.
- Brail, S. “World Cities of Ride-Hailing.” Urban Geography 43, no. 1 (2022): 12–33.
