Australian, Dr Robert Floyd, elected to lead nuclear test-ban body
Dr Robert Floyd will head up the Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organisation. Photo: Twitter/Robert Floyd
Australian Robert Floyd has been elected to lead the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organisation (CTBTO) as its executive secretary.
Dr Floyd is currently the Director-General of the Australian Safeguards and Non-Proliferation Office which implements Australia’s treaty obligations relating to weapons of mass destruction.
He will take up his appointment as CTBTO executive secretary on August 1, succeeding Dr Lassina Zerbo who has served in the role since 2013.
BREAKING NEWS Overwhelmed & exhausted! Member states of #CTBTO have elected me to be the next Exec Sec of @CTBTO_alerts. Deeply honoured by this statement of confidence. Sincere thanks to all.
Round 5 results. Those in favour of Floyd:
Yes 96 (66.66%)
No 48
Abstain 2— Robert Floyd (@_RobFloyd) May 20, 2021
Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne congratulated Dr Floyd on his election and thanked the countries thta supported his candidacy.
“As the first executive secretary elected from the Indo-Pacific, this demonstrates Australia’s active commitment to nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament, and our practical contribution to multilateral co-operation, she said in a statement.
With 185 State Signatories, the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) aims to end nuclear weapons testing worldwide.
Congratulations to @_RobFloyd on his election as Exec Sec of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organisation. Thanks to the many who supported. This continues 🇦🇺’s commitment to multilateralism, nuclear non-proliferation & disarmament. @ctbto_alerts https://t.co/fc2uK4D2Fp
— Marise Payne (@MarisePayne) May 20, 2021
Senator Payne said Australia had strongly advocated for a comprehensive and permanent ban on nuclear test explosions since the 1980s and in 1996 spearheaded the adoption of the UN General Assembly resolution to establish the CTBTO.