Australian candidate nominated to lead the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test Ban Treaty Organisation

The Australian Government is nominating Dr Robert Floyd as Australia's candidate for Executive Secretary of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive-Nuclear-Test Ban Treaty (CTBTO).

The CTBTO is playing a critical role in achieving an end to nuclear weapons testing worldwide, and a global ban on all nuclear explosions. Australia has strongly advocated for this ban since the 1980s and, in 1996, spearheaded the adoption of a resolution to establish the CTBTO.

The Treaty, supported by the CTBTO, is one of the best-subscribed arms control treaties in the world with 184 State Signatories. Australia hosts 22 monitoring stations and a laboratory as part of the Treaty's International Monitoring System (IMS) network to monitor the globe for explosive nuclear testing – the third largest number of facilities in the world.

Dr Floyd is currently the Director-General of the Australian Safeguards and Non-Proliferation Office (ASNO), which implements Australia's treaty obligations relating to weapons of mass destruction. Dr Floyd is a passionate advocate for advancing non-proliferation and arms control, having held numerous leadership roles across these fields.

A successful candidature would build on Australia's continuing commitment to nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament, and would be the first appointment from the Indo-Pacific, a region that was the scene of so much nuclear weapons testing in the past.

I look forward to working with Dr Floyd to support his candidacy for the position of Executive Secretary.

The selection process is expected to be finalised in November. For more information about Australia's candidate, visit: https://www.dfat.gov.au/ctbto_candidate.