Abstract

In the thirtieth anniversary year of the opening for signature of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), Executive Secretary Dr Robert Floyd will address the continued contribution of the CTBT to regional and global peace and security. In the context of current challenges to the multilateral system, including increased nuclear rhetoric, and allegations of testing, Dr Floyd will elaborate on the work of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) and its efforts to universalize the Treaty, including in the Asia-Pacific region, and further the norm against nuclear testing.

Dr Floyd will highlight the role of the Treaty’s robust verification regime, including the International Monitoring System (IMS) which comprises of over 300 monitoring stations across the world, of which twelve are located in ASEAN states. Beyond the core purpose of detecting nuclear explosions, Dr Floyd will highlight the benefits of IMS data for wider civil and scientific use, including for disaster response, radiological emergencies, and scientific research.

About the Speaker

Robert Floyd began his tenure as Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) on 1 August 2021. He is the fourth Executive Secretary of the CTBTO.

Prior to joining CTBTO, Dr Floyd was the Director General of the Australian Safeguards and Non-proliferation Office (ASNO) from 2010 to 2021, where he was responsible for Australia’s implementation of and compliance with various international treaties and conventions including the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM) and the Chemical Weapons Convention.

During his time as Director General of ASNO, Dr Floyd also chaired the advisory group to the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency on safeguards implementation (SAGSI), co-chaired the Preparatory Committee for the review of the amended CPPNM, co-chaired one of the working groups of the International Partnership for Nuclear Disarmament Verification, was the lead official (“Sherpa”) for Australia in the Nuclear Security Summit process, and chaired the Asia-Pacific Safeguards Network.

Prior to his appointment with ASNO, Dr Floyd served for more than seven years in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet where he held a number of senior executive positions providing advice to the Prime Minister on policy issues covering counter-terrorism, counter-proliferation, emergency management, and homeland and border security.

Dr Floyd was awarded a commemorative medal on the 30th anniversary of Kazakhstan’s independence in recognition of the strong and enduring partnership between the CTBTO and Kazakhstan on nuclear non-proliferation, disarmament, peace, and security. Dr Floyd also received the Australian Nuclear Association (ANA) award for 2021 in recognition of his outstanding leadership role as Director General of the ASNO.

With a Ph.D. in population ecology, Dr Floyd spent the first 20 years of his career as a research scientist with the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO).

As a long-time believer in the cause of gender equality and the empowerment of women, Dr Floyd is an International Gender Champion (IGC) and joined the IGC network in 2021.

Dr Floyd is a national of Australia. He is married and has three adult children.