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Podcast: The Lowy Institute
Episode:

Conversations: Nuclear threats, non-proliferation and Australia
Category: Government & Organizations
Duration: 00:37:51
Publish Date: 2022-12-18 23:00:00
Description:

In this episode of Lowy Institute Conversations, Hervé Lemahieu discusses the continuing threat of nuclear weapons, global efforts at arms control and Australia's interactions with the global non-proliferation regime around its proposed acquisition of nuclear submarine technology under the AUKUS agreement. He speaks with Australia's Ambassador for Arms Control and Counter-proliferation Ian Biggs, Program Officer for Nuclear Materials Security Jessica Bufford and Dr Geoffrey Shaw, Director-General of the Australian Safeguards and Non-proliferation Office (ASNO).

Ian Biggs was appointed Ambassador for Arms Control and Counter-Proliferation in January 2022 and leads Australia's international advocacy on global arms control, non-proliferation and disarmament. He has previously served as Australia's Ambassador to Iran (2016-19), Turkey (2011-14) and Saudi Arabia (2005-08) and has previously served in postings in Iraq, India, Austria and Syria. Ambassador Biggs has also served as Secretary of the International Commission on Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament, Chair of the Australia Group, Special Assistant to the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency and Chair of the Nuclear Suppliers Group's Dual Use Regime. He holds a Master of Arts (International Relations) from the Australian National University and a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from the University of Sydney.

Jessica Bufford serves as a program officer in the Nuclear Material Security team at the Nuclear Threat Initiative - a nonprofit, nonpartisan global security organization focused on reducing nuclear and biological threats imperiling humanity. Prior to joining NTI, she worked in the Division of Nuclear Security at the IAEA. She has also worked on materials management and minimization at the US Department of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration, and worked previously at NTI as a Herbert J. Scoville Fellow. She received a master’s degree in nonproliferation and terrorism studies, with a certificate in conflict resolution, from the Monterey Institute of International Studies and a bachelor’s degree in political science and French from Austin College.

Dr Geoffrey Shaw is Director-General of the Australian Nuclear Safeguards Office (ASNO), a role he was appointed to in December 2021. He is a career public servant with strong technical skills and expertise in arms control and non-proliferation, particularly on chemical weapons issues. He was previously Australia’s High Commissioner to Pakistan. Dr Shaw also served as the Representative of the Director General of the IAEA to the United Nations from 2010 to 2015, and as Assistant Secretary ASNO from 2008-2010. Dr Shaw holds a Doctorate in Philosophy (Chemistry) from the Australian National University and an undergraduate degree from the University of Wollongong.

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