Robert Floyd (diplomat)

Robert Floyd (born 1957) is an Australian scientist, diplomat, and the current Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization.

Floyd in 2021

Early life and education

Floyd was born in Australia and holds a B.Sc from the University of New England, 1980 and a Ph.D from Griffith University in biology.^[1][2]

Career

Floyd headed the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet’s science and technology unit for counter-terrorism until 2010, and was in charge of all security-related research at Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO). Floyd also served as the Director General of the Australian Safeguards and Non-Proliferation Office (ASNO) until 2021.^[3]

In 2021, Floyd was elected the Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization succeeding the incumbent Lassina Zerbo, who was seeking an unprecedented third term, in a contested vote.^[4][5]

During his term, Floyd engaged in high level discussions with the eight countries that would need to ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.^[6] He has acknowledged that bringing the treaty into force is a gradual process, and has focused on promoting the test ban as an international norm.^[7] Floyd has also continued the organization’s work in bringing a global ban on nuclear tests in to force through a regional approach, opening discussions with regional bodies.^[8] In particular, his term has seen the ratification of the CTBT by all Latin American and Caribbean countries, which Floyd celebrated as "demonstrating the region's exemplary leadership in nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament."^[9]

In 2023, Russia announced it would deratify the CTBT, a move Floyd called “very disappointing and deeply regrettable.”^[10][11]