Canberra, 31 January 2022 (TDI): Foreign Minister of Australia, Marise Payne appointed Ian Biggs as Australia’s second Ambassador for Arms Control and Counter-Proliferation.
Australia’s leadership has a pivotal role in international arms control, non-proliferation, and disarmament. Besides, the Australian Government has a prompt response regarding international security concerns, particularly in the Indo–Pacific Area.
It has been expected that Ambassador Biggs would not only promote the priorities of Australia in the contemporary international security agenda but he will also strive to acquire the practical outcomes by collaborating with the partners by reinforcing the Australian interest to achieve the aim of a world free of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs).
It has been announced that the establishment of the Office for Arms Control and Counter-Proliferation would support Ian Biggs within the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Further, the Foreign Office will work collaboratively with the Australian Safeguards and Non-Proliferation (ASNO).
Ambassador Biggs will lead the Australian ideology against proliferation threats of chemical and biological weapons and will also lead Australia’s efforts on the appropriate regulation of conventional arms.
He will also promote Australia’s advocacy to maintain the highest nuclear non-proliferation standards and to strengthen the global non-proliferation and disarmament regime – including in the consultation process for Australia’s acquisition of nuclear-powered, conventionally armed submarines.
Previously, Ambassador Ian Biggs worked at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade as a senior career officer. He formerly served as Ambassador to Iran, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia, as well as Deputy Head of Mission in the Australian Embassies in Vienna and Damascus, and the High Commission in New Delhi.
He was the Head of the Secretariat of the International Commission on Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament. He remained at various high leadership posts in the arms control and disarmament field in Canberra.
Moreover, he also worked in Vienna as a Special Assistant to the Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Ambassador Ian Biggs holds the degrees of Master of Arts (International Relations) from the Australian National University and Bachelor of Arts (Honors) from the University of Sydney.
In the end, Marise Payne thanked their Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva, namely Amanda Gorely for her contributions to advancing Australia’s global arms-control interests since 2019.
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