Directors
Andreas Persbo
Executive Director
andreas.persbo [at] vertic.org
Andreas Persbo was appointed Executive Director in February 2010 by the Board of Trustees at the 2010 Annual General Meeting.
He specializes in nuclear arms control. This includes work on confidence-building measures between States and the verification of nuclear disarmament. Andreas is also responsible for maintaining the organization's watching brief on issues relating to the 1996 Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), the 1968 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and International Atomic Energy (IAEA) safeguards. He also monitors the development of verification mechanisms for the proposed Fissile Material Cut-Off Treaty (FMCT).
In addition, he acts as the chief liaison to the International Atomic Energy Agency and the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organization in respect to national implementation of nuclear arms control agreements.
Andreas holds a juris kandidat (LL.B. LL.M) in public international law and European human rights from Stockholm University, Sweden. Formerly a legal practitioner and a consultant with the British American Security Information Council (BASIC), Andreas has been with VERTIC since 2004.
He is a member of the International Law Association and the International Institute for Strategic Studies
View his public profile (which includes publications) on Linked-in
David Keir
Programme Director - Verification and Monitoring
david.keir [at] vertic.org
Originally a research chemist in academia, David Keir joined the nuclear industry in the 1980s, as part of a UKAEA team, analysing nuclear reactor accidents and their environmental consequences worldwide.
Subsequently he headed a group looking at chemical and biological risks, and developing assessment methods for release of genetically modified organisms. He provided technical reportage for the European Union on member state implementation of GMO directives, as well as developing risk assessments for legacy anthrax and other biohazards.
Returning to nuclear issues in the late nineties, he then acted as a safety consultant in the UK nuclear weapons field, specialising in nuclear safety cases and environmental management systems. From 2001 to September 2011 he was a key member of the Arms Control Verification Research programme, based at Aldermaston. David joined VERTIC in September 2011.
Angela Woodward
Programme Director - National Implementation Measures
angela.woodward [at] vertic.org
Angela Woodward specializes in the legal, policy and technology aspects of arms control and disarmament verification across the nuclear, biological, chemical and conventional weapons fields. She has published and spoken widely on BTWC implementation and verification. In 2005 she initiated VERTIC’s programme to provide legislative assistance for national implementation of the BTWC.
Angela joined VERTIC in April 1999 and was promoted to Deputy Director in January 2005 and Executive Director in August 2007. She stepped down to return to live in New Zealand in June 2009, from where she now manages VERTIC's NIM Programme.
During 2006 she served as an adviser to the chair of the UN Group of Governmental Experts on Verification in All its Aspects and as a non-official member of the New Zealand delegation to the BTWC Sixth Review Conference. From April 2006 to March 2007 she was the Legal Coordinator for the EU Joint Action on the BTWC (2006/184/CFSP) and was subsequently a UK legal expert to this activity. From January 1998 to April 1999 she worked for the Programme for Promoting Nuclear Non-Proliferation (PPNN) at the Mountbatten Centre for International Studies, University of Southampton, United Kingdom.
Angela holds an LLM in Public International Law (Merit) and a post-graduate certificate in higher education (PGCHE) from the London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London, and a BA (Hons) in Political Science and an LLB from the University of Canterbury, New Zealand. She is a Member of the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) and a Fellow of the New Zealand Centre for Strategic Studies (NZ:CSS). Angela holds joint New Zealand/British nationality.
Angela is a non-resident staff member based in Christchurch, New Zealand.