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IAEA Board of Governors Elects New Chairperson for 2024-2025

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

Ambassador Philbert Abaka Johnson. (Photo: A. Barber-Huescar/IAEA)

The IAEA Board of Governors elected Ambassador Philbert Abaka Johnson as the Chairperson of the IAEA’s Board of Governors for 2024–2025. His one-year term commences today. He succeeds Ambassador Holger Federico Martinsen of Argentina.

Ambassador Johnson is the Permanent Representative of Ghana to the Agency, the United Nations Offices and other International Organizations in Vienna. Since his appointment in 2020, he has chaired the 54th Session of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), Subsidiary Body III of the Tenth Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), the standing open-ended intergovernmental working group on improving the governance and financial situation of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (FINGOV), the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, and the Vienna-based African Group. He is currently serving as Co-Chair for the preparations of the Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Science, Application and Technology and Technical Cooperation in 2024.

A career diplomat with close to 30 years of experience, Ambassador Johnson’s first diplomatic assignment was in Liberia in 1995. He has since served in multiple Ghana Missions in Switzerland, the Russian Federation, Belgium, Canada and New York and has held numerous positions in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, including as the first Director of the Diaspora Affairs Bureau in 2014. Before his appointment in Vienna, he was the Director of Africa and Regional Integration Bureau and Head of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) National Office from 2019 to 2020 and contributed towards Ghana’s bid to host the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat and the establishment of the ECOWAS Early Warning Centre in Accra.

Ambassador Johnson holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and a Diploma in Education from the University of Cape Coast, as well as two master’s degrees: a Master’s of International Affairs from the Legon Centre for International Affairs & Diplomacy in Ghana, and a Master’s of International Law and Economics from the World Trade Institute in Switzerland. He has participated in various courses on leadership and diplomacy and was the recipient of the Best Ghana Diplomatic Mission Award for 2024.

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Week in Review: 68th General Conference

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

The 68th annual IAEA General Conference is coming to a close, with final discussions around possible resolutions likely to last into the evening.

IAEA resolutions and decisions will guide the IAEA’s implementation of activities in the coming year. The resolutions and decisions will be posted here as they become available.

This year, almost 3000 participants registered for the conference, including 2671 Member State representatives. With 285> representatives from international organizations and non-governmental organizations, the highest number for a General Conference. Delegates from 150 of the 178 IAEA Member States attended.

In his opening statement to the General Conference on Monday, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi laid out the Agency’s key role in global affairs. “Through the International Atomic Energy Agency’s unique mandate, we have the responsibility of addressing issues that affect all of humanity. Our priorities include reinforcing and preventing the erosion of a non-proliferation regime that has underpinned international peace and security for more than half a century; the ever-more-present existential threat of climate change, and the ongoing injustice of poverty, disease and hunger.”

Watch video of the opening of the conference.

The General Conference elected 11 countries to serve on the 35-member IAEA Board of Governors for the 2024–2025 period. The newly elected Board members are the following: Argentina, Colombia, Egypt, Georgia, Ghana, Italy, Luxembourg, Morocco, Pakistan, Thailand and Venezuela.

The General Conference and Board of Governors are the two IAEA policy making bodies. The 35-member Board examines and provides recommendations to the General Conference on the IAEA’s financial statements, programme and budget.

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68th IAEA General Conference: Day 4 Highlights

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

Visitors to the IAEA General Conference have had the chance to learn more about the peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology and to talk to experts. (Photo: D. Calma/IAEA)

On Day 4 of the IAEA General Conference, eleven countries were newly elected to serve on the 35-member IAEA Board of Governors for the 2024–2025 period.

The newly elected Board members are the following: Argentina, Colombia, Egypt, Italy, Luxembourg, Georgia, Ghana, Morocco, Pakistan, Thailand and Venezuela.

A Senior Safety and Security Regulators Meeting took place today. Heads of regulatory bodies and other senior regulatory officials in the fields of nuclear, radiation, transport and radioactive waste safety and nuclear security discussed regulatory challenges and shared good practices.

Member States Side Events

At a Group of Friends of Food Security event, visitors learned how countries from the African Regional Group came together to address the challenges of food insecurity, supporting the efforts of Vienna-based Organizations and their Member States. This event was organized by Sudan and Italy.

The event 50 years of Chilean Research Reactor: The Chilean Research Reactor celebrates its half century of scientific and technological contributions to the country and its people highlighted the scientific and technological contributions of the Chilean research reactor RECH-1.

An International University-Industry Projects: Practical Solutions and Capacity Building to Triple Nuclear Energy side event by the Russian Federation looked at capacity building in the nuclear industry, as a necessary part of effectively meeting the pledge of tripling nuclear energy.

The Harnessing the Atom for Sustainable Development Goals: Sixty Years of Cooperation between the State of Kuwait and the International Atomic Energy Agency side event was organized by Kuwait. It presented 60 years of cooperation between the State of Kuwait and the IAEA, focusing on how the country has applied nuclear science and technology to address sustainable development goals.

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New Members Elected to IAEA Board of Governors

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

The plenary at the 68th General Conference. (Photo: IAEA/ A.Barber Huescar).

Eleven countries have been newly elected to serve on the 35-member IAEA Board of Governors for the 2024–2025 period. The election took place on Thursday, 19 September, at the plenary session of the 68th IAEA General Conference.

The newly elected Board members are the following: Argentina, Colombia, Egypt, Italy, Luxembourg, Georgia, Ghana, Morocco, Pakistan, Thailand and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

For the 2024-2025 period, the new composition of the 35-member IAEA Board will be as follows:  Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Canada, China, Colombia, Ecuador, Egypt, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Luxembourg, Morocco, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Pakistan, Paraguay, the Russian Federation, South Africa, Spain, Thailand, Ukraine, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the United States of America and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

The Board of Governors is one of the two policy-making bodies of the IAEA, along with the annual General Conference of IAEA Member States. The Board will meet on Monday, 23 September, to elect its officers.

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68th IAEA General Conference: Day 3 Highlights

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

The two-day event emphasized the tangible impact and practical approach of  the Atoms4Food initiative, which was launched last year by the IAEA and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization.

You can catch up on the video recording of the Scientific Forum  here, and read the latest  IAEA Bulletin on Atoms4Food to find out more.

At the annual Treaty Event on the sidelines of the 68th General Conference, Liberia and South Africa joined multiple multilateral treaties under IAEA auspices. Liberia pledged its commitment to nuclear safety and security by consenting to be bound by six legal instruments. South Africa deposited an instrument of acceptance of the African Regional Co-operative Agreement for Research, Development and Training Related to Nuclear Science and Technology (AFRA), established by African Member States to strengthen the contribution of nuclear science and technology to socioeconomic development on the African continent.

Side events

A new Anchor Centre at the Faculty of Medicine in Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Thailand was formally established at Realizing Hope for All: Rays of hope Anchor Centres – One Year On event today. It brings the total number of Anchor Centres around the world to ten. Anchor Centres are central to the IAEA Rays of Hope: Cancer Care for All initiative and provide targeted support to neighbouring countries in key areas such as education, training, research, innovation and quality assurance. The event marked one year since the signing of the first five Anchor Centres at last year’s General Conference.

A Creating the Future Global Nuclear Workforce through Exchange and Practice: Lise Meitner Programme and Beyond event highlighted the capacity building support offered by the IAEA, including advisory services and training courses, as well the Lise Meitner Programme, an initiative launched in 2023 to provide early- and mid-career women professionals with opportunities to participate in a visiting professional programme and bolster their technical and soft skills. Also in focus was the Open-source Nuclear Codes for Reactor Analysis (ONCORE) framework for simulation tools which supports research, education and training for the analysis of advanced nuclear power reactors

A Sharing Experience of Communities Hosting Nuclear Facilities event highlighted how transparency and open dialogue with host communities are vital to the long-term sustainability of nuclear power programmes. The event featured speakers from municipal governments in Argentina, Canada, Hungary, Japan, and the United States of America as well as representatives from national ministries in Canada and Japan.

The SMR Platform: Advances in Nuclear Technology Developments for Microreactors side event explored recent advances in microreactor development as well as security aspects and ‘safeguards by design’ approaches. The IAEA’s newly redesigned Advanced Reactor Information System was also presented. It provides comprehensive and up-to-date information about advanced nuclear plant designs and concepts.  

Microreactors are generally designed to produce no more than 20 MW(e) and have been proposed as a solution for the electricity needs of remote communities and to power non-electric applications including desalination and chemical production.                                           

The IAEA’s ten-year vision to update safety standards for advanced nuclear power plants (NPPs) was presented at a Safety of Advanced Nuclear Power Plant Designs: Enabling the Future side event. This vision is underpinned by the findings in IAEA Safety Report No. 123, which reviews the applicability of safety standards to non-water-cooled reactors and small modular reactors.

An event on The Declaration of the Arab Roadmap for Cooperation in Radiological and Nuclear Emergency Preparedness and Response how the State Declarations Portal (SDP) highlighted how technology can make Member States’ reporting obligations easier to deliver. By reducing paper-based processes and enhancing institutional memory, SDP has significantly improved both the efficiency and security of safeguards-related information exchange with the IAEA.

At an event on Addressing Challenges in Managing Legacy Radioactive Waste representatives of Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine shared the results of successful IAEA technical cooperation projects to analyse, transfer and store radioactive waste left from historic nuclear activities.  

The Powering the Future through Atoms4NetZero event illustrated the importance of energy scenario modelling for mapping out long-term energy strategies and how the IAEA’s Atoms4NetZero initiative can help countries reach their net zero targets with nuclear power.

At a Safeguards Traineeships: Forging the Future Safeguards Workforce, delegates attending the were briefed on the successes of the Safeguards Traineeship Programme and learnt about the new IAEA TechTrack initiative for young professionals.

Since 1983, the Safeguards Traineeship Programme has been instrumental in providing young people with hands-on experience in IAEA safeguards. Since its launch, 185 trainees from 77 countries have participated in the programme. In particular, the traineeship targets those from States with limited nuclear fuel cycles, and that are recipients of IAEA technical assistance.

Member States side events

Delegates heard how Canada’s nuclear sector has recently pioneered the use of nuclear power plants for medical isotope production, at the event Canada Fights Cancer: New Frontiers in Isotope Production . This event hosted members of Canada’s isotope and radiopharmaceutical sector in discussions around current and future opportunities for medical isotope and radiopharmaceutical production, utilization and collaborations. It was organized by Canada.

In the Effective Low – Cost Strategies to Mitigate the Loss of Critical Nuclear Knowledge side event, Brazil’s National Nuclear Energy Commission (CNEN) presented Brazil’s knowledge management practices in the nuclear field and related areas and discussed the impacts of the IAEA’s knowledge management events and tools on building this programme.

At The Implementation of Radon Action Plans event, countries discussed how to reduce exposure to radon, a carcinogenic radioactive gas, one of the leading causes of lung cancer according to the World Health Organization. Countries, including Portugal and Ireland, shared their experiences in recent years. The event was organized by Portugal.

Mr Grossi with Raja Ali Raza Anwar, Governor and Chairman of the Pakistani Atomic Energy Commission.

At the Pakistan – IAEA: Collaboration of Hope event, visitors heard now Pakistan’s Atomic Energy Cancer Hospital (AECH) was designated as an Anchor Centre under the IAEA’s Rays of Hope: Cancer Care for All initiative in September 2023.  The side event highlighted the contributions of AECH in the management of cancer burden in Pakistan and their potential role as an Anchor Centre.

The French New Nuclear Program: Revitalizing Nuclear Ambitions provided an in-depth exploration of France’s new nuclear programme. It includes the construction of six new EPR reactors, with an option for an additional eight units. The event covered progress to date, outlined the key challenges faced, pointed out synergies and lessons learned from past projects and discussed the strategies implemented to ensure successful delivery of the projects.

The Enhancing National Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Infrastructure in Romania: Tripartite Collaboration with IAEA and the World Bank for Fighting Cancer through Rays of Hope Initiative event was organized by Romania. It presented how comprehensive joint projects carried out by the IAEA in collaboration with its Ministry of Health and the World Bank have focused on improving radiotherapy services in Romania, including training programmes for medical staff. 

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Liberia Commits to the Safe and Secure Uses of Nuclear Technology by Joining Six IAEA Legal Instruments at Once

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

“Law is the basis of everything we do. We – the IAEA – cannot act, we cannot move, we cannot give you the support you need unless you have a normative structure establishing a solid basis to enable our experts to do their work. There are a number of very important legal instruments that keep you on track with everything, and I am very grateful for your actions today in joining some of them,” Mr Grossi said, addressing the representatives from Liberia and South Africa.

Resident Representative of the Republic of Liberia to the IAEA, Youngor Sevelee Telewoda, deposited five instruments on behalf of Liberia.

The Convention on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident, adopted in 1986 following the Chornobyl nuclear plant accident, establishes a notification system for nuclear accidents that have an actual or a potential international transboundary release that could affect radiological safety in another country.

The Convention on Assistance in the Case of a Nuclear Accident or Radiological Emergency, also adopted in 1986 following the Chornobyl accident, sets out an international framework for co-operation to facilitate prompt assistance in the event of nuclear accidents or radiological emergencies.

The Convention on Nuclear Safety (CNS) aims to commit those parties operating land-based civil nuclear power plants to maintain a high level of safety by establishing fundamental safety principles. The convention obliges parties to submit reports on the implementation of their obligations for peer review.

The Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM) and its 2005 Amendment are the main international legal instruments in the area of nuclear security adopted under the IAEA’s auspices. The CPPNM establishes legal obligations regarding the physical protection of nuclear material used for peaceful purposes during international transport; the criminalization of certain offences involving nuclear material; and international cooperation, for example, in the case of theft, robbery or any other unlawful taking of nuclear material or credible threat thereof. The Amendment expands the CPPNM in all these areas.

South Africa accepts the African Regional Co-operative Agreement for Research, Development and Training Related to Nuclear Science and Technology

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi and Rapulane Molekane, Resident Representative of South Africa to the IAEA. (Photo: D. Calma/IAEA)

Rapulane Molekane, Resident Representative of South Africa to the IAEA, deposited an instrument of acceptance of the African Regional Co-operative Agreement for Research, Development and Training Related to Nuclear Science and Technology (AFRA) on behalf of South Africa.

AFRA is an intergovernmental agreement established by African Member States to strengthen the contribution of nuclear science and technology to socioeconomic development on the African continent. AFRA, which first entered into force in 1990 and was revised in 2020, provides a framework for IAEA Member States in Africa to intensify their collaboration through programmes focused on the specific shared needs of its members. Its activities cover a wide range of peaceful applications of nuclear science and technology that contribute to the achievement of national and regional development goals. AFRA now has 38 parties.

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68th IAEA General Conference: Day 2 Highlights

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

The 10th Anniversary of the IAEA ICERR Initiative: Achievements and Opportunities event focused on the International Centres based on Research Reactors (ICERR) scheme. The event was organized by the Republic of Korea and marks the re-designation of the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) as an ICERR in 2024, as well as the tenth anniversary of the ICERR scheme. Seven Member States currently have research reactors and ancillary facilities currently designated as ICERRs, serving as centres for education, training, and joint research and development projects.

An Atoms4Food & Gender Mainstreaming event was organized by Italy and Women in Nuclear – IAEA. It highlighted the critical role of gender equality in achieving food safety and security, particularly within the IAEA and UN Food and Agriculture Organization’s Atoms4Food initiative.

A Working Together to Ensure and Implement Nuclear and Radiological Safety, Security and Safeguards in Africa event reviewed the efforts and progress made by the Forum of Nuclear Regulatory Bodies in Africa (FNRBA), the African Regional Co-operative Agreement for Research, Development and Training Related to Nuclear Science and Technology (AFRA) and the African Commission on Nuclear Energy (AFCONE) in developing infrastructure for nuclear and radiological safety and security and safeguards in Africa. The event was organized by Ghana.

In Kazakhstan’s Experience in Developing Radiopharmaceutical Production Technologies and Nuclear Medicine Methods event, Kazakhstan shared its experience of developing radioisotopes and radiopharmaceuticals at the Institute of Nuclear Physics. It also discussed how this led to the development of radionuclide diagnostic and treatment methods in the country’s leading medical centres, including through their collaboration with the IAEA’s technical cooperation programme.

Norway’s side event Advances in HEU Minimization took stock of international developments in highly enriched uranium (HEU) minimization in the six years since the last International Symposium on HEU Minimization in 2018 and evaluated past successes, highlight recent accomplishments, and explore ongoing efforts to further HEU minimization.

Japan’s Alpha-emitting Radiopharmaceuticals as an Effective Treatment for Metastatic Cancer – Clinical Trial and Its Applications in Society workshop focused on nuclear medicine therapy using alpha emitting radionuclides such as Ac-225 and At-211 in particular.

An event Facilitating the Early Entry into Force of the IAEA Article VI Amendment organized by the Republic of Slovenia, the Republic of Korea, Brazil, Namibia and the European Union, sought to raise awareness of the Amendment to Article VI of the Statute among Member States.

The Declaration of the Arab Roadmap for Cooperation in Radiological and Nuclear Emergency Preparedness and Response event was organized by Tunisia. It showcased the joint announcement by the League of Arab States, the Arab Atomic Energy Agency (AAEA), and the IAEA of the Arab Roadmap on Emergency Preparedness and Response. Initiated by the IAEA Director General Grossi in June 2022, the roadmap aims to strengthen the capabilities of Arab countries in preparing for and responding to nuclear and radiological emergencies. The IAEA’s Incident and Emergency Centre has supported the roadmap’s development, ensuring it aligns with international standards.

The 16th Plenary Meeting of Forum of Nuclear Regulatory Bodies in Africa (FNRBA) is convened annually and was organized this year by Ghana. The Plenary Meeting is the highest decision-making body of the FNRBA, and reviews review and approves the work plan and provide policy direction.

The IFNEC and Women in Nuclear Power Hour: Women at the Core of Nuclear Energy event was an opportunity to hear from members of Women in Nuclear Global (WiN Global) and of the International Framework for Nuclear Energy Cooperation (IFNEC). The session kicked off with brief opening remarks and set off a series of ‘lightning talks’, featuring women leaders who shared their personal journeys. The event was organized by the United States of America.

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IAEA Scientific Forum on Food Security Opens

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

Abdulhamid Alkhalifa, President of the OPEC Fund for International Development, emphasized the importance of partnerships in addressing global hunger. “Our renewed partnership with the IAEA will scale up the financing of nuclear technologies for agriculture, helping to strengthen food security and resilience,” he said. Mr Alkhalifa praised the collaborative efforts between the OPEC Fund and the IAEA, stressing that combining financial resources and nuclear science can drive innovation and improve food systems in vulnerable regions. 

Musalia Mudavadi, Prime Cabinet Secretary of Kenya, echoed these sentiments, highlighting the importance of innovative approaches in Africa, where food insecurity is a growing concern. “There is an urgent need to accelerate the transformation of our agri-food systems with innovative approaches to enhance their resilience against major challenges and address existing inequalities,” he said. Mr Mudavadi emphasized Kenya’s commitment to leveraging nuclear technology to boost food production, including extending the shelf life of crops through food irradiation. 

Liu Jing, Vice Chairman of the China Atomic Energy Authority, underscored China’s commitment to its partnership with the IAEA. “China is willing to work with IAEA to take concrete actions in support of the “Atoms for Food” initiative, jointly promoting the innovation and application of nuclear energy and nuclear application in agriculture, and continuously deepening South-South cooperation in food security.”  

Sidi Tiémoko Toure, from the Ministry of Animal and Fisheries Resources in Côte d’Ivoire, highlighted the importance of its work with the IAEA in Africa, stating, “The Atoms4Food initiative, which is part of the fight against food insecurity, is an innovative approach that raises great hopes for Africa.” 

Leila Benali, from the Ministry of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development in the Kingdom of Morocco, highlighted Morocco’s decades-long partnership with the IAEA. “Since joining the IAEA in 1957, Morocco has embraced the use of nuclear science and technology for peaceful purposes across various sectors, including agriculture and water. By recognizing early on and leveraging the significant benefits of these technologies, Morocco has committed to advancing their application for the betterment of society.” 

Fernando Mattos of the Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries in Uruguay, highlighted the importance of nuclear technologies in the global fight against poverty. “Uruguay is very thankful because of our cooperation with the Agency and we are looking forward to working together with more cooperation and more research among us in order to face the challenges to achieve SDG1.”  

Giorgio Silli of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in Italy emphasized, “Italy sees great potential in combining our strength to address some of the most pressing global challenges related to food security, sustainability and technological innovation.”  

The Scientific Forum continues in the afternoon and the next day with three technical sessions, followed by a closing session. 

For more information on the IAEA Scientific Forum 2024, visit the programme. 

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IAEA Director General: “This Agency is and will continue to be at your service”

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

The Director General went on to describe developments in the other core areas of the Agency’s work, namely nuclear safety, security and safeguards. 

He discussed the Agency’s ongoing presence at Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine, where experts have now completed 23 rotations, and mentioned his recent visit to Kursk, “where the situation is serious”. 

“A nuclear power plant should never be attacked under any circumstances, irrespective of the place where these nuclear power plants are situated,” he reiterated. 

Mr Grossi also said he is looking forward to engaging with the new president and government of Iran, and to the IAEA continuing “in our indispensable efforts to give the credible assurances to the international community that that nuclear programme is peaceful.” And that the IAEA is “moving forward in trying to bring clarity” to ongoing issues of concern with Syria. 

“So there are challenges ahead, but they are not insurmountable. 

“And I reiterate, here and now, my disposition to continue our efforts. In all of these points, the IAEA is showing its active contribution to the world agenda.”

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IAEA General Conference Elects Korean Ambassador as Conference President

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

The Republic of Korea’s Permanent Representative has been elected as the President of the IAEA’s 68th General Conference.

Sang Wook Ham was appointed as the Republic of Korea’s (ROK) Permanent Representative to the International Organizations in Vienna in 2022 after an extensive service with the ROK Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The General Conference elects a President at the beginning of each annual session, following consultations among Member States before the conference. They hold office for the duration of the conference. Last year the position was held by Thailand’s Vilawan Mangklatanakul.

Ham’s diplomatic career began in 1991 when he joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea. His diplomatic assignments have included two postings at the Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York, the first in his early career and the second as Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative. He has also been posted to the Republic of Korea’s embassies in Iraq, the United States and Afghanistan, where he led the Korean Provincial Reconstruction Team.

He held several key leadership positions within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including Director of the North Korean Policy Division, Head of the Task Force for the ROK-US Agreement for Peaceful Nuclear Cooperation, Director-General for Non-proliferation and Nuclear Affairs and Deputy Minister for Multilateral and Global Affairs, a position which he held from 2020 until his 2022 appointment in Vienna.

Ham has extensive experience in multilateral diplomacy, the United Nations system, nuclear non-proliferation and human rights, and has represented the Republic of Korea at numerous international meetings and conferences. He has served the international community in a variety of capacities, including as Chair of the Missile Technology Control Regime in 2016, and Chair of the ITF (International Trust Fund) for Enhancing Human Security for 2023-24.

In the course of his career, Ham has received several decorations and awards, including a Presidential Citation in 2012 and an Order of Service Merit with Red Stripes in 2015.

Alongside his current role as the Permanent Representative to the International Organizations in Vienna, Ham also holds bilateral accreditation as the Republic of Korea’s Ambassador to the Republic of Austria and the Republic of Slovenia. Prior to this, he served as Chair of the IAEA Board of Governors in 2022.

Ham holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Seoul National University in the Republic of Korea, and a master’s degree in international affairs from Columbia University in the United States of America.