Vienna: The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) elected on Monday Australia's permanent representative to the UN nuclear agency, Ambassador Ian Biggs, as chairman of its Board of Governors, succeeding Ghana's Matilda Osei-Agyeman.
According to Kuwait News Agency, Biggs, a seasoned diplomat with over 40 years of experience, has been elected for the 2025-2026 term that officially starts on Monday. He will simultaneously serve as Australia's permanent representative to the IAEA and UN office, in addition to the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
His prolific diplomatic career also includes stints as Australia's envoy to Iran, Turkiye, and Saudi Arabia. Biggs has also served as the UN nuclear watchdog chief's special assistant from 2022 to 2024.
The IAEA Board of Governors is a policy-making body that functions as a governing council responsible for making decisions and setting standards, though it does not enact or draft laws.