Marion Messmer (Co-Director) is departing on 9 September 2022 after four successful years with BASIC, to take up a new role in the International Security Programme at Chatham House. Marion joined BASIC in 2018, becoming a Co-Director a year later. Marion says “At BASIC, I have been able to contribute to solving some of the biggest issues we’re facing in nuclear policy. I’ve learned a lot during my time at BASIC and am really grateful for the opportunities to develop as a leader in the nuclear policy community.”
Sebastian Brixey-Williams (Co-Director) will become Executive Director of BASIC. He writes: “Marion has been an exemplary colleague over the past three years, and working together as Co-Directors has allowed us to be so much more than the sum of our parts. I will miss her professionalism, intelligence and kindness immensely, and wish her the very best in her new role at Chatham House.”
Among Marion’s achievements during her time as Co-Director are growing BASIC’s income and staffing and reforming its human resources processes and policies. Programmatically, Marion has pioneered BASIC’s Risk Reduction programme, working with partners across Europe; further developed the Stepping Stones Approach to Nuclear Disarmament, which underpinned the Stockholm Initiative within the Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Cycle; and headed up the expansion of our Inclusive International Security programme and Emerging Voices Network.