BASIC is pleased to announce that Rebecca Cousins, former British diplomat, will be leading BASIC’s Washington team as Program Director, working with policy-shapers of diverse perspectives to achieve greater consensus on realistic measures that strengthen nuclear non-proliferation and secure moves towards global nuclear disarmament.
Rebecca is a distinguished career diplomat, recently awarded an MBE by Her Majesty The Queen for her role in leading and communicating the in-country British response to the 2011 Japan earthquake and subsequent Fukushima nuclear incident.
Paul Ingram, Executive Director of BASIC, says:
“The BASIC team is very excited to welcome Rebecca. Her record of strategic leadership in cross-cultural environments is truly impressive, and I have little doubt that she will quickly make her mark within the Washington nuclear policy community.”
Rebecca Cousins says:
“I am delighted at the opportunity to work with BASIC and the wider policy community in Washington. The nuclear debate underpins so much of today’s international and domestic policy-making, and I very much look forward to making a contribution to that debate.”
Rebecca has represented the UK on complex policy portfolios in multilateral fora on diverse issues including nuclear non-proliferation, sanctions, the Middle East Peace Process and regional policy. She has a wide variety of experiences in strategic engagement with government, academia and civil society, and creative use of project work, online tools and social media.
BASIC has a committed staff, active network of Board members, influential Advisers, former staff and Patrons on both sides of the Atlantic. We have excellent access in capitals across the world. BASIC has been working on these issues in Washington and London since 1987.
Rebecca starts with BASIC on October 22, 2012. She replaces Anne Penketh who served three years in the post and is moving back to Paris as a freelance journalist. BASIC is extremely grateful to Anne for raising our game in Washington, New York and throughout the Middle East, and in particular for leading our work alongside Ambassador Jaakko Laajava’s team to prepare for the official conference on a Middle East zone free of nuclear weapons and other WMD. She will be missed by both BASIC and her colleagues within the Washington community.
For more information, contact:
Paul Ingram, Executive Director
Email: pingram (at) basicint.org
Tel: +44 (0)20 7766 3461/65