(Stockholm, 13 December) The Swedish Government has formally appointed Dr Jessica Tuchman Mathews as a new member of the SIPRI Governing Board.

Dr Jessica Tuchman Mathews is an American scholar with a background in biochemistry and biophysics. She was most recently President of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a foreign policy think tank in Washington, D.C., and has also held distinguished positions in the executive and legislative branches of government, management, research and journalism.

‘I have admired SIPRI’s work and its impact on global thinking for so many years. Now, I couldn’t be more pleased to make a small contribution to it at a time when its work is crucial’, comments Jessica Mathews.

Welcoming the appointment, SIPRI’s Chair of the Governing Board Jan Eliasson says, ‘We are extremely honoured that Jessica Mathews has accepted our invitation. Her background, impressive career and experience both as scientist and head of a world-leading think tank offer a truly beneficial combination for SIPRI and we look forward to her contributions to SIPRI’s Governing Board’.

Apart from her post at Carnegie, Dr Mathews was Director of the Office of Global Issues of the National Security Council, covering nuclear proliferation, conventional arms sales policy, chemical and biological warfare, and human rights; she served as deputy to the Undersecretary of State for Global Affairs; and she was founding Vice President and Director of Research of the World Resources Institute, a center for policy research on environmental and natural-resource management issues.

‘Dr Mathews’ expertise, her career and broad range of experience will bring very relevant and timely input to many areas of our research’, says SIPRI’s Director Dan Smith. ‘Especially with the current global outlook, I am grateful that Dr Mathews will help guide our participation in international public discourse.’

The Governing Board takes the strategic decisions on SIPRI’s research agenda, activities, organization and financial administration. Dr Mathews joins a board of individuals with profound and broad-ranging expertise in diplomacy, policy formation, academia and research.