Lassina Zerbo

Lassina Zerbo (born 10 October 1963) is the Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization, a position which he assumed on 1 August 2013. He previously served as Director of the organization’s International Data Centre (IDC). He is a national of Burkina Faso. Zerbo has been instrumental in cementing the CTBTO’s position as the world’s centre of excellence for nuclear test-ban verification, as well as in driving forward efforts towards the entry into force and universalization of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT).

Soon after assuming his current post, Zerbo initiated the establishment of the Group of Eminent Persons (GEM), comprising internationally recognized personalities and experts to promote the Treaty’s entry into force and to reinvigorate international endeavours to achieve this goal. He secured China’s resumed technical cooperation with the CTBTO, signalling a new phase of cooperation. The success of the Integrated Field Exercise 2014 in Jordan, a simulated on-site inspection, reflected the CTBTO’s capabilities under his leadership. In recognition of his work at the CTBTO and in the disarmament and nuclear proliferation field in general, Zerbo was awarded the 2013 “Arms Control Person of the Year” by the Arms Control Association, USA. In 2015 he became a Commander of the National Order of Burkina Faso, the country's highest honour, for his work towards the preservation of peace and international security.

During a professional career spanning nearly 25 years, Zerbo has developed expertise ranging from scientific and technical competencies to results-based management and multilateral diplomacy.

He serves as co-chair of the World Economic Forum Global Agenda Council (GAC) on Nuclear Security, which was established to stimulate discussion among high-level policymakers and leaders in both the private and public sectors on the broader issue of nuclear security, including disarmament and non-proliferation. Further, he is a member of think tanks on energy, science, technology and development, and peace and security for Africa.

As Director of the CTBTO’s International Data Centre (IDC) from 2004 to 2013, he was the focal point on CTBT issues related to the nuclear tests conducted by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in 2006, 2009 and 2013. Zerbo led the CTBT Science and Technology conferences in 2011 and 2013 and managed the successful deployment of the CTBT virtual Data Exploitation Centre (vDEC), which provides an innovative framework for interacting with the wider scientific community. This interaction helps ensure that the CTBTO retains its position at the cutting edge of verification-related science and technology.

In the aftermath of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, Zerbo spearheaded technical discussions regarding the agreement on CTBTO technical assistance to tsunami warning centres. He served as the custodian of all technically sensitive information of the organization, which was called on following the earthquake, tsunami and Fukushima nuclear power plant accident in Japan in March 2011. He remains responsible for authorizing the release of this information to Member States and their institutions in compliance with the Treaty’s requirements.

Zerbo obtained a PhD in Geophysics from the Université de Paris XI, France, in 1993. His international career started with a position as research geophysicist with BHP Minerals International. He subsequently worked as project geophysicist for the company’s Africa programmes, based in Virginia, USA, and provided technical expertise to all its airborne electromagnetics projects. Upon joining Anglo American Exploration in 1995, Zerbo assumed the role of Divisional Principal Geophysicist for Africa while supervising research and development projects for most of the company’s projects in Africa, Asia and Australia. In this role, he managed all Africa operations through projects across the continent.

Zerbo is married and has three daughters.