Expert Profile



Mr Scott Spence
Position(s) Programme Director, National Implementation Measures (NIM) Programme at VERTIC London
Personal website www.vertic.org

Mr Scott Spence is an Associate Fellow within the Global Fellowship Initiative of the GCSP. Scott Spence is the Programme Director for the National Implementation Measures (NIM) Programme at London-based VERTIC. He oversees the strategic vision and technical delivery of the programme, which works with interested governments in all regions of the world on comprehensive national implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1540 (UNSCR 1540), the Biological and Chemical Weapons Conventions, and the international instruments for nuclear security. This includes awareness-raising activities, promoting universal membership in several treaties and legislative assistance.

Scott previously worked at INTERPOL and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). He also worked as an attorney in the New York office of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer.

Scott developed the 'National Legislation Implementation Kit on Nuclear Security' - Indonesia's gift basket to the Nuclear Security Summit in 2014 - as well as VERTIC's 'Legislative Guide to National Implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1540'. He also co-developed the 'Sample Act' for national implementation of the Biological Weapons Convention, and prepared VERTIC's 'Regulatory Guidelines' for implementation of the BWC. In April 2015, the preceding documents were submitted by the UK Permanent Mission to the UN in New York to the Chair of the Security Council's 1540 Committee as examples of best practice for legislative implementation of UNSCR 1540. Scott also developed the OPCW's 'National Legislation Implementation Kit' for the Chemical Weapons Convention. His other publications can be found here.

Scott earned a Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia School of Law. He also has an LL.M. in Public International Law from Leiden University; undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Virginia (with high distinction) and Harvard University; and a Diplôme d’Université de Troisième Cycle in International Nuclear Law (très bien (highest honours)) from the International School of Nuclear Law at the Université Montpellier I.

Scott is a registered attorney with the New York State Unified Court System. He is also a member of the International Nuclear Law Association (and Secretary of the Nuclear Security Working Group) and International Law Association.

Scott speaks French and Spanish and is based in Geneva.