John Carlson is a member of the Asia-Pacific Leadership Network for Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament (APLN) and an APLN Senior Associate Fellow. He is also a Non-Resident Senior Fellow at the Vienna Center for Disarmament and Non‑Proliferation (VCDNP) and a member of the International Advisory Council to the International Luxembourg Forum.

His previous appointments have included: Counselor, Nuclear Threat Initiative; Associate, Managing the Atom Project, Belfer Center, Harvard University; Non-Resident Fellow, Lowy Institute, Sydney; and Member, Expert Advisory Committee, Nuclear Fuel Cycle Royal Commission, South Australia. He has worked with the Australian Public Service from 1963 to 2010, principally on energy, nuclear and international relations issues, including 21 years as Director General of the Australian Safeguards and Non-Proliferation Office (1989-2010).

Concurrent appointments included: Chairman of SAGSI, the IAEA’s Standing Advisory Group on Safeguards Implementation (2001-06); Alternate Governor for Australia, IAEA Board of Governors; Australian Sherpa, 2010 Nuclear Security Summit; and founding Chair, Asia-Pacific Safeguards Network (2009-12).

Carlson is a Fellow of the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management (INMM) and a recipient of the national honor of Member of the Order of Australia (AM). His interests include nuclear safeguards, disarmament and arms control, nuclear governance.