Speakers

Masae Yuasa is a sociologist born and raised in Hiroshima. She earned her Ph.D. from the University of Sheffield, UK and now teaches in the Faculty of International Studies of Hiroshima City University. She has worked for the Hiroshima “Black Rain” trial as a supporting member and wrote opinion papers that were submitted to the court.

As an International Coordinator of Peace Boat, Rika has been coordinating the Global Voyage for a Nuclear-Free World: Peace Boat Hibakusha Project since 2008, travelling with Hibakusha to convey their experiences and stories to show the humanitarian impact of nuclear weapons. She also coordinates “Every Second Counts for the Survivors - Peace Boat Hibakusha Project Online” and the Hiroshima-ICAN Academy on Nuclear Weapons and Security.

Dr Enver Tohti Bughda is a qualified medical surgeon and a passionate advocate for Uyghur rights. Enver was born in Hami (Qumul) city in Xinjiang, China. He was brought up and received his primary and secondary education in Urumchi city, the capital of the Uyghur autonomous region. Upon graduating from Shihezi Medical University, Enver joined the Railway Central Hospital as a surgical oncologist, working in that capacity for over 13 years. After discovering the connection between the disproportionately high malignant tumour rate and the nuclear test in the Lupnur region in Tarim Basin, Xinjiang, with the help of a British film crew Enver exposed the devastating effects of the nuclear test on local people and was compelled to leave the People’s Republic of China and seek political asylum in the UK. Now based in London, Enver continues to promote awareness of the shocking consequences of the nuclear test in the Lupnor (Luobopu) area, advocating for the rights of the test victims. Having been ordered to remove organs from an executed prisoner, Enver has since also taken up a major role in the campaign against forced organ harvesting and is determined to bring China’s darkest secret to light.

Setsuko Thurlow was a 13-year-old school girl when the United States dropped an atomic bomb on her city, Hiroshima. Today, she is a leading figure in the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN). Her powerful speeches have inspired countless individuals around the world to take action for disarmament.
She was instrumental in the creation of the landmark Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, adopted in July 2017 with the support of 122 nations. For decades, she has warned governments that inaction is not an option: nuclear weapons must be totally eliminated if we are to ensure that no other city ever suffers the same fate as hers.
Setsuko’s courageous advocacy, sharp analysis and deep conviction make her a formidable opponent to all who claim that these ultimate weapons of mass destruction are legitimate instruments of defence. A living witness to the horrors of nuclear war, she has contributed enormously to the success of ICAN over the past decade.

Alicia Sanders-Zakre is the Policy and Research Coordinator at the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons. She directs and coordinates research on the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, the humanitarian impact of nuclear weapons and general nuclear weapons policy.
Previously, she was a researcher at the Arms Control Association and at the Brookings Institution. She has published over 100 news articles, editorials and reports on nuclear weapons, including in the Guardian, the Baltimore Sun, Arms Control Today, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists and the National Interest. She has also provided expert analysis for several newspapers and radio programs, including the Korea Times and Deutsche Welle (DW) radio. Alicia holds a B.A. in International Security from Tufts University, as well as a certificate of completion in International Nuclear Safeguards Policy from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies.

Dr. Tilman Ruff AO is Co-President of International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War. He was a co-founder and the founding chair of the governing bodies of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) in Australia and internationally. Both organisations were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. An infectious diseases and public health physician, Dr. Ruff is Honorary Principal Fellow in the School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne. He has been active in the Medical Association for Prevention of War (Australia) since 1982 and is a past national president.

Lorraine Rekmans is a member of the Serpent River First Nation, and is of Anishnabe and French heritage. She served as the Indigenous Affairs Critic for the Green Party of Canada for 12 years, beginning in 2008, and is currently its Federal Council - President.
Lorraine is an advocate for environmental and social justice issues through her work in both media and non-governmental organizations. With a background in journalism, and decades of work in the non-profit sector, Lorraine has extensive experience in policy development, government, industry, public affairs and Indigenous communities. She is the former Executive Director of the National Aboriginal Forestry Association. She has served as a Board member for the Forest Stewardship Council of Canada, and she has received The Rosalie Bertell Award for outstanding service in the field of environmental health by the International Institute of Concern for Public Health.

LABRATS International Cofounder, Atomic Veteran, Activist
Alan is a Fellow of The British Computer Society and a Chartered IT Professional. Owns two businesses, Icaris (software development) and Icaris Sentinel (data protection services). A fellow of the Learning and Performance Institute. Currently pursuing an MBA at University of Wales, Trinity St David. Married with one son, Joseph, 14. Alan’s father is a Nuclear Veteran, who participated at Operation Dominic on Christmas Island 1962. Unfortunately he died in 1994. Alan’s elder brother died in 1996. He has one sister.

Born in Papeete, with Polynesian, Breton and Japanese heritage. Holder of a Master’s degree in public law. As a senior civil servant in French Polynesia, she served 11 years as a collaborator of members of the Government (2007 to 2018) including a mission for women’s conditions and family. Lena has been involved in Association 193 since its inception in 2014, as the first deputy president of Association 193 and also as the president of Association 193’s Committee on Women, which was created in 2018.

Russian anti-nuclear activist, politician, scientist; the founder of the Movement for Nuclear Safety; author, and director of the "Dialogues on Nuclear Policy" - the 5-years Program of negotiations with the Russian Government. She led efforts for public pressure to solve issues of social protection for survivors in the shadow of nuclear military production sites.