The Hon. Robert M Scher

The Honorable Robert M. Scher is a recognised expert in strategic planning, geopolitical risk assessment and mitigation, government advocacy across the energy and defence sectors, and on issues of international, national security and US domestic politics. He has served in high level positions in the US government and the private sector.

Mr Scher was most recently the Vice President and Head of International Affairs for BP America. In this position he tracked and analysed US foreign and national security policy as it affected BP’s businesses around the world.

Before joining BP, Bob served as the Assistant Secretary of Defence for Strategy, Plans, and Capabilities from 2014 to January of 2017. He was responsible for advising the Secretary of Defence on national security and defence strategy; the forces, budgets, and contingency plans necessary to implement the defence strategy; nuclear deterrence and missile defence policy; and security cooperation plans and policies.

Over the course of more than two decades of federal service, Mr Scher held numerous positions of increasing responsibility focused on both defence strategy and planning, and Asian security and foreign policy issues. Among these positions was the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence for Plans from 2012-2014 and the Deputy Assistant Secretary for South and Southeast Asia within the US Department of Defence from 2009-2012.

Mr Scher is currently on the Advisory Board of Dcode (a tech accelerator company), a Non-Resident Senior Advisor at the University of Pennsylvania, and an Adjunct at the RAND Corporation.