Nicole Zion is a specialist on energy policy, Beltway positioning with national security audiences and Middle East affairs, with a focus in Abraham Accords countries. With more than a decade of experience spanning government, intelligence and corporate advisory, Nicole brings a nuanced understanding of global security dynamics and their intersection with business strategy. She currently serves as a senior associate director in APCO’s Washington office.
Nicole has worked extensively in the GCC, including a year in the UAE bridging relationships between government entities, international media and emerging technology experts. She has also supported projects in Saudi Arabia, advising on strategic initiatives in economic development, global positioning and sectoral growth. She enjoys facilitating complex discussions—on sensitive topics ranging from Red Sea shipping disruptions to cybersecurity resilience in critical manufacturing—to bridge perspectives across geographies, political ideologies and industries. Nicole takes an empathetic and collaborative approach to her work that fosters trust, elevates performance and delivers strategic counsel that enables organizations to navigate an evolving global security landscape.
Nicole’s expertise in national security makes her a trusted advisor at the nexus of policy and business. Prior to joining APCO, she worked at Booz Allen Hamilton, where she designed client engagements that strengthened the cyber resilience of critical infrastructure, particularly in the financial services sector and the defense industrial base. She previously served as a national security analyst focused on humanitarian and sustainable development issues with a niche focus on disruptive technology. Her portfolio consisted of disaster relief, durable solutions for displaced populations, and food security in the Middle East and Sub-Saharan Africa.
Nicole holds a Master of Public Policy in International Security & Economic Policy and a Bachelor of Arts in Government & Politics with a minor in International Development & Conflict Management from the University of Maryland.
