Lobbying world

•The Association for Advanced Life Underwriting, which represents the financial security profession, merged with GAMA International, which promotes professional development in the insurance, investment and financial services industry. The groups’ members voted last week to officially approve the creation of the new organization and establish the new board. The announcement of the new name is expected in the coming months.

•Andrew Barnhill, the former director of federal policy at GlaxoSmithKline, will be head of public policy and government affairs at BioDelivery Sciences International Inc. and will launch the group’s Washington office. He was previously the state director of the New Leaders Council.

•Brandon Renz will be the director of federal legislative affairs for the power company Ameren. He previously worked on Capitol Hill for more than 16 years and most recently was Republican staff director for the House Education and Labor Committee.

•The Aluminum Association announced that Tom Dobbins will be its new president and CEO, effective March 16. Tom previously was at the helm of the American Composites Manufacturers Association. He replaces Heidi Brock, who resigned in June to be the president and CEO of the American Forest and Paper Association.

•Sarah Peters is now a principal at Husch Blackwell Strategies. She previously was senior government relations associate at the Bellamy Genn Group and before that was legislative manager at the Maryland Department of Transportation’s Transit Administration.