David Willima is a distinguished expert in maritime security, ocean governance, and the blue economy, currently serving as a Maritime Security Research Officer at the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) in Pretoria and as the Africa Regional Coordinator for the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition. His unparalleled expertise in shaping policy, advancing governance frameworks, and fostering sustainable maritime development positions him as an invaluable asset to the Stresemann Innovation Group (SIG). SIG will harness Willima’s deep regional and global insights to empower African nations in designing, implementing, and reforming public sector strategies that strengthen blue economy growth, maritime security, and ocean governance.

Willima’s proven track record of collaborating with the African Union (AU), ECOWAS, IGAD, SADC, and IORA aligns seamlessly with SIG’s mission to drive transformative governance reforms. His work bridging local, regional, and global stakeholders will enable SIG to facilitate multi-stakeholder partnerships, ensuring African countries translate policy into actionable, context-specific solutions. As the African voice in international ocean governance forums, Willima’s leadership will amplify SIG’s ability to integrate African priorities into global frameworks while advocating for equitable deep-sea mining policies and sustainable resource management.

SIG will leverage Willima’s expertise in climate risk and human security to embed resilience into blue economy initiatives, helping governments anticipate and mitigate climate-related threats. His academic rigor—including a Master’s in Security Studies—will underpin SIG’s evidence-based approach to public sector capacity-building, ensuring reforms are grounded in robust research and adaptive governance models. Through Willima’s guidance, SIG will foster innovation in maritime security architectures, advance transparent ocean governance, and catalyze inclusive economic opportunities across Africa’s coastal and marine sectors.

With Willima’s visionary leadership, SIG is poised to become a catalyst for Africa’s sustainable ocean future, driving reforms that balance ecological stewardship, economic growth, and regional security.