full profile
David Obura, PhD, MBS
BIOGRAPHY
This New York Times magazine cover photo of 29 October 2023 reflects David’s determination to resolve the root causes of coral reef and other global declines – unequal economic and value systems.
David’s primary research has been on coral reef resilience, biogeography and climate change impacts. He is turning now towards sustainability science pivoting around nature-climate interactions and their relevance in broader economic and societal domains, and exploring the scientific basis underpinning just transitions and transformations. His current research and policy engagement seeks to foster collective action to promote sustainability across all scales, to strengthen the broader sustainable development paradigm. David was awarded Kenya’s national honour, Moran of the Burning Spear in December 2021, and the Coral Reef Conservation Award of the International Coral Reef Society in 2022.
David Obura is a Founding Director of CORDIO East Africa, is on the Earth Commission (2019-2027) and chairs the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES, 2023-2027).
Work with the Earth Commission,
Global Commons Alliance, Future Earth
downloads and LiNKTREE
Current CV (full) – David Obura CV, 2025
Short CV – David Obura, Abridged CV, 2025
Current Links – Linktree
AWARDS
Moran of the Burning Spear, December 2021 – awarded by Kenya’s President, for work on ocean sustainability issues in national and international fora.
Coral Reef Conservation Award, 2022 – awarded by the International Coral Reef Society, in recognition of a regionally or globally significant contribution to the protection of coral reefs.
Fellow, Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association, 2007.
online profiles
- CORDIO East Africa – https://cordioea.net/david-obura (this page)
- Google scholar – https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=Z4RL3A8AAAAJ&hl=en
- LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-obura-a6554547/
- Loop (FrontiersIn) – https://loop.frontiersin.org/people/178148/overview
- Academia.edu – https://cordioea.academia.edu/DavidObura
- Bio page – Kenya Airways inflight magazine (p. 20).
OUTREACH
- Substack, Medium and The Conversation-Africa
- “17 Rooms” podcast – A local problem-solving framework that benefits people and oceans
- Nature Insight: Speed-dating with Nature. IPBES podcast – the New Natural – https://podcasts.apple.com/
- Global biodiversity and ecosystem services, IPBES, Paris – 6 May 2018 – The Guardian and National Public Radio
- BBC radio – Sustainable Blue Economy Conference, Nairobi – 26 Nov 2018 (45:20 to 49:18)
- The Guardian/Observer newspaper, 11 November 2018, by Jonathan Watts
- Al Jazheera, Counting the cost, Africa’s blue economy – 30 July 2018 (15:38 – 21:40)
- South Africa Broadcasting Corp, News story, Africa’s declining biodiversity – 22 May 2018
expert groups
- Cambridge Conservation Initiative (CCI), 2025-27. Global Insights Board. https://www.cambridgeconservation.org/about/vision-strategy/
- T20 Task Force, 2025. Climate Action and Just Energy Transition. https://t20southafrica.org/task-forces/accelerating-climate-action-and-the-just-energy-transition/
- World Economic Forum – Global Futures Council – Natural Capital, 2025-2027. Systems change. https://initiatives.weforum.org/global-future-council-on-natural-capital/members
- Africa Natural Capital Alliance (ANCA), 2025-27. Inaugural Governing Council. https://africannaturalcapitalalliance.com/about-anca/our-governing-council/
- EAT Advisory Board (2025-27) and EAT Forum (2025) Science Advisory Group. https://eatforum.org/about/people/
- Africa-Europe Strategy Group on Ocean Governance, 2023-ongoing. Africa-Europe Foundation. https://www.africaeuropefoundation.org/people/
- World Economic Forum, Friends of Ocean Action, 2023-ongoing. https://www.weforum.org/friends-of-ocean-action/who-we-are/
- Lead Negotiator (Oceans), Kenya delegation to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, COP 26, Glasgow November 2021.
- IPBES/IPCC Workshop report on biodiversity and climate change, November 2020-May 2021. Report.
- Earth Commission, Global Commons Alliance/Future Earth – https://earthcommission.org/
- High Level Panel on Ocean Sustainability – Technical Working Group (Kenya) and Science Advisory Network.
- IUCN Coral Specialist Group (chair) (International Union for the Conservation of Nature) – https://www.coralspecialistgroup.org/
- IPBES Global Assessment – Coordinating Lead Author, Chapter 2: Nature subsection
- National Geographic Explorer. Updating the global coral Red List of Threatened Species
- Informal Advisory Group (IAG), Ecologically and Biologically Significant Areas, CBD Secretariat
- GOOS Biodiversity and Ecosystems Panel (Global Ocean Observing System, UNESCO-IOC)
- GCRMN – Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network, Technical development and coordination
- bioDISCOVERY (Steering Committee)
- Northern Mozambique Channel – Core Team/Strategic Advisor