President Mejia Receives Crew Welfare Leadership Award
Professor Maximo Q. Mejia, Jr., President of the World Maritime University (WMU), received the 2026 Crew Welfare Leadership Award on 23 June for his outstanding leadership in advancing global maritime education and governance. Organized by Safety4Sea, the award recognizes the work of Professor Mejia in strengthening safety, governance, and professional development, making a significant contribution to the welfare of seafarers worldwide and to the promotion of humane and sustainable maritime practices.
Accepting the award Professor Mejia said, "The majority of my career has focused on maritime law and policy, with an abiding belief in the importance of integrating wellbeing into administrative systems. Crew welfare is not separate from safety, efficiency, or sustainability; it is foundational to all three. Through education, research, and international cooperation, we must continue to strengthen policies and practices that protect the dignity, wellbeing, and professional development of seafarers worldwide."
“Rapid technological growth must be matched by equally strong welfare measures for crews. We cannot embrace the future of shipping without securing a just transition for our seafarers. As President of WMU, it is both a privilege and a duty to support the advancement of global maritime education and to help ensure that the next generation of industry leaders carries the priority of crew welfare forward," Professor Mejia added.
Professor Mejia is an accomplished global leader and scholar in Maritime Governance, Policy, and Administration. With over three decades of professional and academic experience, he is a passionate international advocate for the promotion of safe, secure, sustainable, and efficient shipping on clean oceans.
Professor Mejia was appointed by the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), as the eighth President of the WMU in 2023. He is the first President from Asia and the first President who is a graduate of WMU. As the Chief Executive Officer, Professor Mejia oversees and directs the academic programmes, operations, and administration of the University. Professor Mejia has held various positions at WMU, as Director of the PhD Programme, Head of the Maritime Law and Policy Specialization, and Nippon Foundation Professor of Maritime Governance, Policy, and Administration at WMU. He also served as Associate Academic Dean and has been a resident Faculty member since 1998. During his tenure at WMU, Professor Mejia spearheaded the further development of the WMU PhD programme in Maritime Affairs ensuring a cutting-edge curriculum and a growing number of doctoral students.
Aside from senior leadership roles within WMU, Professor Mejia served as Administrator/Director-General at the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) from 2013 to 2016, heading the government agency responsible for integrating the development, promotion, and regulation of the maritime industry in the Philippines. From 1988 to 1998, he progressively held various positions in the Philippine Navy and Philippine Coast Guard including Deputy Chief of Staff for Navigational Safety and Deputy Executive Director of the Multisectoral Task Force on Maritime Development. In 2013, Professor Mejia was included in the Lloyd’s List 100 Most Influential Persons in the Shipping Industry. He served on several senior diplomatic assignments including Head of Delegation of the Philippines to IMO meetings (2013 -2016), Special Envoy of the President of the Philippines to the Inauguration of the Expanded Panama Canal (2016), and Chairperson of the 31st ASEAN Maritime Transport Working Group (2016).
Professor Mejia is author/co-author of more than 70 published articles and book chapters and the editor/co-editor of 12 books. His multi-disciplinary research and teaching include maritime policy, maritime law, maritime labour law and policy, human factors, safety, and security-related issues.
To view Professor Mejia's full acceptance remarks, click here.
