President, World Maritime University
Professor Maximo Q. Mejia is an accomplished global leader and scholar in Maritime Governance, Policy, and Administration. With over three decades of professional and academic experience, Professor Mejia is a passionate international advocate for the promotion of safe, secure, sustainable, and efficient shipping on clean oceans.
Appointed by the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Professor Mejia became the eighth President of the World Maritime University (WMU), a university established within the framework of the IMO and a global centre of excellence for maritime and ocean education, research, and capacity building. 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 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. Professor Mejia is author/co-author of more than 70 published articles and
book chapters and the editor/co-editor of 11 books. His multi-disciplinary research and teaching include maritime policy, maritime law, maritime labour law and policy, human factors, safety, and security-
related issues. He is an International Labour Organization (ILO) Certified Trainer for the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC, 2006).
Alongside 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 earned his PhD from Lund University, Sweden, Master of Science from the World
Maritime University, Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy from the Fletcher School, Tufts University,
USA, and Bachelor of Science from the United States Naval Academy. Professor Mejia is fluent in
Filipino, English, and Swedish and has a knowledge of Spanish and Chinese. He is married to Rebecca
Hayes Mejia, with whom he has three children and one grandchild.