Ex-MARINA chief is new president of World Maritime University

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Ex-MARINA chief is new president of World Maritime University
Dr Maximo Mejia, Jr will assume the post of president at World Maritime University in June. Photo from the International Maritime Organization.
  • Professor Maximo Q. Mejia Jr. was named to succeed Dr. Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry as the new president of Sweden-based World Maritime University
  • Mejia is a former administrator of the Maritime Industry Authority
  • He will take on his new post on June 29, when the previous president’s term expires

Maximo Q. Mejia Jr., who led the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) from 2013 to 2016, has been named as the new president of the World Maritime University (WMU).

Mejia was chosen to succeed Dr. Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry as president of the university, following a competitive selection process, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) said in a statement. Located in Malmo, Sweden, WMU was founded in 1983 by the IMO.

Currently director of the PhD Program and associate academic dean at the university, Mejia will take on his new post on June 29, when the previous president’s term expires.

MARINA lauded the appointment of Mejia. In a statement, the agency said Mejia is credited with the following initiatives:

  • Enactment into law of Republic Act No. 10635, which designated MARINA as the single maritime administration for the implementation of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) for seafarers 1978, as amended;
  • Extension of validity of the Seafarers Identification and Record Book (SIRB) from five years to 10 years;
  • Expansion of the organizational structure of the STCW Office;
  • Increase in MARINA budget; and
  • Construction of the MARINA Central Office building and funding for the construction of additional buildings of MARINA regional offices.

Himself a WMU graduate, Mejia served as the administrator of MARINA during the administration of President Benigno Aquino III, while on sabbatical at the university.

He studied Political Science at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland and went on to obtain a Master of Arts in Law & Diplomacy at the Fletcher School at Tufts University, United States.

The newly named president graduated from WMU with a degree of Master of Science in Maritime Safety Administration in 1994 and received a Licentiate of Engineering and Doctor of Philosophy from Lund University in Sweden.

Before joining WMU in 1998, Mejia saw duty on board various naval and coast guard vessels, as well as in shore-based facilities in the Philippines.

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(Updated on February 23, 10:40pm, to include statement of MARINA.)

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