David Obura chairs the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES, 2023-2026), is a Founding Director of CORDIO East Africa, a knowledge organization supporting sustainability of coral reef and marine systems in the Western Indian Ocean, and is on the Earth Commission (2019-2026).

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.