Mrs. Nancy Karigithu is Kenya’s Special Envoy and Advisor for Maritime and Blue Economy in the Executive Office of the President. With over 39 years of experience, she established Kenya’s State Department for Shipping and Maritime Affairs and served as its first Principal Secretary. She previously served as the first Director General of the Kenya Maritime Authority, chaired the IMO Technical Cooperation Committee, served on the Boards of IMO-IMLI and WMU, and championed gender diversity through WOMESA. Awarded the AU Woman of the Year and WMU Honorary Fellow, she is a leading voice for Blue Economy and seafarers’ welfare.