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We are pleased to welcome four new ambassadors from Nigeria, South Africa, Indonesia, and Vietnam, each bringing extensive experience across maritime operations, education, governance, welfare, and policy. Together, they strengthen ISWAN’s ability to better understand regional realities while continuing to promote seafarer wellbeing through advocacy, awareness, and support.

Capt. Ladi Olubowale | Nigeria

Capt. Ladi Olubowale joins ISWAN’s Ambassador Network from Nigeria, bringing decades of experience across shipping, port operations, maritime trade, and maritime leadership. A Class 1 Master Mariner and former President of the Africa Shipowners Association in Nigeria, his work has focused strongly on operational leadership, governance, and maritime development across Africa and beyond.

Drawing from years of working closely with seafarers, Capt. Ladi highlights that many Nigerian crew continue to face challenges that often receive far less attention than operational or commercial concerns, including delayed wages, fatigue, isolation, and growing family pressures during long periods away from home.

He believes welfare support and mental health assistance remain limited across parts of West Africa, particularly access to counselling, welfare networks, and emergency family support. Through ISWAN’s work, he sees an opportunity to help seafarers feel more connected, supported, and heard regardless of where they are operating.

Mr. Sobantu Tilayi | South Africa

With more than 25 years of experience working directly with seafarers, Sobantu Tilayi has spent much of his career focused on seafarer development, welfare, and maritime administration. His work has included supporting seafarer development initiatives across South Africa and the African continent, including serving as former Chairman of the Association of African Maritime Administrations (AAMA) and Chair of its Head Secretariat.

Today, he continues to work closely with shipowners, managers, and authorities to promote welfare-focused policies and strengthen the implementation of the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) and other international instruments.

For Sobantu, improving welfare means maintaining continuous engagement between all stakeholders involved in seafarer employment. He believes stronger frameworks, better reporting systems, compliance mechanisms, and greater awareness are all essential to creating a safer and more supportive environment for seafarers.

Two issues remain particularly important in his work: supporting abandoned seafarers and improving protections for women seafarers onboard. Through ISWAN’s ambassador network, he hopes to help ensure that seafarers facing difficulties in foreign ports are not left without visibility or support.

Mr. Ahmad Wahid | Indonesia

Ahmad Wahid brings a uniquely broad maritime background to ISWAN’s Ambassador Network. A Doctor of Maritime Safety, former Chief Engineer, maritime educator, regulator, and harbourmaster, his experience spans Indonesian, Singaporean, and Dutch shipping operations as well as leadership roles across maritime institutions in Indonesia. He currently serves as Assistant Professor at the Makassar Maritime Polytechnic and Daily Chair of the National Seafarers’ Examination Board.

Having worked across multiple sides of the industry, Ahmad believes one of the most important changes needed within shipping is treating mental wellbeing as a core safety standard rather than an optional support service. He points to the long contracts, cultural isolation, language barriers, and limited access to counselling services that many Indonesian seafarers continue to experience while working far from home.

He sees ISWAN playing an important role in bridging international welfare standards with local realities by bringing professional welfare support, education, and practical assistance closer to Indonesian seafarers and their families.

Dr. Lawyer. Hanh – Hoang Thi Hong | Vietnam

Dr. Lawyer. Hanh – Hoang Thi Hong is a lecturer in Maritime Law at Vietnam Maritime University, where her academic and professional work focuses on seafarers’ rights, welfare, maritime law, and policy. Alongside her legal and academic background, she has extensive experience working within maritime and business law, including matters relating to shipping contracts, ship management, and seafarers’ welfare.

Through her work with young cadets and maritime students in Vietnam, Dr. Hanh has observed a significant gap between learning about seafarers’ rights in theory and understanding how to protect those rights in practice. While students are introduced to the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC, 2006) during their studies, wellbeing and welfare awareness are often not covered in depth before their first voyage.

She believes ISWAN can play an important role in helping raise awareness around seafarers’ rights and wellbeing in Vietnam through initiatives such as SeafarerHelp and wider training and awareness programmes designed to support seafarers and their families.

As ISWAN’s Ambassador Network continues to expand, each ambassador brings valuable regional insight and experience that helps strengthen support for seafarers and their families globally. We are proud to welcome Capt. Ladi Olubowale, Sobantu Tilayi, Ahmad Wahid, and Dr. Lawyer. Hanh – Hoang Thi Hong to the network and look forward to working together to advance seafarer welfare across their respective regions and beyond.