Maritime Decarbonization Consultant · Founder, Nawaya Maritime
A former Deck Officer with 15 years of maritime experience, now at the forefront of global shipping decarbonization. Providing technical advocacy support for Pacific SIDS at the IMO, advising on wind propulsion technology, and shaping the policies that will define sustainable shipping's future.
Eldine Glees is the founder of Nawaya Maritime, a specialist consultancy in maritime decarbonization and sustainable shipping. Her career began on the bridge — working as a Deck Officer, Training Officer, and Crew Manager with Sonangol/Tidewater in Angola — before pivoting to the policy arena where her technical grounding gives her an edge few consultants can match.
Today, she provides technical advocacy support for Pacific Small Island Developing States at IMO negotiations, drawing on her cross-regional expertise to strengthen the Pacific SIDS voice on decarbonization, wind propulsion, and climate equity in global shipping.
MSc (Distinction) Sustainable Maritime Operations · Plymouth University
BSc (First Class Hons) Sustainable Maritime Operations · Plymouth University
Advanced Diploma, Oil, Gas & Petrochemical Shipping · North Kent College
National Diploma in Maritime Studies · CPUT, Cape Town
Technical advocacy support — Pacific SIDS at IMO Net-Zero negotiations
Pacific Windships Sector — 6PAC+ Alliance
Based in Suva, Fiji · nawayamaritime.com
English & Portuguese (native) · Spanish (advanced)
Five core competency areas spanning 15 years of maritime operations, policy advocacy, research, and thought leadership.
| Portfolio Item | Maritime Decarbonization |
IMO Policy & Advocacy |
Wind Propulsion |
Project Management |
Research & Analysis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IMO Net-Zero Framework Advocacy ↗ | |||||
| MSc Dissertation — Wind Propulsion in Pacific SIDS ↗ | |||||
| Media Campaign Proposals for IMO ↗ | |||||
| International Speaking Engagements (3 keynotes) ↗ | |||||
| WIMA/WISTA — African Union MOU | |||||
| WISTA Angola — Co-Founder | |||||
| One Young World — Africa Coordinating Ambassador | |||||
| Maritime Operations — Deck Officer, Training & Crew | |||||
| Grant Resource Development — MCST Funding Portfolio ↗ | |||||
| Selected Publications & Media |
Selected work spanning IMO policy advocacy, applied research, strategic communications, and maritime leadership. Client names are anonymized unless explicitly stated.
Provided technical advocacy support for Pacific Small Island Developing States during negotiations on the IMO Net-Zero Framework — one of the most consequential international agreements in maritime climate policy. Drew on cross-regional expertise to strengthen the Pacific SIDS coalition's voice at a critical juncture.
Technical advisor and policy strategist supporting Pacific SIDS advocacy, working within the 6PAC+ alliance and the Micronesian Centre for Sustainable Transport (MCST). Covered IMO session preparation, technical submissions, stakeholder coalition-building, and strategic counter-arguments to major shipping nation positions.
Contributed to advancing Pacific SIDS positions within the Net-Zero Framework negotiations, strengthening regional coalition cohesion and enhancing the technical credibility of Pacific SIDS delegations in a field dominated by major flag states and shipping blocs.
Applied the Technology Innovation Systems (TIS) framework to assess barriers and enablers for wind-assisted propulsion adoption in Pacific island shipping. Awarded Distinction by Plymouth University, with the Outstanding Achievement Award 2025.
Wind propulsion is technically viable for Pacific SIDS inter-island shipping, but adoption is constrained by weak legitimation, underdeveloped knowledge diffusion networks, and acute financing barriers disproportionate to the region. Produced a prioritized policy recommendation framework for regional bodies and the IMO.
Findings directly inform Nawaya Maritime's advisory work on wind propulsion integration and contribute to Pacific SIDS advocacy on technology transfer obligations and just transition provisions within the IMO Net-Zero Framework.
Developed comprehensive media campaign proposals (budgets up to USD 250,000) to build political will, shape public discourse, and mobilize stakeholder pressure ahead of key IMO negotiating sessions on maritime decarbonization.
Full campaign briefs including situation analysis, audience segmentation, channel strategy, messaging architecture, content plans, and implementation timelines. Structured for handover to communications delivery partners following policy adoption milestones.
As Grant Resource Development Manager at the Micronesian Centre for Sustainable Transport (MCST), built and managed a multi-million dollar funding portfolio for Pacific maritime decarbonization — spanning prospect identification, multi-partner proposal development, funder relationship management, and active project oversight across four quarterly reporting cycles (June 2025 – January 2026).
| Grant / Project | Value | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Multilateral Climate Fund Application — Shipping Partnership | USD $200M | Full PPF Application |
| International Heritage Fund Grant | £200k–£500k | Full Application Stage |
| Private Philanthropy Ministerial Grant | USD $400,000 | Funds Secured ✓ |
| Multilateral Data & Roadmap Project | USD $380,000 | Project Initiated |
| Sectoral Research Consortium Grant | TBD (through 2028) | Submitted ✓ |
| Preparatory Climate Fund Grant | USD $98,000 | Allocated ✓ |
Led maritime policy initiatives at WIMA and WISTA at regional and continental level, including drafting an African Union MOU and securing the Angolan first lady's endorsement for women-focused maritime projects — elevating women in maritime onto the national policy agenda in Angola.
Co-founded the Women's International Shipping & Trading Association chapter in Angola (2016–2024), building a first-of-its-kind professional network for women in the Angolan maritime sector. Established governance, membership, and joint government–private sector policy programming from the ground up.
Selected as a One Young World Ambassador (Emma Watson Scholarship, 2016) and appointed Coordinating Ambassador for Africa, responsible for coordinating the OYW Ambassador network across the continent on sustainable development, climate action, and leadership.
15 years of hands-on maritime experience with Sonangol/Tidewater (USA), Angola — as Deck Officer, Cadet Training Officer (managing 80+ cadets and a USD 2M+ budget), Crew Coordinator, and HSE Advisor. The technical seafaring grounding that underpins every Nawaya Maritime engagement.
2024 showcase of Green Pioneer, world's first dual-fuel ammonia vessel
Decarbonization pathways through alternative fuels; equity and readiness in the global shipping energy transition; Pacific SIDS perspective on the ammonia transition.
International Windships Asia Summit, 2024
Wind propulsion technology adoption in Pacific island shipping; TIS framework insights; policy enablers for wind-assisted ship propulsion scaling in developing maritime nations.
Winds for Change Conference
Advocacy for wind-assisted propulsion as a central pillar of maritime decarbonization; Pacific SIDS as emerging champions of wind propulsion adoption.
Nawaya Maritime provides specialist consultancy in maritime decarbonization, IMO policy advocacy, wind propulsion technology, and sustainable shipping strategy. Available for advisory mandates, speaking engagements, and research partnerships.
Eldine's full portfolio and CV are available on request. Please get in touch with a brief note about your organisation and the nature of your enquiry.