David Obura (born 1966) is a Kenyan marine ecologist.[1] He is a founding director of Coastal Oceans Research and Development—Indian Ocean (CORDIO) East Africa.[2] On 4 September 2023, he was appointed as the chair of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services.[3] As the head of IPBES, the IPCC for biodiversity, he aims to expand the platform’s reach and ensure that its findings and policy recommendations are seen by decision-makers in all sectors of society, including governments, businesses, and civil society.[4]