NAUI has announced the appointment of public health leader and experienced diver Ricki Orford as its new executive director.
Orford will assume the role on 1 February 2026, joining the not-for-profit dive training agency after a career spanning more than two decades in global public health, alongside his extensive experience in diving.
Before his appointment at NAUI, Orford held senior leadership roles in international health programmes, including work on malaria prevention and control initiatives across Africa, Asia and Latin America.
His background includes programme leadership, technical oversight and work with international health organisations on large-scale public health delivery.
Orford is an experienced dive professional and an active technical and cave diver, and has logged more than 1,000 dives across the reefs, wrecks and caves of both tropical and cold-water locations. He is also a certified emergency medical technician.
According to a NAUI press release, Orford’s stated priorities include supporting instructors and members, improving the quality and accessibility of training materials, modernising training systems, and expanding NAUI’s global reach while maintaining consistent standards.
Orford said he is ‘honoured to serve the NAUI community and looks forward to working closely with the Board of Directors, instructors, members, and partners to ensure NAUI continues to stand for independence, competence, and diver-centred education – both in and out of the water.’
Founded in the US in 1960, the National Association of Underwater Instructors(NAUI) is one of the longest-established scuba diver training and certification agencies.
It operates as a member-led not-for-profit organisation and, while it is commonly associated with North America, also has a global network of instructors and training centres.
