David Williams

David Williams manages the ILO’s Resilient, Inclusive and Sustainable Supply Chains (RISSC) project, a regional initiative aimed at improving labour standards and responsible business conduct in key export sectors in Asia.

An economist by training, David has more than 15 years’ experience at the intersection of labour standards and global supply chains, with diverse geographical experience and first-hand insights into sectors as diverse as apparel, automotives, electronics, and seafood.

Between 2014 and 2018, David was Deputy Programme Manager for Better Work Vietnam, a UN-World Bank initiative supporting working conditions and business competitiveness in the garment sector.  Part of a 50-strong team advising more than 500 factories, he oversaw key portfolios including strategic planning, compliance reporting, training services, and organizational sustainability.  Between 2019 and 2022 he also led a regional ILO programme bringing together knowledge, best practices and new innovations to improve labour outcomes apparel supply chains.

David holds an MA in International Politics and Development from the University of Leeds (UK) and BSc in Economics from the University of Birmingham (UK).