Professor Jito Vanualailai is a leading Pacific academic with over 29 years of experience in applied mathematics, research leadership, and higher education administration. He has made significant contributions to the fields of robotics, swarm intelligence, and autonomous systems. As Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education) at The University of the South Pacific (USP), he has championed transformative educational initiatives across the Pacific region. His leadership in research has elevated USP’s global standing, and his efforts to integrate indigenous knowledge with modern science continue to shape the future of Pacific scholarship