We are pleased to announce Professor Letuimanu’asina Emma Kruse Va’ai, Pro Chancellor of the National University of Samoa, prominent Samoan writer, academic, and education leader, as a keynote speaker at our upcoming Pacific Academy of Sciences Inaugural Congress, to be held 16–18 February 2026 in Apia, Samoa, at Taumeasina Island Resort.

Letuimanu’asina has had a distinguished career in higher education in Samoa and the Pacific. She has served as Professor of English and Applied Linguistics and Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the National University of Samoa, and as Chief Executive Officer of the Samoa Qualifications Authority, contributing to education leadership at national, regional, and international levels, including through service on numerous governance boards.

She is also one of Samoa’s leading authors, widely recognised for her work exploring bilingualism, language, and cultural identity through the creative blending of Samoan and English.

She holds a Doctorate in English from the University of New South Wales. In recognition of her scholarly and literary contributions, Victoria University of Wellington conferred on her an Honorary Doctorate in Literature, and in 2006 she received the NZ Prime Minister’s Award for Emerging Pacific Leaders, which enabled postgraduate study at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.

Her keynote will contribute to the Congress theme, Harnessing the Knowledge of the Pacific, offering reflections on knowledge, language, and leadership in Pacific contexts.