Professor Transform Aqorau, from Solomon Islands, is a distinguished leader in international fisheries law, ocean governance, and regional policy, with over three decades of experience dedicated to the sustainable development and governance of the Pacific region.

He currently serves as the Vice Chancellor of the Solomon Islands National University (SINU), where he provides strategic leadership in advancing higher education, research, and national development priorities. Under his leadership, SINU is strengthening its role as a national and regional hub for knowledge, innovation, and policy engagement, particularly in areas such as ocean governance, sustainability, and institutional transformation.

Professor Aqorau began his career at the Solomon Islands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where he served for ten years as a Legal Officer, culminating in his role as Acting Deputy Secretary. His expertise in fisheries law and international negotiations led him to the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA), where he made history as the first Pacific Islander to serve as Legal Counsel and later as Deputy Director General during his 11-year tenure. In these roles, he contributed significantly to the development of regional fisheries governance frameworks.

He further extended his regional contributions as an International Legal Adviser at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat in Fiji, supporting broader regional policy and institutional processes.

As the founding CEO of the Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA) Office in the Marshall Islands, Professor Aqorau played a transformative role in reshaping Pacific tuna fisheries management. He was instrumental in establishing the Purse Seine and Longline Vessel Day Schemes, widely regarded as one of the most innovative and successful fisheries management systems globally.

Professor Aqorau is also the CEO of iTUNA Intel, a Solomon Islands-based consultancy specialising in international fisheries law, ocean governance, and development research. In 2022, he was appointed Professor and Director of the Institute of Oceans, Islands and Sustainable Development (IOISD) at SINU, prior to assuming the Vice Chancellorship in January 2023.

In addition to his leadership roles, he continues to serve as a Legal Adviser to the Marshall Islands Marine Resources Authority (MIMRA), contributing to policy and legal development in the fisheries sector.

Professor Aqorau also holds an appointment as an Honorary Professor in the Faculty of Law at the University of Queensland, reflecting his ongoing engagement with international legal scholarship and academic collaboration.

His academic qualifications include a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from the University of Papua New Guinea, a Master of Laws (LLM) from the University of British Columbia, Canada, and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Law from the University of Wollongong, Australia. He also holds an Honorary Doctorate in Law from the Australian National University (ANU).

Professor Aqorau is a Visiting Fellow at the Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security (ANCORS) at the University of Wollongong. He is an accomplished author, with notable works including Fishing for Success: Lessons in Pacific Regionalism and Development & Governance Challenges of a Small Island Developing State: The Perceptions of a Solomon Islander, which explore the complexities of regional cooperation, governance, and sustainable development in the Pacific.

Throughout his career, Professor Aqorau has been a leading voice in advancing sustainable ocean resource management, strengthening regional cooperation, and promoting Pacific-led solutions to global challenges. His work continues to shape the future of maritime governance, institutional development, and higher education in the Pacific region.