President and Vice-Chancellor

Thompson Rivers University (TRU), Canada

Dr. Airini serves as President and Vice-Chancellor of Thompson Rivers University (TRU), where she leads an institution at the forefront of human-centered digital transformation, applied innovation, and ethical AI governance. Under her leadership, TRU has launched  TRU horaizon—a groundbreaking framework that grounds emerging technologies in Secwépemc Indigenous values, responsible AI policies, and international collaboration. TRU is on track to be a national leader in applied and responsible AI by 2030.

A global educational leader with a distinguished career spanning policy, research, and executive leadership, Dr. Airini brings a deeply international perspective to the evolving higher education landscape. Her professional journey encompasses success as an international student in Canada, and roles as international scholar, and policy leader, alongside significant contributions to global development. She has served with UNESCO, worked as an advisor to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (UNFAO), and served communities across the Pacific region.

An award-winning researcher and educator in two countries, Dr. Airini has held academic appointments across multiple international jurisdictions, currently serving as an adjunct professor across three institutions. A Fulbright Scholar educated in Aotearoa New Zealand, her work bridges policy formulation, higher education management, and Indigenous-grounded innovation.

At the SEAMEO RETRAC International Conference 2026, Dr. Airini champions a vision of higher education leadership where technology serves humanity—advancing a transition from “humans-in-the-loop” for AI integration to “AI-in-the-loop” for realizing human potential. Higher Education is vital to this agenda, providing we transform. Values and practices advancing applied and responsible AI innovation in Higher Education leadership and management will be shared.