Bio: Dr. Upolu Luma Vaai

Upolu Luma Vaai is professor of theology and ethics and Principal of the Pacific Theological College in Suva, Fiji, which is owned by 20 Pacific churches spread throughout 16 countries of the region. His research interests are, Pacific indigenous philosophies and spiritualities, theology, decolonizing education, and climate change. He is the pioneer of the relational renaissance movement in the Pacific to critically address racial coloniality in the dominant development narrative. His publications include “The Relational Self: Decolonizing Personhood in the Pacific” (2017) and “Relational Hermeneutics: Decolonizing the Mindset and the Pacific Itulagi” (2017).