Dr Vala Rohani is a Research Associate at the Industrial AI Research Centre at the University of South Australia (UniSA), a postgraduate course coordinator in Artificial Intelligence, and a seasoned Chief Data Scientist with over 15 years of international experience in AI and Data Science across academia, industry, and government. He was granted Australian permanent residency through the prestigious Global Talent (Distinguished Talent) program in recognition of his leadership and impact in the global AI landscape.
Dr Rohani has led and managed large-scale AI and data science initiatives across Europe and Asia, overseeing international teams and high-impact projects. He has played a pivotal leadership role in European Commission-funded programs, particularly under the EIT Deep Tech Talent initiative, contributing to strategic frameworks for AI education, talent development, and digital innovation across the EU.
He continues to serve in executive and advisory roles, driving AI strategy and data-driven transformation across sectors such as finance, supply chain and logistics, manufacturing, and education. His technical expertise spans intelligent automation, generative AI workflows, agentive AI systems, social media analytics, recommender systems, financial data analysis, AI automation pipelines, ETL pipeline design, data governance, and the development of robust, scalable data systems for real-world applications.
In academia, Dr Rohani has played a leading role in the design, coordination, and delivery of postgraduate and executive education programs in Artificial Intelligence and Data Science at prominent institutions across multiple countries. He has spearheaded international talent discovery and upskilling initiatives, contributing to large-scale educational frameworks aimed at addressing global AI skill shortages. His work includes the development of micro-credential programs, modular training content, and industry-aligned learning pathways that support digital transformation across sectors. Through his involvement in European Commission-backed initiatives and cross-border academic partnerships, Dr Rohani has helped shape the next generation of AI professionals and fostered sustainable, future-ready talent pipelines on a global scale.
He has authored more than 20 peer-reviewed publications in reputable journals and international conferences. His research interests include applied AI, agentive workflows, recommender systems, social media analytics, applied machine learning, anomaly detection, and industrial analytics.
Widely respected for his strategic vision, technical depth, and people-centred leadership, Dr Rohani remains at the forefront of global AI advancement through research, education, and innovation partnerships.