Dr Heena Akbar
Senior Lecturer
School of Public Health
+61 7 334 64920
Researcher biography
I am a Pacific Fijian academic, researcher and community leader providing senior leadership in community‑engaged research and teaching across Australian and international higher education. My work sits at the intersection of Indigenous knowledge systems, health equity and public policy, driving system‑level change through culturally grounded scholarship.
I lead and shape programs that embed Indigenous methodologies, community participatory action research and social justice principles into policy‑relevant research, professional education and practice. Through long‑term, co‑designed partnerships, I advance culturally safe solutions that address the social, cultural, environmental and political determinants of health affecting Māori and Pasifika, Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) and First Nations communities nationally and internationally.
My strength‑based research program focuses on health equity and the burden of chronic conditions, with a strong emphasis on research translation, policy development and advocacy impact. My work informs health systems, service design and decision‑making at local, national and international levels, contributing to improved and more equitable health outcomes—particularly for First Nations including Māori and Pasifika and CALD communities in Australia and globally.
Publications
Book
Akbar, Heena, Niumata, Winnie and Te Kani, Aunty Wynn (2022). Pasifika Women’s Diabetes Wellness Program. Brisbane, QLD Australia: Community Mentors International.
Book Chapters
Akbar, H., Niumata, W., Hopoate, L., Akbar, R.A., Langan, V., Te Kani, W., Chow, I., McDonald, M. and McDonald, N. (2026). Pasifika Women’s Diabetes Wellness Program: A community-led initiative for health and wellbeing changes in Australia. Untangling notions of Pacific wellbeing across the Trans-Tasman. (pp. 1-25) edited by C. ‘Ilaiū Talei, R. L. Faleolo, S. Manuela and D. Enari. London, United Kingdom: Springer.
Faleolo, R. L, Akbar, H, Boon, J, Fainga'a-Manu Sione, I, Mariner, R, Stanley, G, Faleolo, T. G, Enari, D, Faleolo, I. T. V, Faleolo, S. T. N, Faleolo, L. M. L, Faleolo, N. R, Lea'aetoa, H. A, ‘Ilaiū, J. P, Natapu-Ponton, V and Hafu-Fetokai, C (2026). Promoting holistic wellbeing of Pasifika learners in Australia through AKO in Queensland. Pacific paradigms and wellbeing practices in Australia. (pp. 1-32) edited by R. Faleolo, D. Enari, S. Manuela and C. ‘Ilaiū Talei. London, United Kingdom: Springer Nature.
Akbar, H, Hoori, R, Niumata, W, Pio, M. A, Syme, H and Hussain, Z (2026). Digital talanoa improves Pacific women's wellness living with diabetes.. Pacific paradigms and wellbeing practices in Australia. (pp. unknown-unknown) edited by R. Faleolo, D. Enari, S. Manuela and C. ‘Ilaiū Talei. London, United Kingdom: Springer Nature.
Journal Articles
Lee, Yan Yee, Sun, Tianze, Connor, Jason P., Gartner, Coral, Lai, Germaine, Akbar, Heena and Lim, Carmen C.W. (2026). A nationally representative repeated cross-sectional study of 10-year substance use trends among culturally and linguistically diverse Australians. International Journal of Drug Policy, 150 105179, 105179-150. doi: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2026.105179
Cartledge, Susie, Rawstorn, Jonathan C., Bourne, Carmel, Astley, Carolyn M., Akbar, Heena, Bardsley, Kimberley, Bart, Nicole K., Driscoll, Andrea, Eddington, Rebecca, Goodman, Andrew, Hall, Tanya, Hendriks, Jeroen M., Scott, Adam C., Straiton, Nicola, Thomas, Emma, Tofi, Ulima, Candelaria, Dion, Clark, Robyn A., Davidson, Patricia M., Gallagher, Robyn, Indraratna, Praveen, Kaur, Daman J., Lattimore, Jo-Dee, Livori, Adam, Mahoney, Ray, Maiorana, Andrew J., Nesbitt, Katie, Nolan, Mark T., O'Connor, Matthew ... Inglis, Sally C. (2026). CSANZ and ACRA position statement on quality use of telehealth in cardiovascular care. Heart, Lung and Circulation, 35 (3), 298-314. doi: 10.1016/j.hlc.2025.12.001
Taufatofua, Natasha, Akbar, Heena and La Caze, Adam (2026). Insights from Pacific Islander and Māori community members: talanoa on medication adherence and type 2 diabetes management in Queensland. AlterNative, 22 (1), 14-25. doi: 10.1177/11771801251383570
Baiteke, Annie, Nosa, Vili and Akbar, Heena (2026). Exploring the sociocultural factors of obesity among Kiribati women living in Auckland, New Zealand. Kotuitui, 21 (1) e70009, 1-12. doi: 10.1002/kot2.70009
Patton, Camille, Gallegos-Rejas, Victor M. and Akbar, Heena (2026). Mate ni kawa—our parents will have it, so will we! Reframing diabetes self-management for Pasifika Women in Australia: cultural realities, systemic gaps, and public health imperatives. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 50 (1) 100312, 1-2. doi: 10.1016/j.anzjph.2026.100312
Pale, Maryanne, Enari, Dion, Tualaulelei, Eseta, Akbar, Heena, Faleolo, Ruth L., Ravulo, Jioji, Ohi, Sarah, Fainga’a‐Manu Sione, Inez, Fox, Levi, Seumanutafa‐Palala, Rita and Williams, Bronwyn (2026). Indigenizing research via Talanoa: Vā in higher education. Anthropology and Education Quarterly, 57 (1) e70053, 1-14. doi: 10.1111/aeq.70053
Enari, Dion, Pale, Maryanne, Fainga’a-Manusione, Inez, Faleolo, Ruth L., Faleolo, Thom G., Stanley, Glenda, Lakisa, David, Haua, Innez, Ravulo, Jioji, Akbar, Heena, Matapo, Jacoba, Cammock, Radilaite and Ualesi, Yvonne (2025). The experiences of Indigenous academics in the diaspora. Educational Philosophy and Theory, 57 (8), 725-741. doi: 10.1080/00131857.2025.2468424
Akbar, Heena, Contor, Madison, Niumata, Winnie, Anderson, Debra and Gallegos, Danielle (2024). Correction: Effectiveness of the Pasifika Women’s Diabetes Wellness Program (PWDWP): Protocol for a Pilot Intervention and Feasibility Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Research Protocols, 13 e65322, e65322. doi: 10.2196/65322
Akbar, Heena, Contor, Madison, Niumata, Winnie, Anderson, Debra and Gallegos, Danielle (2023). Effectiveness of a Pasifika Women’s Diabetes Wellness Program (PWDWP): Protocol for a pilot intervention and feasibility RCT study. JMIR Research Protocols, 13 (1) e55435, 1-14. doi: 10.2196/55435
Al-Kassimi, Khaled, Kwan, Angela T.H., Portnoff, Jacob S. and Akbar, Heena (2023). The political and legal determinants of CALD communities: an unhealthy (modern) healthcare paradigm. Baltic Journal of Law and Politics, 16 (3), 1046-1055. doi: 10.2478/bjlp-2023-0000083
Akbar, Heena G., Gallegos, Danielle, Aunty Wynn Te Kani of Te Whānau-ā-Apanui, Ngāti Porou decent, Anderson, Debra and Windsor, Carol (2023). Towards collective community education: Pasifika diabetes health forums in Southeast Queensland, Australia. AlterNative, 19 (4), 933-944. doi: 10.1177/11771801231196777
Akbar, Heena, Radclyffe, Charles J. T., Santos, Daphne, Mopio-Jane, Maureen and Gallegos, Danielle (2022). “Food Is Our Love Language”: Using talanoa to conceptualize food security for the Māori and Pasifika diaspora in South-East Queensland, Australia. Nutrients, 14 (10) 2020, 2020. doi: 10.3390/nu14102020
Akbar, Heena, Windsor, Carol, Gallegos, Danielle, Manu-Sione, Inez and Anderson, Debra (2022). Using Talanoa in community-based participatory research with Australian Pacific Islander women with type 2 diabetes. Progress in Community Health Partnerships: Research, Education, and Action, 16 (1), 119-128. doi: 10.1353/cpr.2022.0011
Akbar, Heena, Gallegos, Danielle, Anderson, Debra and Windsor, Carol (2021). Deconstructing type 2 diabetes self-management of Australian Pacific Islander women: Using a community participatory research and talanoa approach. Health and Social Care in the Community, 30 (5), 1988-1999. doi: 10.1111/hsc.13580
Akbar, Heena, Anderson, Debra and Gallegos, Danielle (2015). Predicting intentions and behaviours in populations with or at-risk of diabetes: A systematic review. Preventive Medicine Reports, 2, 270-282. doi: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2015.04.006
Tindle, Elizabeth, McCarthy, Maria, Lincoln, Debbie, Lawson, Lynda and Akbar, Heena (2011). Multicultural melting pot: painting for the planet. Congruence, 10 (3), 28-31.
Akbar, H., Hill, P. S., Rotem, A., Riley, I. D., Zwi, A. B., Marks, G. C. and Mark, T. (2005). Identifying competencies for Australian health professionals working in international health. Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health., 17 (2), 99-103. doi: 10.1177/101053950501700207
Conference Papers
Akbar, Heena, Hippolite, Tiana, Tupuola-Sorenson, Theresa and Faleolo, Ruth (2025). Empowering Pasifika youth: bridging knowledge, tradition, and leadership for a flourishing future. Indigenous Wellbeing Conference 2025: Walking Together, Flourishing Together: Pathways to Indigenous Wellbeing, Meanjin (Brisbane), QLD, Australia, 20-21 October 2025. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: Australian & New Zealand Mental Health Association.
Akbar, Heena (2025). Mana in action: Community-driven pathways to Pasifika wellness [Keynote Panel Address: Decolonising health: Indigenous-led solutions]. Indigenous Wellbeing Conference 2025: Walking Together, Flourishing Together: Pathways to Indigenous Wellbeing, Meanjin (Brisbane), QLD, Australia, 20-21October 2025. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: Australian & New Zealand Mental Health Association.
Akbar, Heena, Ryan, Kyle (Yuggera Ugarapul), Gray-Tuapawa, Tahi and Biumaiwai, Jaelyn (2025). Weaving presence—Embodied truth-telling and relational accountability in education and wellbeing [Keynote Address]. Indigenous Wellbeing Conference 2025: Walking Together, Flourishing Together: Pathways to Indigenous Wellbeing, Meanjin (Brisbane), QLD, Australia, 20 -21 October 2025. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: Australian & New Zealand Mental Health Association.
Akbar, H. and Niumata, W. (2025). Transforming health with digital storytelling: Lessons from Pasifika Women’s Diabetes Wellness Intervention. 2025 Preventive Health Conference, Canberra, ACT, Australia, 28-30 April 2025. Canberra, ACT, Australia: Public Health Association of Australia (PHAA).
Akbar, Heena, Gallegos-Rejas, Victor, Dettrick, Zoe, Niumata, Winnie, Anderson, Debra and Gallegos, Danielle (2025). Talanoa-based diabetes management: evaluating a co-designed intervention for Māori and Pasifika women. Preventive Health Conference 2025, Canberra, ACT Australia, 28-30 April 2025. Canberra, ACT Australia: Public Health Association of Australia.
Falelo, R. (Lute), Enari, D., Akbar, H., Ofe-Grant, M. B., Fox, L., Port, H., Ualesi, Y., Faleolo, T. G., Faleolo, S. T. V., Falelolo, L. M., Faloleolo, N.R. and 'llaiu, J.P. (2025). A Collective Response to Media and Medical Discrimination: The misleading and discriminatory comments by Kate Hawkesby, and the omission of a Māori and Pasifika voice.. Working to End Racial Oppression (WERO) Conference 2025, Hamilton, New Zealand, 9-12 February 2025. Hamilton, New Zealand: The Pā, The University of Waikato.
Akbar, Heena, Niumata, W., Hoori, R., Akbar, R. A., Pio, M., Syme, H. and Hussein, Z. (2024). The stories of our women: Pasifika Women’s Diabetes Wellness Program. Oceania Pacific Health Association (OPHA) Conference, Gold Coast, QLD Australia, 18-19 October 2024. Gold Coast, QLD Australia: Oceania Pacific Health Association (OPHA).
Akbar, Heena and Niumata, Winnie (2024). Pasifika Women’s Diabetes Wellness Program (PWDWP): The stories of our women. QLD Women’s Health Forum 2024, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 11 -12 July 2024. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: Queensland Women's Health Forum.
Nathan, V., Gilroy, D., Naresh, R., Akbar, H., Shah, S. and Yanes, T. (2024). Perceptions of South Asian Australians Towards Genetic Testing for Cardiovascular Disease. 72nd Annual Scientific Meeting of the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand, Perth, WA Australia, 1-4 August 2024. Chatswood, NSW Australia: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.hlc.2024.04.199
Akbar, Heena, Gallegos, Danielle and FOM Steering Committee (2024). Feeding our mana': Solutions for food security for Maori and Pasifika communities in Australia. World Public Health Nutrition Congress, London, United Kingdom, 10-13 June 2024. London, United Kingdom: World Public Health Nutrition Association.
Akbar, Heena, Gallegos, Danielle and FOM Steering Committee (2024). Indigenous approach to resilient food systems for Māori and Pasifika communities in Australia. World Public Health Nutrition Congress, London, United Kingdom, 10-13 June 2024. Westminster, London: World Public Health Nutrition Association.
Akbar, Heena (2022). Gender lens and Talanoa Indigenous perspective in diabetes research with Pacific women. IDF World Diabetes Congress, Lisbon, Portugal, 5 - 8 December 2022. Lisbon, Portugal: International Diabetes Federation.
Dewes, Ofa, Bay, Jacquie and Akbar, Heena (2022). Keynote Address & Talanoa Panel: Pacific health and wellbeing: Life course and trans-generational perspectives. Development of Health and Disease (DoHAD), Adelaide, SA Australia, 10 - 11 November 2022. Adelaide, SA, Australia: DoHAD.
Akbar, Heena (2022). Socio-cultural and lifestyle factors influencing health of Māori and Pasifika women: findings from Pasifika diabetes health forums. QLD Women's Health Forum , Toowoomba, QLD Australia, 12 - 13 September 2022. Women's Health Research Translational Research (WHRTN) .
Akbar, Heena and Gallegos, Danielle (2022). "Feeding Our Manaâ": Exploring food insecurity with Maori and Pasifika communities. Dieticians Australia 2022 Conference , Adelaide, SA Australia, 14 – 16 August 2022. Adelaide, SA Australia:
Akbar, Heena, Chow, Iree, Nuimata, Winnie, Te Kani, Wynn , Langan, Violet and Gallegos, Danielle (2021). Development of a Pasifika Women’s Diabetes Wellness Program: from the perspective of Māori and Pasifika women living in Queensland. Queensland Women’s Heath Forum, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 27-28 May, 2021. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: The Australian Health Research Alliance (AHRA) WHRTN.
Gallegos, Danielle and Akbar, Heena (2021). Feeding our Mana: food security for Pasifika communities. Queensland Women’s Heath Forum, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 27-28 May 2021. Brisbane, QLD Australia: AHRA Women’s Health Research Translation Network.
Baguley, Graeme, Akbar, Heena, Wang, Christine, Baek, Youngnam and Song, Jun Seok (2020). Sustaining research students’ support. ISANA ONAIR: 2020 Online Conference – Turning challenges into opportunities, Virtual, 3-4 and 8-9 December 2020. Hobart, TAS Australia: ISANA: International Education Association.
Natasha Taufatofua , Heena Akbar , Neil Cottrell and Adam La Caze (2020). Supporting medication adherence in the Maori and Pacific Islander community with type 2 diabetes in Australia. ASCEPT-APSA 2020 Joint Virtual Scientific Meeting: Oral Abstracts, Virtual, 24 -26 November 2020. Hamilton, QLD, Australia: ASCEPT Virtual .
Taufatofua, N., Cottrell, N., Akbar, H. and La Caze, A. (2020). Exploring type 2 diabetes and medication adherence in the Maori and Pacific Islander population: participant interviews. ASCEPT- APSA Joint Virtual Scientific Meeting 2020, Virtual, 24-26 November 2020. Brisbane, QLD Australia: Australasian Pharmaceutical Science Association (APSA).
Akbar, H. (2019). Socio-cultural factors influencing self-management of Australian Pacific Islander women with type 2 diabetes. International Diabetes Federation (IDF) Congress 2019, Busan, South Korea, 2nd December-6th December 2019. South Korea: IDF.
Akbar, H. (2019). Predictors of self-care for Australian Pacific women with type 2 diabetes. The 16th International Diabetes Epidemiology Symposium, Seoul, South Korea , 28th November-2nd December 2019. South Korea: IDEG.
Akbar, H. (2019). Using Talanoa to explore diabetes self-management of Australian Pacific Islander women with type 2 diabetes. Public Health Prevention Conference, Melbourne, VIC Australia, 12-14th June 2019. Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre: Public Health Association Australia.
Seminar Paper
Thesis
Akbar, Heena G. (2018). Socio-cultural context of managing type 2 diabetes in Australian Pacific Islander women living in Queensland. PhD Thesis, School of Exercise & Nutrition Sciences, Queensland University of Technology. doi: 10.5204/thesis.eprints.119162
Creative Works
Akbar, Heena, Niumata, Winnie, Hoori, Reo, Akbar, Ramiza A., Pio, Maria, Syme, Harata and Hussein, Ziya (2024). The Stories of Our Women: Pasifika Women’s Diabetes Wellness Program [Digital Stories]. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: Queensland University of Technology.
Akbar, Heena, Niumata, Winnie, Hoori, Reo, Akbar, Ramiza A, Pio, Maria, Syme, Harata and Hussein, Ziya (2023). The stories of our women: Pasifika Women’s Diabetes Wellness Program. Brisbane, QLD Australia: Community Mentors International.
Akbar, Heena (2016). Diabetes Prevention and Management: Stories from the Pasifika Communities in Queensland. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: Queensland University of Technology.
Research Reports
Zewdie, A., Akbar, H., Wolka, E., Hailu, L., Abdulkadir, S., Kebede, A., Azage, M., Castellanos-Reynosa, M. and Whittaker, M. (2024). Perceptions of gender equity among academic and research staff of selected training and research institutions involved in primary health care development in Ethiopia. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: University of Queensland.
Akbar, Heena, Gallegos, Danielle and Steering Committee (2022). Feeding Our Mana: exploring food insecurity with Māori and Pasifika communities in southeast Queensland. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: Queensland University of Technology.
Riley, I. D., Rotem, A., Zwi, A., Marks, G., Hill, P. S., Mark, T. and Akbar, H. (2003). Flexible Options for International Health in Australia. Canberra, ACT Australia: Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing.