Heena Akbar

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. Health and Wellbeing of Māori and Pasifika communities; Women's health with a particular focus on chronic condition prevention and management; Community-based participatory action research; Cultural and social determinants of health; Indigenous methodologies (Pacific Indigenous approaches); First Nations Health and Wellbeing

[2026] A nationally representative repeated cross-sectional study of 10-year substance use trends among culturally and linguistically diverse Australians. Lee, Yan Yee, Sun, Tianze, Connor, Jason P., Gartner, Coral, Lai, Germaine, Akbar, Heena and Lim, Carmen C.W. (2026). International Journal of Drug Policy, 150 105179, 105179-150. doi: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2026.105179 [2026] CSANZ and ACRA position statement on quality use of telehealth in cardiovascular care. 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.,