Dr Nicola Fa’avale is a respected public health researcher and community advocate, known for her ability to translate complex ideas into practical, people-centred solutions. She holds a PhD in Public Health and has published widely across health, youth culture, identity, urban design, wellbeing, and community development.

Nicola’s academic and professional work is driven by a passion for operationalising research, ensuring that knowledge leads to meaningful, sustainable change. Her leadership is grounded in both intellectual rigour and lived experience, and she is deeply committed to creating systems that reflect the strengths and aspirations of the communities they serve.

As Director of the MANA Pasifika Research Centre, Nicola leads innovative, culturally grounded research that informs policy, practice, and service design across Australia and the Pacific. She brings clarity, care, and strategic insight to everything she does and, most importantly, is proudly mum to four children, grounding her work in the realities of family, culture, and community.