Imeleta Lia-Norris
Imeleta Lia-Norris is a cultural innovator and mental health disruptor whose work lives at the intersection of tradition, healing, and community power. As founder of Manumea Collective Inc., she champions decolonised, art-based approaches to mental wellbeing that speak directly to Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities. For more than two decades, Imeleta has transformed lives through cultural immersion therapy - fusing ocean therapy, storytelling, music, and movement to reconnect young people with identity, resilience, and hope. Her grassroots leadership has seeded initiatives like Pasifika Families Inc., Pasifika Playgroup, Pasifika Vibes Festival, and Women of Culture in Business, all grounded in collective care and generational legacy. She has helped carve out safe, joyful spaces where families can belong, youth can rise, and culture is celebrated as medicine. Imeleta walks her own healing journey alongside her daughter, giving her work unmatched authenticity and heart. She doesn’t just speak on change - she lives it, breathes it, and invites others to rise within it.
Abstracts this author is presenting: