Meet, Amanda.
Amanda Moors-Mailei is a Sāmoan educator, strategist and founder of Moana Impact Studio, a Pacific-led social enterprise working across education, community and social impact. With over a decade of experience in higher education, she has led the design and delivery of equity strategies, programs and policy that expand access, participation and belonging for underrepresented students.
Amanda is a fierce advocate for culturally responsive practice, racial justice, and challenging dominant narratives that exclude communities within the Australian education system. Her work sits at the intersection of policy, community engagement and systems change, grounded in Pacific and Indigenous knowledge frameworks.
Amanda Moors-Mailei: Co-Founder, Director.
Samoan
Amanda’s ancestral homeland is Samoa, and she hails from the villages of Lepea, Saleufi, Siumu, Faga and Fagamalo. Born in Pōneke (Wellington), Aotearoa, Amanda is a proud mother to Keelin and Taj. Together with her husband Sione, she raises her family on the lands of the Cammeraygal people of the Guringai tribe, within the Eora Nation in Northern Sydney. In her spare time, Amanda can be found on the sidelines of the footy field or at home with her cat, Lebron James.
When asked what drives her passion for education, Amanda responds without hesitation: “Pacific people.” She speaks to the experiences of migration, resettlement, resilience and racism, and the aspirations of her aiga and community. “The need to write our own narratives is critical. I truly believe in the transformational impact that access to quality education can have on individuals, families and communities.”
Amanda reflects on the early conversations that led to the formation of the Australian Pasifika Educators Network (APEN) as a pivotal moment in recognising both the strength and unmet needs of Pasifika educators in Australia. What began as a space for connection has since grown into a national movement advancing Pasifika education, leadership and equity.
While acknowledging the ongoing work ahead, Amanda is energised by the collective: “I am inspired by the commitment of our people to show up for one another and to lead change together.”
Collaboration remains central to her vision. Amanda emphasises the importance of working alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities with respect and integrity, recognising the shared and distinct responsibilities of Pasifika peoples living on Indigenous land.
Her advice to Pasifika educators is to draw deeply on their ancestral knowledge: “Too often we separate who we are from the spaces we work in. But our cultural ways of knowing, being and doing are exactly what is needed to drive meaningful change.”