Wendy Li

Dr Wendy Li is an Associate Professor of Psychology and a senior mental health researcher and academic leader at James Cook University (JCU), Australia. She is the Founding Chair of the AusAsian Mental Health Research Alliance (AMHRA), founder and Head of the Mindfulness Lab @ JCU, and President-Elect of the Asian Association of Social Psychology (AASP). These roles reflect her sustained leadership in advancing culturally responsive, community-engaged social and mental health research across the Asia–Pacific region.

A certified MBSR teacher (trained at Brown University), A/Prof Li has led and co-designed evidence-based mindfulness and psychosocial interventions for veterans, police officers, First Nations peoples, CALD youth, individuals living with chronic illness, and women affected by domestic and family violence. Her work is distinguished by methodological rigour, strong community partnerships, and a clear commitment to translational impact.

A/Prof Li has secured over $600,000 in competitive funding across mental health, ageing, migration, and gambling harm research. She holds Visiting Professor appointments at Shanxi University and Taiyuan Psychiatric Hospital, supporting international collaboration and cross-cultural mental health research.

A/Prof Li's scholarly leadership includes service as Co Editor-in-Chief of the Asian Journal of Social Psychology; Associate Editor for leading international journals of Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being, Mindfulness, and Journal of Pacific Rim Psychology; and Editor-in-Chief of the forthcoming Palgrave Handbook of Third-Wave Psychotherapies (published in October 2025). She has received multiple awards recognising research excellence and leadership. She maintains an active record of service to culturally diverse communities in Australia and New Zealand, serving as the founding Chairperson of the Hamilton Chinese Golden Age Society in New Zealand, and President of the Townsville Chinese Club (2014-2020).