Renowned health leader Dr Manasi Murthy is driving change in a unique intersection between chronic pain management and mental health, particularly for underrepresented communities and First Nations people.
“I’ve often had to advocate for ideas,” Dr Manasi Murthy tells Women’s Agenda. “There have been challenges absolutely but every challenge, has also been an opportunity to grow, to lead, and to show what’s possible. It hasn’t always been smooth, but it’s made me more determined to clear the path for others coming up behind me.”
“I remember early in my career, walking into a meeting where I was the only woman of color and definitely the youngest. I had the data, the insight, and the solution, but I still had to work twice as hard to be heard. That moment taught me something important: speaking up isn’t just about being brave, it’s about making space for others to do the same.”
“That’s what leadership means to me, using your voice not just to move forward, but to lift others as you go. If we want more inclusive, innovative spaces, we have to be willing to challenge the norms and invite others to do the same.”
This inspiring leadership has seen Dr Murthy recently recognised as the South Australian winner of the 2025 Australian Awards for Excellence in Women’s Leadership, which she’ll be accepting in Adelaide on May 16.
Dr Manasi Murthy says that throughout her career journey, she has “had the opportunity to mentor a lot of young scientists”, and she hopes this recognition will now “inspire the next generation”.
“I think a lot of women, myself included often feel like they don’t quite fit in,” says Dr Manasi Murthy. “But the truth is: our differences are not our weakness. They’re our strength. Women belong in every space, even the ones where they’ve historically been underrepresented. And we need to start backing ourselves not in spite of what sets us apart, but because of it.”
“If you feel different, that’s not a sign you don’t belong it’s a sign you’re exactly where you need to be,” she adds. “Being different means, you bring something new, something valuable. It means you’re expanding what’s possible in that space. We don’t move things forward by blending in we do it by showing up fully as ourselves, even when it feels uncomfortable. Especially then.”
Back in 2022, Dr Manasi Murthy was Women’s Agenda’s very own Emerging Leader in Health at the annual Leadership Awards. —a title that reflected both her vision and impact in a field at the intersection of science, health, and equity.
With a strong foundation in leadership and research, Dr Manasi explores how biopsychosocial factors and culture shape the complex connection between chronic pain and mental health. Her work bridges disciplines and challenges traditional models, aiming to create more inclusive, patient-centred care.
Beyond her research, she serves as Director of Membership for Harvard Alumni for Global Development, where she helps build global networks focused on sustainable change and collaborative leadership.
A transformative health journey
Ever since her first encounter with the concept of “pain” that evolved into a chronic condition, Dr Manasi Murthy has been on a mission to untangle the complexities of life with chronic pain, particularly for culturally diverse and First Nations communities in Australia.
When she was only 15-years-old, Dr Manasi Murthy endured severe third-degree burns from a fire accident. She was reassured that the discomfort that arose would diminish when her injuries healed, but the truth of the matter was that persistent pain stuck around and eventually turned into a chronic condition.
“This experience sparked a deep curiosity in me to explore the multifaceted nature of pain, whether it stands alone or as a symptom of other health issues like arthritis, pelvic pain, or irritable bowel syndrome,” she said.
Dr Manasi Murthy’s personal journey towards health has led her to travel around the world, gathering insight from marginalised communities across India, Australia, Europe and the USA.
While doing this, she says she developed a profound commitment to helping individuals define what ‘health’ means for them personally.
She reflects. “Having lived in five different countries, I’ve witnessed racism, discrimination and bias in many forms. But what really affects me deeply, in a personal way, is when people don’t receive the care they deserve in a healthcare setting.”
For Dr Manasi Murthy, health isn’t just the absence of illness, it’s about giving everyone access to the resources and support they need to live meaningful, fulfilling lives. “I believe everyone deserves the opportunity to achieve good health. That means equitable access to resources, care, and the ability to live a life of purpose.”
Health equity
With the goal to achieve health equity for all, Dr Manasi Murthy has been building the CHERISH program, which develops individualised care programs integrating mental health and social support to improve patient outcomes.
The concept for CHERISH became clear to Dr Manasi Murthy after presenting at the international eMHIC, mental health conference in Canada, where she received a powerful piece of advice: to truly integrate culture into mental health practice, it needed to be done through a solid business model.
Inspired, Dr Manasi Murthy took that advice to heart and has been relentlessly pursuing partnerships with local councils, state governments, patient advocacy groups and organizations eager to drive real change.
Her vision for CHERISH is bold: to create a freely accessible, culturally tailored resource that can transform the way migrants in Australia access mental health support.
“Many migrants still hesitate to approach mental health services because they don’t feel they belong or understand the system here,” she says. “I want to provide resources that speak directly to them—resources that address the complexities of family dynamics, offer strategies for navigating challenges in the workplace, and guide them in integrating mental health with their cultural values.”
While there are mental health resources available in Australia, Dr Manasi Murthy highlights a critical gap: “These resources aren’t designed with the cultural nuances that migrants bring. The Western approach often separates physical and mental health in a way that doesn’t resonate with many cultures. What’s missing is an approach that sees the whole person integrating mental health, culture, and community.”
Through CHERISH, Dr Manasi Murthy is on a mission to bridge that gap ensuring that every migrant has the tools and support they need to live a healthy, meaningful life.
The intersection between culture and mental health is not an easy space that Dr Manasi Murthy has chosen to enact positive change, but she says it’s important not to shy away from taking “a difficult path” over the more well-established ones.
She urges others “not to be afraid of it,” leading with “resilience and an unwavering sense of empathy.”
“To me, leadership isn’t about fitting into a rigid mould,” she says. “When people think of a ‘leader,’ they often imagine someone stern and detached. But that’s not the kind of leader I want to be. True leadership is about staying grounded in who you are, bringing your whole self to the table and leading with authenticity, not conforming to outdated ideas of what a leader should look like.”
“There’s more room than ever in our communities for people to show up as their authentic selves, and that’s something worth celebrating. My hope is that my journey encourages others to recognize the endless opportunities around them and to believe that there is always space for everyone—no matter their background or how different they might feel.”
Hear from Dr Manasi Murthy as she accepts the SA Award for Excellence in Women’s Leadership at the Australian Women’s Leadership Symposium in Adelaide on the 16th May. Learn more and get your Super-Saver tickets today, visit www.wla.edu.au/adelaide/