Ioanna Liakakos was born in Aigion, Peloponnesus, Greece. Part of a large and impoverished family she persisted with her education and, despite interruptions, completed high school in Aigion. Owing to economic difficulties she was unable to pursue further education. After high school, Liakakos worked in various jobs in Athens (1953-1956) and then in Aigion ((1956-1958) before deciding to migrate.
In Australia she worked in a cigarette factory, in textile factories and for twenty-one years in a milk bar. From 1983 she worked as a library assistant in the Greek book section of the public library of Northcote. Her work has been read on Radio 3EA in 1983 and on SBS TV in 1987 and 1990. She has read on many public occasions, mainly for the Greek-Australian Cultural League.