Dermot Nestor

Professor Dermot Nestor holds the Chair of Hebrew Bible in ACU's Faculty of Theology and Philosophy. Previously serving as Executive Dean and National Head of School, he specializes in ancient Israelite identity, biblical archaeology, and material culture studies, with theoretical frameworks drawing from Pierre Bourdieu and cognitive anthropology.

Research leadership includes establishing Australia's Ancient Israel Program ($1.9M funding) and the Loyola Institute. His publications critically examine ethnicity constructs in biblical scholarship, including Cognitive Perspectives on Israelite Identity (T&T Clark).

Supervision spans PhD projects on Israelite identity, trauma hermeneutics, and ecological theology. Awards include Vice-Chancellor's Teaching Excellence (2018) and competitive fellowships. Currently leading collaborations with Vatican bodies on water justice and Laudato Si' implementation.

• Accolades: Government of Ireland Scholarship, Carson Biblical Prize
• Major Projects: Laudato Si' Action Platform, Global Compact on Education
• Public Engagement: Uluru Statement presentation to Pope Francis (2022)