Professor Dan Meagher is a Chair in Law at Deakin University's Faculty of Business and Law, where he leads research in constitutional law and statutory interpretation. He serves as Director of Research at Deakin Law School and actively contributes to legal scholarship through publications, editorial work, and supervision of doctoral candidates. Doctor of Philosophy, University of New South Wales Master of Laws, Monash University Bachelor of Economics, Monash University Bachelor of Laws (LLB), Monash University His research focuses on constitutional law, statutory interpretation, and human rights protections. He explores the principle of legality, responsible government norms, and the interplay between common law and statutory frameworks, often advocating for enhanced rights protections through judicial interpretation. Professor Meagher's scholarly output highlights trends in Australian constitutionalism, including proportionality in secondary legislation, non-discrimination principles, and the evolution of common law rights. His work bridges doctrinal analysis with practical implications for legislative drafting and judicial review. Elected Fellow of the Australian Academy of Law Comments Editor for the Public Law Review Director of Research at Deakin Law School He supervises doctoral research on topics like human rights protection and legislative drafting models. His professional activities include co-editing major legal texts and contributing to debates on constitutional evolution and judicial interpretation.
Dr. François Soyer is an Associate Professor at the University of New England's School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences, specializing in Early Modern History. He holds a PhD from the University of Cambridge (2007) and has held academic positions at the University of Southampton and the University of Adelaide. His research focuses on anti-Semitism, the Spanish and Portuguese Inquisitions, gender/sexuality history, and colonial empires. He has authored multiple books and articles, including Popularizing anti-Semitism in early modern Spain and its empire (2014) and Antisemitic conspiracy theories in the early modern Iberian world (2019). His work often examines how religious persecution intersected with medical, artistic, and legal practices. Education: PhD in History, University of Cambridge (2007) MPhil in History, University of Cambridge (2003) MA Honours, University of St. Andrews (2002) Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice, University of Southampton (2011) Research Interests: Anti-Semitic propaganda and conspiracy theories Inquisitorial archives and legal practices Gender transgression and queer histories Censorship of art and religious imagery His recent publications explore the Blood Libel legend, the trial of Catalan cross-dresser Maria Duran, and the emotional dimensions of religious conversion. He has been awarded fellowships from the Royal Historical Society and the Parkes Institute. His current projects include tracing the origins of anti-Jewish iconography in colonial Peru and analyzing the role of emotion in early modern religious trials.
Lisa L. Wynn is Professor in the School of Social Sciences (Discipline of Anthropology) at Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia. She serves as Associate Editor of American Ethnologist (2022-2027) and previously held leadership positions including President of the Australian Anthropological Society (2020) and membership on the AAS Executive Committee (2018-2021). Wynn earned her PhD in 2003 from Princeton University's Anthropology Department, followed by postdoctoral positions at Princeton's Office of Population Research and Center for Health and Wellbeing. Her research program centers on gender, reproductive health technologies, sexuality, and religion, with continuous fieldwork in Egypt since 1998. More recently, she has expanded her work to examine ethics review bureaucracies, lay understandings of infectious disease, and young adult vaping behaviors in Australia. Her methodological approach combines deep ethnographic engagement with critical analysis of how power structures intersect with medical technologies and bodily experiences, particularly among marginalized communities. Analysis of her recent publications reveals an evolving trajectory that maintains her foundational interest in Middle Eastern contexts while increasingly addressing digital spaces (as seen in studies of online fatwas) and contemporary health crises (including pandemic responses and vaping culture), with consistent attention to bodily autonomy and reproductive justice. Her significant scholarly contributions have been recognized through multiple prestigious awards: Vice Chancellor's Teaching Excellence Award from Macquarie University (2009) Australian Award for Teaching Excellence (2012) OLT National Teaching Fellowship (2012-2014) Leeds Honor Prize from the Society for Urban, National, and Transnational/Global Anthropology (2008) Wynn actively mentors graduate researchers specializing in gender, sexuality, medicine and technology, with particular emphasis on sexual and reproductive health. Her research program has received substantial funding from the Social Science Research Council, Australian Research Council, Office of Learning and Teaching, and Hort Innovation. Notably, she co-led a major international project to develop multilingual sexual and reproductive health resources that have reached millions of users across 208 countries. She also created a free online ethics training program for humanities and social sciences researchers at Macquarie University. Through collaborations with Cambridge Reproductive Health Consultants and other partners, Wynn has successfully translated academic research into accessible public resources, including evidence-based information on medication abortion available in six languages (English, Spanish, French, Arabic, Turkish, and Farsi).
Dr. Kerstin Steiner is an Associate Professor at the Law School, La Trobe University. She holds adjunct roles at the University of Melbourne's Asian Law Centre and Centre for Indonesian Law, Islam and Society. Her leadership roles include Director of Research (2021), Acting Head of Law School (2019), and mentorship in promotions programs. Education: PhD, Melbourne University LLM, Melbourne University LLB, University of Bielefeld, Germany Graduate Certificate in Higher Education, Monash University Research Interests: Dr. Steiner specializes in comparative legal studies focusing on Southeast Asia, particularly intersections of law with politics, economics, and society, with a strong emphasis on Islam's role in judicial systems. She has conducted groundbreaking work on legal pluralism, religious governance, and anti-corruption frameworks in Malaysia and the Philippines. Key Research Trends: Her recent work (2023-2025) highlights evolving legal challenges in Southeast Asia, including digital hate speech mitigation, Islamic financial systems, and constitutional reforms in pluralistic societies. Earlier research (2017-2020) centered on corruption dynamics (e.g., 1MDB scandal), Shariah court systems, and gender equity in legal frameworks. Awards: VC Cultural Quality Award (2024), Distinguished Scholar Award (PHISO, 2018), Multiple Research Excellence Awards (2017) Grants: $100k+ for international study tours; ARC Discovery Project (2016-2020) on Islam, Law, and the Philippine State Labs/Teams: La Trobe Asia Steering Committee, International Legal Studies Research Group (ILSRG), Working Group on Islamophobia
Associate Professor Samantha Schulz is a sociologist of education at The University of Adelaide's School of Education, within the Faculty of Arts, Business, Law and Economics. She specializes in educational justice, focusing on First Nations education, race critical theory, affect studies, and gender equity. Her work spans international contexts including Kenya, India, China, and Australia's APY Lands. She is co-convenor of the Pedagogies for Justice Research Group, affiliated with CRESI and the Fay Gale Centre for Research on Gender. As Program Director for the Master of Teaching program, she emphasizes socially engaged pedagogies. Recent research includes the ARC-funded 'Culturally Responsive Schooling' project (2022-24) and studies on gender-based violence in educational settings. Her publications explore decolonial methodologies, critical race theory, and the intersection of affect and pedagogy. Her grants include leadership roles in projects addressing Indigenous sovereignty in education, culturally responsive curriculum design, and restorative practices. Notable collaborations involve UniSA and Open University of Cyprus. She co-edits the Routledge 'Local Global Issues in Education' series and actively publishes on topics ranging from toxic masculinity in academia to anti-racist policy frameworks. Her advising focuses on fostering critical scholarship in Masters and PhD candidates, with research supervision emphasizing justice-oriented educational practices. She leads initiatives like 'Teaching in an era of digital influence' and has contributed to policy discussions on preventing violent extremism in schools. Her work bridges theoretical rigor with practical advocacy for marginalized communities in education systems globally.
Julian Millie is a Professor in Indonesian Studies at Monash University, Faculty of Arts, where he coordinates and teaches in the Indonesian Studies program. His academic work bridges anthropology, religious studies, and Southeast Asian studies, with a focus on the social and political dimensions of Islamic practice in Indonesia. His research centers on embodied Islamic routines, including preaching, ritual, and commemoration of regional Islamic figures. He has led major ARC-funded projects such as Preaching Islam: politics, performers and publics and Glocalisation and sub-national Islams , and currently leads the international project Islamic Bureaucracies and Pious Publics in Turkey and Indonesia . Anthropology of Indonesia Islamic Culture and Society Ritual and Religion Public Islam and Preaching Social Change in Muslim Societies Political Anthropology His recent publications (2023–2024) reveal a continued focus on Islamic consumerism, reformist critiques of consumption, ritual embodiment, and the politics of Islamic education. These works span journals like Asian Studies Review and edited volumes on preaching and Malay-Indonesian Islamic studies, showing strong interdisciplinary reach into sociology, cultural studies, and education policy. Julian Millie has contributed to scholarly discourse through editorial roles, including guest editorships for Asian Studies Review (2023) and International Journal of Cultural Studies (2013). His media engagements highlight his commitment to public anthropology, commenting on the state of Indonesian studies in Australia and Islamic education policy. He is actively involved in research grants, including current funding from 2020 to 2025, and has collaborated with scholars across Australia, Indonesia, and Turkey. While no formal advisees are listed, his leadership in research projects suggests mentorship and team coordination. He is a central figure in the study of contemporary Indonesian Islam, contributing to both academic and public understanding.
Peyvand Firouzeh is a Senior Lecturer in Islamic Art History at the University of Sydney, specializing in medieval and early modern Islamic art and architecture. She holds a BA and MA from the University of Art in Tehran and a MPhil/PhD from the University of Cambridge (Camb.). Her research focuses on Sufi material cultures, Indian Ocean artistic exchanges, and the intersection of art with politics and religion in the Islamic world. She is a member of the Vere Gordon Childe Centre and affiliated with the Art Gallery of New South Wales and the Sydney Asian Art Series. Dr. Firouzeh’s current projects include a monograph on Ne’matullahi shrines (Indiana UP, 2025) and a DECRA-funded study on fifteenth-century Deccan art networks. Her teaching emphasizes object-based learning, addressing contemporary issues like cultural heritage restitution and Islamophobia. She has received major grants from the Australian Research Council, Getty Foundation, and British Museum. Key Awards: DECRA (2023–2026), Getty Scholar Grant (2022–2023), Sydney Teaching Excellence Award (2022) Research Groups: Association for the Study of Persianate Societies, Power Institute’s Sydney Asian Art Series
Associate Professor David Smith is a Senior Lecturer in American Politics and Foreign Policy at the University of Sydney, jointly appointed between the United States Studies Centre and the School of Social and Political Sciences. Dr. Smith earned his BA from the University of Sydney and his PhD from the University of Michigan. His academic journey has positioned him as a leading expert in American politics with a distinctive Australian perspective. Dr. Smith's research focuses on the intersection of religion and politics, American and comparative political development, collective violence, and theories of the state. His work often examines how religious identity shapes political behavior and policy outcomes, with particular attention to the American context. His comparative approach extends to examining Australian politics through the lens of American political development, creating a unique transnational perspective that informs both fields. His recent publications demonstrate a strong trend toward examining the relationship between identity politics, religious values, and public policy. He has made significant contributions to understanding vaccine policy acceptance across political spectrums, the role of religion in foreign policy decisions, and the dynamics of racism and anti-racism in contemporary politics. His research bridges theoretical political science with practical policy implications, particularly in the areas of public health communication and international relations ethics. Dr. Smith has supervised several graduate students including Anastasiya BYESYEDINA working on "The Re-construction of Ukrainian Identity During Revolutions" and Yiyang XU researching "Rationality and Beauty in International Politics." He is currently leading an Australian Research Council Discovery Project titled "The ideologies and practices of anti-racism in Australia" alongside colleagues Soutphommasane T and Park J.
Stephen Bullivant is Professorial Research Fellow in Theology and Sociology at the University of Notre Dame Australia (Sydney Campus), School of Philosophy & Theology, and also Professor of Theology and the Sociology of Religion at St Mary's University, London. He holds doctorates from Oxford (Theology) and Warwick (Sociology), and directs the Benedict XVI Centre for Religion and Society at St Mary's. His research spans the sociology of religion, Catholic theology, atheism, nonreligion, and religion’s interaction with science and technology. Key areas include Catholic disaffiliation, secularization, empirical studies of Christianity, and the abuse crisis in the Church. He has published extensively, including major works like Mass Exodus , The Oxford Handbook of Atheism , and The Cambridge History of Atheism . The recent articles reflect a strong interdisciplinary focus on Catholicism, secular trends, and moral theology. They show a consistent methodological blend of empirical data, sociological analysis, and theological reflection, particularly on British and American religious contexts. Topics include youth commitment, liturgical change, conscience, and ecclesial power structures. Fellow, International Society for Science and Religion (2019–) Fellow, Higher Education Academy (2010–) Fellow, Word on Fire Institute (2019–) Co-director, Nonreligion and Secularity Research Network (2008–14) Prof. Bullivant has led and co-led numerous research grants, including major projects funded by the John Templeton Foundation, Arts and Humanities Research Council, and Porticus UK. He supervises research in theology and sociology of religion and collaborates widely across institutions. He is actively engaged in public scholarship, with media contributions in BBC, The Guardian, The New York Times, and EWTN. He is also involved in editorial work for journals such as Secularism and Nonreligion , Antiphon , and the International Journal for Evangelization and Catechetics .
Dr. Aaron Ghiloni serves as an Honorary Senior Research Fellow in Religious Studies at the School of Historical and Philosophical Inquiry, Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, at The University of Queensland. He is the author of Islam as Education: Pedagogies of Pilgrimage, Prophecy, and Jihad (2019) and John Dewey among the Theologians (2012), and editor of World Religions and their Missions (2015, 2nd ed. 2022). He also serves as Associate Editor for the journal Religious Education . Dr. Ghiloni earned his Doctor of Philosophy from The University of Queensland. His educational background forms the foundation for his interdisciplinary approach that bridges philosophy, theology, and educational theory. Dr. Ghiloni's research focuses on the intersection of religion and education, with particular expertise in Islam, Christianity, and interreligious studies. His work explores how John Dewey's pragmatist philosophy can inform religious education and interfaith dialogue. He examines educational approaches to supernaturalism, religious formation, and the role of religion in democratic societies. His scholarship addresses critical questions about how religious traditions can be taught respectfully in pluralistic contexts while maintaining academic rigor. Dr. Ghiloni's scholarly output demonstrates a consistent focus on religious education from multiple perspectives. His work bridges theological inquiry with educational theory, particularly through the lens of John Dewey's pragmatism. Recent publications emphasize interfaith education, comparative approaches to religious missions, and the challenges of teaching religion in pluralistic societies. His research shows an evolving trajectory from examining specific religious traditions to broader questions about religious education methodology and philosophy. Dr. Ghiloni actively supervises doctoral students working in religion and culture. He has served as Associate Advisor for at least one completed PhD dissertation on Wide-Awake In God's World: Bible Engagement For Teenage Spiritual Formation In A Culture Of Expressive Individualism (2018). His teaching portfolio at UQ includes subjects such as History of the Supernatural , Belief and Unbelief , World Religions , Spirituality in the Everyday , and Western Religious Thought from the Middle Ages to the Present .
Hakan Coruh is a Senior Lecturer in Islamic Studies at the Centre for Islamic Studies and Civilisation, Charles Sturt University. He joined the university in 2015 as a lecturer and was promoted to Senior Lecturer in November 2021. Dr. Coruh has served as the Higher Degree Research Coordinator (HDR) for master's and PhD candidates at the center from 2020 to 2022. He is actively involved in multiple academic associations including the Australian Association of Islamic and Muslim Studies (AAIMS), CRES (Centre for Religion, Ethics and Society), and PAPER (Practical and Public Ethics Research group) at Charles Sturt University. Dr. Coruh obtained his Bachelor of Divinity (Ilahiyat) degree from the Faculty of Divinity at Sakarya University. In 2007, he completed his master's degree in Qur'anic exegesis (tafsīr) at the same university. Between 2003 and 2008, he actively participated in academic circles and centers such as İSAM (Centre for Islamic Studies) in Istanbul. In 2015, he successfully earned his PhD from Australian Catholic University, focusing his research on the early modern exegesis of the Qur'an, specifically studying the works of Said Nursi, Muhammad 'Abduh, and Sir Ahmad Khan. Dr. Coruh specializes in Qur'anic exegesis (tafsīr) and actively teaches and writes on subjects related to Qur'anic studies, classical exegesis, and contemporary approaches to the Qur'an and Islam. His academic interests encompass various fields, including classical and modern Qur'anic exegesis, contemporary Islamic thought, Islamic Legal Theories (usul al-fiqh) and Jurisprudence (fiqh), Islamic Ethics (akhlaq), Islamic theology, Medieval Classics (Islamic, Christian, and Jewish), and Comparative Theology. His teaching includes subjects such as Usul al-Tafsir, Usul al-Fiqh, Islamic Family Law and Society, and Islamic Jurisprudence of Five Pillars. Dr. Coruh's research output shows a strong focus on Qur'anic hermeneutics, particularly examining the works of key figures like Bediuzzaman Said Nursi and Muhammad 'Abduh. His publications demonstrate interdisciplinary approaches, connecting Islamic studies with contemporary issues such as religious freedom, science and religion dialogue, bioethics, and interfaith relations. He has made significant contributions to understanding the relationship between traditional Islamic scholarship and modern contexts, especially regarding topics like religious freedom (Qur'an 2:256), the methodology of Qur'anic exegesis, and Islamic responses to contemporary challenges. Dr. Coruh supervises multiple research students, including PhD candidates David Drennan, Sarkhan Gasimov, and Nadia El-Mouelhy (as co-supervisor), as well as Master's students Ikramullah Ahmad and Ensar Cutahija. His supervision topics cover diverse areas such as Islamic legal theory, interfaith relations, and contemporary Islamic thought. Dr. Coruh is actively engaged with various academic communities, serving as a member of the CISAC Research Team, CISAC School Board, Sufi Studies Network at Monash University, and the Comparative Theology Reading Group at Australian Catholic University. In 2023, he held a visiting research fellow position at the Center for Islamic Legislation and Ethics (CILE) at Hamad Bin Khalifa University in Qatar.
Kevin Carrico is a Senior Lecturer in Chinese Studies at Monash University and Research Director for the School of Languages, Literatures, Cultures and Linguistics. He holds a PhD in Sociocultural Anthropology from Cornell University (2013), focusing on nationalist identification through China's Han Clothing Movement. His research focuses on nationalism theories, ethnic relations in China, Hong Kong politics, and Tibetan history. Notable works include The Great Han: Race, Nationalism, and Tradition in China Today (2017) and Two Systems, Two Countries (2022), the first English-language study of Hong Kong's independence movement. Current projects include ethnographic research on pro-China activists in Taiwan. His work is funded by the U.S. Department of Education, Australian Research Council, and Chiang Ching-kuo Foundation. He translates Tibetan and Chinese works, including Tsering Woeser's Tibet on Fire and Guan Jun's Silencing Chinese Media .曾为香港苹果日报专栏作家，该报于2021年因政治压力关闭。His media contributions appear in Foreign Policy, the Age, and Hong Kong Free Press. He supervises PhD students researching compatible topics in Chinese politics, nationalism, and cultural studies. Grants include two major projects (2018-2024) on Hong Kong nationalism construction.
Benjamin Day is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of International Relations at the Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs, Australian National University (ANU). His research focuses on leaders' roles in foreign policy decision-making, particularly how leaders drive policy change. He co-authored *Foreign Policy Analysis: Classic and Contemporary Theory* (3rd ed., 2019), a leading textbook in the field. His recent work explores leaders' 'thinking practices' about global order, informed by elite interviews with over 100 politicians and policymakers. Education: BA (University of Queensland) BEcon (University of Queensland) MIS (University of Queensland) PhD (ANU, 2018) Research Interests: Political Decision Making and Foreign Aid Leaders and World Order Aid Policy Dynamics Elite Influence in Policymaking Academia-Policymaker Bridging Affiliations and Fellowships: Partners around the Globe Fellow, NATO Defence College (2025) Visiting Fellow, University of Edinburgh (2023) Australian National Fellow, King’s College London (2019) Centre Associate, ANU Development Policy Centre (since 2016) Contributions: Regularly publishes in platforms like *The Strategist*, *Devpolicy Blog*, and *The Conversation*. Designs courses for diplomats and public servants via the ANU Diplomacy Forum. Previously worked in international development for a decade, including health sector reform in Papua New Guinea. Labs/Teams: Active in the ANU’s Development Policy Centre and collaborates with institutions globally to advance policy-relevant research on foreign aid and leadership.
Andrew Milne is a Lecturer in the Discipline of Philosophy within the School of Humanities at The University of Western Australia. He teaches undergraduate units including Aesthetics (PHIL3002), Philosophy of Religion (PHIL2003), Metaphysics (PHIL3001), and co-teaches Continental Philosophy (PHIL3005) with Nin Kirkham. His research spans Nietzsche studies, philosophy of art, and continental philosophy with publications on Nietzsche, Keynes, and Susan Sontag. Current projects examine Stanley Cavell, Louis Armstrong, Howard Hodgkin, Ernest Hemingway, and Henry Miller, reflecting interdisciplinary engagement with literature, music, and visual arts. His work frequently intersects cultural criticism, political theory, and aesthetics. Analysis of his publications reveals consistent focus on philosophical interpretation of artistic media, particularly photography's relationship to memory and reality. His scholarship bridges historical analysis (Nietzsche, Keynes) with contemporary cultural critique, often appearing in both academic journals and public forums like The Conversation. The recurring themes of mysticism, polemics, and public art demonstrate his unique approach to continental thought. Dr Milne actively supervises Honours students in Philosophy, including cross-disciplinary projects in History and Fine Art. He encourages prospective research students to contact him for supervision opportunities across philosophical topics and interdisciplinary collaborations.
Gil-Soo Han is a Professor in the Department of Communications and Media Studies at Monash University, Faculty of Arts, where he has been a faculty member since 2008. His interdisciplinary research bridges sociology, media studies, and cultural analysis, with a focus on intercultural communication, religious communication, health communication, and contemporary Korean society. Disciplinary Background: Sociology with applications in media, religion, and migration Institution: Monash University, Australia Department: Communications and Media Studies Teaching: Global and intercultural communications, media industries His research interests include: Intercultural and global communications Religious communication, especially Korean Christianity Health communication among migrants Media representation of ethnic minorities Nationalism and grassroots movements in South Korea Funeral rites and death culture in Korea and Australia The Korean diaspora in Australia and New Zealand His recent publications reflect a strong trend toward analyzing nationalism, identity, and socio-cultural change in South Korea, particularly through media discourse and public movements such as the 2016–2017 Candlelight Revolution. He also explores end-of-life practices among migrants, highlighting cultural continuity and change. His scientific awards include: Good Practice in Teaching, Monash University (2007) Winner of Korean Education Minister’s Book Prize (2020) He has received research funding from the Academy of Korean Studies and the Australian Research Council. He is actively involved in supervising PhD students and contributing to public discourse through media engagement. He leads an international project on Local Agency and National Responses to Globalisation and has published extensively on Korean diaspora, media, and religion. He is affiliated with the following research groups and platforms: ORCID: 0000-0003-4135-211X Google Scholar, ResearchGate, Academia.edu
