Mehmet Ozalp

Head of School

Professor Mehmet Ozalp

BEE, MTheol

Head of School, Centre for Islamic Studies and Civilisation
Auburn, Sydney

Professor Mehmet Ozalp is a theologian, author and academic.

Mehmet received his Bachelor Degree from the University of NSW in 1991. He studied Islamic theology and religious disciplines between 1990 to 1998. He has completed Masters in Religion from the University of Sydney. He has also completed various professional courses in management and leadership.

Mehmet has been teaching religious and Islamic studies since 1992. He was one of the first to teach Islamic courses in English from 2000 onwards. He has developed and written material for numerous courses on Islamic theology, history and contemporary issues around Islam, including a four-year advanced course titled Theology of Qur'an. Mehmet has lectured in Islamic courses as part of Sydney University's Continuing Education Program from 2003 to 2008. He has also lectured on Islamic theology, culture and history at the University of Newcastle.

Mehmet is one of the co-founders of Affinity Intercultural Foundation in 2000, an organisation fostered intercultural and interfaith harmony in Australia. In 2009, Mehmet founded ISRA Australia, an educational and research organisation focusing on providing information and educational services on Islam and Muslims.

Mehmet was a member of Harmony Reference Group established by the NSW Premier Bob Carr in 2003.

Mehmet has been the recipient of the following awards:

Australian Bluestar Award - Education 2011
Charles Sturt University Professional Excellence Award 2012
Muslim Role Model of the Year Award 2012

Mehmet is the author of three books: 101 Questions You Asked About Islam and Islam in the Modern World and Islam between Tradition and Modernity: An Australian Perspective. He has also co-authored Sustained Dialogue: Close Encounters of the Muslim-Christian Kind Mehmet also published book chapters and journal articles.