Dr Naser Ghobadzadeh’s academic works focuses on the intersections of religion, politics, and society, with particular attention to the Middle East and Islamic thought. He is the author of Theocratic Secularism: Religion and Government in Shi‘i Thought (Oxford University Press, 2023) and Religious Secularity: A Theological Challenge to the Islamic State (Oxford University Press, 2015). Naser holds a PhD in Political Science from the University of Sydney and has taught at both the University of Sydney and Australian Catholic University. Previously, he worked with UNICEF,UNDP, and UNHCR. Naser is also a member of the Management Committee of the Yarra Foundation, a volunteer-run organisation supporting the education of disadvantaged children in Iran. These experiences shape his broader interest in education of young people and their career in Australia.