Professor Mohamad Abdalla, an Australian of Indigenous Palestinian heritage whose family hails from the occupied Palestinian town of Tammun near Nablus and the depopulated village of Zarnuqa, has drawn deeply from his heritage to shape a scholarly career grounded in justice, dialogue, and community understanding. 
With over 30 years of distinguished service in the field of Islamic Studies, Professor Abdalla AM has played a pioneering role in shaping the discipline within Australian academia. In 2020, he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM), the nation’s highest honour for exceptional contributions to education, particularly Islamic Studies.
In 2006, he founded and led the Griffith University Islamic Research Unit (GIRU), the university’s first Islamic Studies unit, quickly recognised for its excellence in research, teaching, and engagement. Among its many Higher Degree by Research candidates were prominent figures such as Malaysia’s current Prime Minister, Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim (PhD by Publication), and the late Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, former Chief Minister of Selangor. In 2008, Professor Abdalla co-founded the National Centre of Excellence for Islamic Studies (NCEIS), a tri-university collaboration that developed robust undergraduate and postgraduate Islamic Studies programs across the University of Melbourne, Griffith University, and Western Sydney University. In 2016, he was invited to establish the Centre for Islamic Thought and Education (CITE) at the University of South Australia, where he continues to serve as its Founding Director and Professor of Islamic Studies.
His scholarly contributions include numerous publications and co-edited volumes including: Wellbeing in Islamic Schools: Nurturing the Mind, Body and Soul; Curriculum Renewal for Islamic Education:Critical Perspectives on Teaching Islam in Primary and Secondary Schools; Leadership in Islam: Thoughts, Processes and Solutions in Australian Organizations; Islamic Schooling in the West: Pathways to Renewal; Islam and the Australian News Media, and Islamic Science: The Myth of the Decline Theory. He has three forthcoming co-edited books: Arabic Language Education in Muslim Minority Contexts; Islamic Schools of Distinction – Learning and Teaching Rooted in the IslamicWorldview; The Heart of Islamic Education: Reclaiming Tarbiyah as Theory and Praxis. 
Having supervised over 30 Higher Degree by Research students (PhD level), Professor Abdalla continues to mentor the next generation of scholars and leaders.
Following the events of 9/11 and the arson attack on his local mosque in Kuraby, Brisbane, he emerged as a national leader in interfaith dialogue and reconciliation, fostering community cohesion during critical times such as the Cronulla Riots and the Christchurch massacre. 
Professor Abdalla’s work has earned him numerous accolades, including the Ambassador for Peace Award, Community Leadership Award, Islamic Council of Queensland Community Service Award, Crescents of Brisbane Special Achievement Award, Lord Mayor Australia Day Achievement Award, Australian Muslim Man of the Year, and finalist for the Pride of Australia Medal.