Professor Mehmet Ozalp
Executive Director, ISRA (Islamic Sciences and Research Academy)
Director, Museum of Islamic Art Australia
It is with great excitement and purpose that I welcome you to the online home for the Museum of Islamic Art Australia (MIAA). As the Executive Director of the Islamic Sciences and Research Academy (ISRA), I am honoured to introduce this visionary project, which will be in Western Sydney and serve as a cultural landmark for all of Sydney and Australia.
Our vision is clear and unwavering: to be a leading institution for the advancement of Islamic awareness, spiritual growth and community wellbeing in Australia. MIAA is a natural extension of this vision – a space that celebrates beauty, fosters understanding and inspires connection.
The role of the Museum will be multifaceted. It will be a centre for cultural education, a repository for historical and contemporary Islamic art, and a place of encounter where Australians of all backgrounds can explore the artistic and intellectual contributions of Muslims throughout history and today. Through its exhibitions, programs and design, the museum will tell a story that is global and local – reflecting the heritage of Islamic art while capturing the Australian Muslim experience.
Our aspirations for the museum are bold and ambitious. We aim to create a space that reflects excellence in architectural design, environmental harmony and spiritual symbolism. It will be an inclusive, engaging and contemporary institution - accessible to all, deeply rooted in authenticity and connected to the future. The museum will be a place of inspiration for young minds, a resource for educators and researchers, and a cultural beacon that contributes to a more cohesive and confident Australian society.
PROJECT BACKGROUND
How the MIAA Journey Started
The Museum of Islamic Art Australia is a groundbreaking community-led initiative with the vision of establishing a dedicated museum to showcase and nurture local Islamic art and artists in Australia. Spearheaded by ISRA and supported by its diverse partners, the project gained significant momentum in 2022 when ISRA presented an ambitious proposal for a world-class museum to the NSW government. This proposal met with strong support, culminating in successful acquisition of a generous grant ($26.3m) through the WestInvest Community Project Grants initiative, a NSW State Government program aimed at funding transformative projects across Western Sydney, where the Museum will be proudly located.
These efforts highlight the MIAA’s commitment to becoming a dynamic cultural institution that not only preserves and promotes Islamic art but also strengthens social cohesion and enriches Australia’s cultural landscape.
Since securing the WestInvest grant, MIAA has commenced phase one of its operations, focusing on preparatory work for the Museum’s building and design, as well as delivering satellite events and partnerships aimed at fostering arts engagement and community involvement.
MUSEUM LOCATION
The Museum of Islamic Art Australia (MIAA) respectfully acknowledges the Burramattagal people of the Dharug Nation as the Traditional Owners of the land on which the museum will be located. We also acknowledge the City of Parramatta Council’s protocols and processes for engaging with First Nations custodians in relation to the museum’s future construction and operations. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. Sovereignty has never been ceded.
Western Sydney is home to one of Australia’s most diverse local government areas (LGA). With a growing population of more than two and a half million residents hailing from over 170 countries and speaking more than 100 different languages, the dynamic cultural heritage of Western Sydney is at the heart of this project.
MIAA aims to become a creative hub for this diverse and growing population, operating as a locally established world-class museum, with national and international engagement and connections.
MUSEUM MISSION
Guided by Meaning and Connection
Mission Statement
Vision
Mission Statement
The mission of the Museum of Islamic Art Australia (MIAA) is to promote a deeper understanding and appreciation of Islamic art, culture, and civilisation-both within Australian society and globally. As a community-led initiative, MIAA is committed to creating a platform that highlights and supports local Islamic art and artists. Through this effort, the museum seeks to contribute to the development of a distinct Australian Muslim identity, expressed creatively through the arts.
Vision
Our Strategic Direction
Present world-class permanent galleries, temporary and visiting exhibitions, and programming which attract tourists and other visitors to Western Sydney.
Establish and maintain permanent and temporary gallery spaces according to local and international museum standards.
Establish and maintain facilities within the museum premises as part of the museum Community Access Program.
Establish and maintain a dynamic cultural facility which serves the community as a venue for a variety of cultural and educational activities.
Collect, preserve and display art and cultural material that reflects the diverse experiences and expressions of Islamic art and culture both here and abroad.
TEAMS
Meet Our Team
Prof Mehmet Ozalp
Director
Orhan Kaba
Design Consultant
Dr Nur Shkembi OAM
Artistic Director & Curator
Zeliha Baydogan
Project Manager
Dr Derya Iner
Research & Education Advisor
Ahmet Ozturk
Project Control Group
Prof Mehmet Ozalp is an award-winning professor of Islamic studies, public intellectual and respected community leader with three decades of community service. He is the founder and Head of School for the Centre for Islamic Studies and Civilisation at CSU. In 2009, Mehmet founded ISRA Academy and is the serving Executive Director. He is the founder and editor-in-chief of the Australian Journal of Islamic Studies. Mehmet is the author of more than 60 publications, including six books such as Islam Between Tradition and Modernity: An Australian Perspective. He was presented with the Australian Bluestar Award in Education (2011), Charles Sturt University Professional Excellence Award (2012), Australian Muslim Role Model of the Year Award (2012), Australian Muslim Lifetime Achievement Award (2018) and CSU Teaching Scholar of the Year (2023).
Orhan Kaba is an Accredited Building Designer with over 40 years’ industry experience and is a Full Member of the Building Designers Association of Australia. As Managing Director and Proprietor of Designiche P/L Building Designers, he has built a respected practice known for excellence in residential design. Orhan specialises in custom homes, duplexes, multi-residential developments, and has designed award-winning display homes for leading Sydney builders as well as childcare centres and community-focused developments. Designiche was chosen for the Design Review Panel to oversee and approve all applications within the Shearwater Estate in Warriewood and the Iluka Estate in Little Bay, contributing to the thoughtful shaping of these estates. Designiche’s clientele includes home builders, property developers and individual clients seeking to build their dream home. Orhan’s commitment to innovative, practical and sustainable design continues to position him as a trusted and sought after practitioner in the Greater Sydney region.
Dr Nur Shkembi is an award-winning curator, writer and art historian with a research specialisation in Islamic art history, contemporary art and postcolonial theory. Nur has produced and curated over 150 events, exhibitions and community engagement projects and was part of the core team which established the Islamic Museum of Australia, serving as the museum’s inaugural Art Director, Exhibitions Manager and foundation Curator. Nur has served on numerous boards and committees, including the Museums, Cultural Heritage and Cultural Development Advisory committee and the Organisation Investment Program. In 2018, she was appointed by the Department of Premiere and Cabinet as a Commissioner for the Creative State Commissions. Exhibitions include Soul Fury (Bendigo Art Gallery), DOMINION (Arts West Gallery, University of Melbourne), Destiny Disrupted (Granville Centre Art Gallery and Griffith University Art Museum) and Five Acts of Love (ACCA). Her recent academic publications include “Neo-Orientalism and the Persistence of Holbein Carpets: On Writing the Future History of Islamic Art in Australia” in What is Postnational Art History? (Perimeter Editions) and “Destiny Disrupted: A History of Contemporary Islamic Art in ‘Australia’” in Variations (Monash University Press). Nur holds a PhD in Art History from the University of Melbourne, where she is a sessional academic in the Master of Art Curatorship program. Nur is a sessional lecturer in the Master of Arts Management program at RMIT University. In 2024, Nur was appointed as the Artistic Director and Curator of MIAA.
Zeliha is the Program and Community Engagement Manager at the Museum of Islamic Art Australia. Zeliha studied Public Relations and Publicity at Istanbul University, Türkiye, and later earned a Bachelor of Science Education at Central Colleges of the Philippines. After serving as a news correspondent in Türkiye and then spending twelve years in the education field in the Philippines, Zeliha moved to Australia in 2016 and began working at the Islamic Sciences and Research Academy Australia (ISRA). She is the Director of the Sydney Muslim Writers Festival and has been closely involved with ISRA across education, community programs and leadership. With a deep love of art and storytelling, she is passionate about creating spaces that connect people through culture and meaning.
Associate Professor Derya Iner is Research Coordinator and lecturer at the Centre for Islamic Studies and Civilisation (CISAC) at Charles Sturt University. She earned her PhD in Cultural Studies, with a minor in Gender Studies, from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Her early academic work included archival studies from the Ottoman period, through which she explored literature, art, intellectual and social history, Islamic aesthetics, Ottoman court poetry, and women composers. Born and raised in Istanbul, she developed a deep connection with the city’s rich civilisational heritage, shaped by its historic sites, archives, and artistic traditions. Over the past decade, Iner’s research has focused on contemporary issues facing Muslims in Australia and the West. A community-oriented scholar, she played a leading role in developing the Islamophobia Register’s incident reporting tool and authored the Islamophobia in Australia Reports (2017–2023) as principal investigator. She has contributed to national consultations on religious freedom and anti-racism, serves on the NSW Anti-Discrimination Board, and is a member of the NSW Department of Education’s Multifaith Inclusion Advisory Group.
Ahmet is the Centre Manager of the ISRA Sydney Centre, overseeing the centre’s community initiatives and projects. With over 15 years of experience in community engagement and development, he has played a significant leadership role in a range of impactful programs. He was instrumental in the preparation and successful securing of the government grant for the Museum project. He holds a Master of Islamic Studies from Charles Sturt University and has undertaken advanced studies in Arabic, Qur’an, and Islamic sciences locally and overseas. In addition, Ahmet serves as a Provisional Clinical Pastoral Education Supervisor, supporting the formation and development of chaplaincy practitioners.
Aliya is a media and communications professional with expertise in web administration, graphic design, and social media management. She combines creative vision with technical proficiency to deliver strategic marketing campaigns, foster meaningful community engagement, and maintain cohesive brand identities across digital platforms. Her experience spans the technology, fashion and beauty, and retail sectors, reflecting a versatile and adaptive approach to visual communication. Aliya tailors design strategies to suit diverse audiences and industry contexts, ensuring clarity, impact, and brand consistency. Driven by a passion for digital storytelling and audience connection, she brings both analytical insight and creative fluency to her work. Outside of her professional practice, Aliya is an active member of the Melbourne Cheer Academy. Aliya holds a double degree, Bachelor of Media and Communications, Majoring in Digital Advertising Technology and a Bachelor of Design, Majoring in Communication Design from Swinburne University of Technology.
Ahmad received his Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Wollongong in 1984. He has also held various senior leadership roles with Australian and multi-national corporations across a number of industry sectors and completed numerous leadership and management training courses throughout his corporate career. Ahmad completed his Master in Islamic Studies from Charles Sturt University in 2013, his thesis addressed the role of the financial regulatory authorities in Islamic finance in Australia. Ahmad has been teaching Islamic studies courses since 2013 on topics related to Islamic ethics, Islam in the modern world and the theology of the Qur’an. He has also actively been involved in designing and implementing initiatives related to Islamic finance, youth education, classical Arabic studies, contemporary Islamic studies and the Australian Journal of Islamic Studies. Ahmad previously held the positions of President, Treasurer and Secretary of the Islamic Sciences and Research Academy (ISRA).
David Purcell is the retired former CEO of Toyota in Papua New Guinea and has enjoyed working in the automotive industry for over 40 years. He has lived and worked in Australia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea, and is a graduate of the General Motors University of Automotive Management in Detroit, Michigan. David served as a company director for over 12 years prior to his retirement and has been an active member of Toastmasters International for over 30 years. David is the current President and Chairman of the Board of Directors at the Islamic Sciences and Research Academy (ISRA) and the Board's representative on the Museum's Project Control Group. David has volunteered for ISRA for more than eight years, conducting management, leadership, and communication courses for youth and community members. David is passionate about helping people succeed in their ambitions.
Museum of Islamic Art Australia is an initiative of the Islamic Sciences and Research Academy (ISRA). Funded by the Government of New South Wales WestInvest Program.
MIAA is proudly located on beautiful Dharug country in Granville, Western Sydney.
The Museum of Islamic Art Australia (MIAA) respectfully acknowledges the Burramattagal people of the Dharug
Nation as the Traditional Owners of the land on which the museum will be located. We pay our respects to
Elders past, present and emerging. Sovereignty has never been ceded.
