We’re proud to announce that Professor Benjamin Isakhan has been awarded a prestigious Australian Research Council (ARC) Future Fellowship, securing $1,286,828 in funding to lead a world-first investigation into the complex relationship between cultural heritage and forced displacement. 

Professor Isakhan’s project, Heritage and Displacement: Intersections of Exile, Culture and Conflict, will generate critical new knowledge about how displaced peoples from the Middle East perceive and engage with their heritage and how these perspectives intersect with the policies of governments and global agencies. Through an innovative interdisciplinary approach, the research will develop a novel conceptual framework and conduct fieldwork across Jordan, Syria, the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Germany, Australia and the UK. 

Reflecting on the significance of the project, Professor Isakhan said:  

“This funding will allow us to explore how displaced communities relate to their heritage in ways that are deeply personal, politically complex and often overlooked. By understanding these relationships, we can help shape more empathetic and effective responses from international agencies and governments.” 

Deakin Distinguished Professor Fethi Mansouri, Director of ADI, welcomed the announcement: 

“This is an outstanding achievement that reflects both the calibre of Professor Isakhan’s research and the global relevance of the work we do at ADI. This project will generate critical insights into one of the most pressing humanitarian issues of our time”. 

The project will address a critical gap in global research and policy, particularly as the world faces unprecedented levels of human displacement. It will also advance Australia’s strategic interests in the Middle East, strengthen relationships with key allies and global institutions such as UNESCO and build deeper connections with refugee and migrant communities within Australia. 

To ensure broad and lasting impact, the research outcomes will be communicated through policy reports, international workshops, media engagement and community outreach – bridging academic insight with real-world application. 

We congratulate Professor Isakhan on this remarkable achievement and look forward to the vital contributions his research will make in shaping global policy responses to heritage preservation and the lived experiences of displaced communities.