CURRICULUM VITAÉDr. Omid TofighianNationality: AustralianEmail: omid.tofighian@sydney.edu.au

EDUCATION

2010 PhD, Philosophy – Institute of Philosophy, Leiden University, The Netherlands. Thesis “Myth and Philosophy on Stage in Platonic Dialogues” Supervisor – Professor Frans de Haas; Advisor

–Professor Pauline Kleingeld.2007-2008 Visiting Scholar – 2 semesters; De Wulf-Mansion Centre for Ancient,

Medieval and Renaissance Philosophy, K.U. Leuven, Belgium2003 Cambridge University CELTA Course (Teaching English Language)

International House, Sydney, NSW, Australia.2002-2003 Honors First Class (Philosophy and Studies in Religion) – University

of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia. Supervisors – Professor Rick Benitez and Professor Iain Gardner.

1999-2001 B.A. (Philosophy and Studies in Religion) - The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia.

1998 University Preparation Course, Philosophy: Adventure in Ideas - The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia.

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

American University in Cairo

2017-2018 Assistant Professor, Philosophy – Department of Philosophy, School of Humanities and Social Sciences

University of Sydney

2017 Senior Project Officer, Leadership Program – National Centre for Cultural Competence, Deputy-Vice Chancellor Indigenous Strategy and Services

2016 Lecturer, Rhetoric and Composition – Writing Hub, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

2015-2017 Project Executive (Religion, State & Society Network) – Australian Government Attorney-General’s Department Living Safe Together’ project.

2015 Workshop for Academic English for Postgraduates – Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

2014 Lecturer, International and Comparative Literary StudiesLecturer, Department of Studies in Religion

2013-2015 ARC Research Assistant - ARC funded project, "Plato's Mythic Voice: The Identification and Interpretation of Inspired Speech in Plato" headed by Professor Rick Benitez

2013-present Research Associate, Dept. of Philosophy

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Project Director Religion, State & Society (RSS) Network

Other institutions

2011-2015 Lecturer – School of Humanities and Communication Arts, Western Sydney University

2012 Lecturer – English Language and Linguistics, University of Wollongong

2005-2010 Researcher – Leiden University, Institute of Philosophy, the Netherlands

2007- 2008 Visiting Scholar, League of European Research Universities Visiting Scholar Program (representative of Leiden University) – Host: De Wulf-Mansion Centre for Ancient, Medieval and Renaissance Philosophy, K.U. Leuven, Belgium. 2 semesters.

2004-2007 Academic English/TESOL Instructor – Abu Dhabi University, UAE

2004 English Instructor – Al Ain Ministry of Education, UAE

Courses Taught

University of Sydney

Advanced Writing and Research (2016); Society, Knowledge and Self (2011-2013); Writing: Style and Method (2016); Writing for Postgraduates (2015); Philosophy of Religion (2014), Rethinking Religion (2014), Reality, Ethics and Beauty (2011-2013); Watching Stars: Film and the Star System (2014)

Western Sydney UniversityHuman Rights and Culture (2015); Analytical Reading and Writing;Contemporary Society (2011-14); Geographies of Difference (2013)

University of WollongongPractical Reasoning (2014); Values, Self and Knowledge (2014);Communication Across Cultures (2012)

PUBLICATIONS

Books

2018

Boochani, Behrouz, No Friend But The Mountains. Writing From Manus Prison. Translated by Omid Tofighian. With translator’s note and essay. Sydney: Picador, 2018.

2016 Tofighian, Omid. Myth and Philosophy in Platonic Dialogues. London: Palgrave Macmillan, 2016.

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Tofighian, Omid. Re-envisioning Plato’s Theory of Art – Refiguring the Timaeus. Manuscript under consideration with Palgrave Macmillan. n.d.

Tofighian, Omid. Racial Displacement and Epistemic Pride. partial mss. n.d.

Refereed Journal Articles

2018

Tofighian, Omid. “Black Bodies for Political Profit: Sudanese and Somali Standpoints on Australia’s Racialised Border Regime.” Transition Magazine 126. Indiana University Press for the Hutchins Centre, Harvard University.

Tofighian, Omid. “Exile and Incarceration Commuted into Cinematic Vision. Chauka, Please Tell Us The Time and Carceral-Border Cinema.” Alphaville: Journal of Film and Screen Media (forthcoming 2019).

Tofighian, Omid and Behrouz Boochani. “No Friend but the Mountains: Translation as Literary Experimentation and Shared Philosophical Activity.” Alif: Journal of Comparative Poetics (forthcoming 2019).

Tofighian, Omid. “Behrouz Boochani and the Manus Prison Narratives: Merging Translation with Philosophical Reading.” Continuum: Journal of Media and Cultural Studies Vol. 32, 3 (2018).

Tofighian, Omid. “Is your Institution Racist? Knowledge Landscapes and Work Conditions.” Educational Philosophy and Theory. In preparation.

Tofighian, Omid. “Producing Epistemic Pride with Migrant Students: Transnational and Cross-Cultural Hip Hop in the Curriculum.” Critical Studies in Education. In preparation.

2011

Tofighian, Omid. “Prolonged Liminality and Comparative Examples of Rioting ‘Down Under.’” Journal of the Sydney Society for Literature and Aesthetics 21 (2011): 97-103.

2010

Tofighian, Omid. "Beyond the Myth/Philosophy Dichotomy: Foundations for an Interdependent Perspective." Forum Philosophicum - International Journal for Philosophy 15:1 (2010): 175-190.

2009

Tofighian, Omid. “Rethinking Plato’s Theory of Art: Aesthetics and the Timaeus.” Journal of the Sydney Society for Literature and Aesthetics 19:2 (2009).

2005

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Tofighian, Omid. “The Religious Methodology of Paul Tillich: Religion as Ultimate Concern.” Threskeiologia [The Greek Journal of Comparative Religion] 6/7:1 (2005).

2003 Tofighian, Omid. “Steps Toward Love and Gnosis: Sufi Interpretations of the Spiritual ‘Stations’ and ‘States.’” Threskeiologia [The Greek Journal of Comparative Religion] 5:1 (2003).

Book chapters

2018

Tofighian, Omid. “Translator’s Tale: A Window to the Mountains,” in Behrouz Boochani, No Friend But The Mountains.Writing From Manus Prison. Translated by Omid Tofighian. Sydney: Picador, 2018.

Tofighian, Omid. “No Friend but the Mountains: Translator’s Reflections,” in Behrouz Boochani, No Friend But The Mountains.Writing From Manus Prison. Translated by Omid Tofighian. Sydney: Picador, 2018.

2013

Tofighian, Omid. “Contemporary Liminal Encounters: Moving Beyond Traditional Plots in Majidi’s Baran." In Conflict and Development in Iranian Film, edited by A.A. Seyed-Gohrab & K. Talattof, 103-116. Leiden: LUP, 2013.

2008

Macpherson, Reynold J.S. and Omid Tofighian. “Preparing and developing school leaders in the Middle East: Mediating Westernization with indigenous and evidence-based practice and theory of educative leadership.” In International handbook on the preparation and development of school leaders, Section D: International Reflections, edited by Gary M. Crow, Jacky Lumby and Petros Pashiardis, 383-409. New York: Routledge, 2008.

Reference works

2018

Tofighian, Omid. “Citizen Media and Philosophy.’ In Routledge Encyclopedia of Citizen Media, edited Luis Pérez-González, Bolette Blaagaard and Mona Baker, New York: Routledge (forthcoming 2018).

GRANTS AND AWARDS

2017 AUC Egypt HUSSLab Multidisciplinary Teaching Fund. Supported by the Mellon Foundation. New Course: ‘IN YO’ FACE! Popular Culture Up Against Injustice’.

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2016 Dean’s USS Commendation for Excellence in First Year Teaching for Writing: Style and Method (WRIT1000), University of Sydney

2016 Nomination for University of Sydney Faculty Overall Teaching Award

(2015-2016) Government of Australia, Department of the Attorney-General “Living Together Safely” Awarded to team members of the Religion, State and Society Network: Dr. Omid Tofighian (USyd), Assoc. Prof. Lily Rahim (USyd), and Dr. Asnari Jainullabudeen (Basmala AUS).

Other published articles

2018

Tofighian, O. “Parole oltre le sbarre.” (translated into Italian and re-epublished). Internazionale https://www.internazionale.it/notizie/omid-tofighian/2018/10/05/parole-oltre-le-sbarre posted 5th October

Tofighian, O. “Truth to Power: my time translating Behrouz Boochani's masterpiece.” (re-epublished). Sydney PE. https://pen.org.au/blogs/news/truth-to-power-translating-behrouz-boochani-s-masterpiece posted 30th August.

Tofighian,   O. “Truth to Power: my time translating Behrouz Boochani's masterpiece.”   The Conversation . https://theconversation.com/truth-to-power-my-time- translating-behrouz-boochanis-masterpiece-101589 posted 16th August.

Tofighian, O. “’Writing from Manus prison: a scathing critique of domination and oppression.’” The Guardian, https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/jul/31/writing-from-manus-prison-a-scathing-critique-of-domination-and-oppression posted 31st July.

Tofighian, O. “Dispatches From Displacement: Citizen Media in Syria.” 10th Annual Maroon Conference Magazine. Charles Town, Jamaica: Charles Town Maroon Council, 2018. http://maroons-jamaica.com/modules/mod_flipbook_10/tmpl/book.html#p=22

Tofighian, O. “’Sanctions, Refugees and the Marginalised: Iran Uprisings Are Australia’s Concern Too’” ABC News, http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-01-06/iran-uprising-australia-manus-island-political-refugees-islamic/9305756 posted 6th January.

2017

Tofighian, O. “Countering the Colonial Curriculum: Whiteness, power and the capacity to live life well into the Future.” 9th Annual Maroon Conference Magazine. Charles Town, Jamaica: Charles Town Maroon Council, 2017. https://maroons-jamaica.com/conference2017/modules/mod_flipbook_3/tmpl/mobile/index.html

Tofighian, O. “Why Is My Curriculum White – Australasia Campaign?” Transcultural Imaginations. Religion, State & Society Network magazine. University of Sydney: 2017.

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Tofighian, O. “To Tackle Extremism in Schools We Must Challenge the White Curriculum.” (re-published). Transcultural Imaginations. Religion, State & Society Network magazine. University of Sydney: 2017.

2016

Tofighian, O. “Hip-Hop, The Middle East and Migration: Lessons from Omar Offendum.” World Hip Hop Market, http://worldhiphopmarket.com/hip-hop-the-middle-east-and-migration-lessons-from-omar-offendum/ posted 7th of January.

2015

Tofighian, O. “’To tackle extremism in schools we must challenge the ‘white curriculum’” The Conversation, https://theconversation.com/to-tackle-extremism-in-schools-we-must-challenge-the-white-curriculum-48316 posted 5th of October.

Tofighian, O. “Lauryn Hill in North Africa: an inspiration for resistance” Okayafrica, http://www.okayafrica.com/news/lauryn-hill-north-africa-inspiration-resistance/ posted 17th August.

2013Tofighian, O. “’Aboriginal hip-hop meets Iranian diaspora in cross-border rap” The Conversation, https://theconversation.com/aboriginal-hip-hop-meets-iranian-diaspora-in-a-cross-border-rap-29159 posted 17th of July.

Tofighian, O. “’Happy’ in Iran: The trials of the young and disenfranchised” The Conversation, https://theconversation.com/happy-in-iran-the-trials-of-the-young-and-disenfranchised-27164 posted 2nd of June.

Tofighian, O. and N. Ghobadzadeh. “New Iranian elections: true legitimacy, or the country’s Achilles heel?” The Conversation, http://theconversation.com/iranian-elections-true-legitimacy-or-the-countrys-achilles-heel-15146, posted 13th of June.

Tofighian, O and N. Ghobadzadeh, “Argo and the Iranian-US saga: ‘old cuts remain fresh wounds.’ On Line Opinion – Australia’s e-journal of social and political debatehttp://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=14731&page=0 posted 28th of February.

Tofighian, O. “New Sanctions Could Be Hindering Progress In Iran.” The Conversation, http://theconversation.edu.au/new-sanctions-could-be-hindering-progress-in-iran-11528, posted 10th of January.

2011

Tofighian, O. and N. Ghobadzadeh. “Is Iran Following Egypt’s Path?”, On Line Opinion – Australia’s e-journal of social and political debate, http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=11723 posted 9th of March.

Tofighian, Omid. “Iranians Continue to be Persecuted After Fleeing Iran – Australia’s Human Rights Dilemma.” Journal of the Sydney Society for Literature and Aesthetics 21 (2011): 20-22.

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Translated articles and subtitles

Journal Articles and Chapters

Dana, E. “Indefinite Detention: Caring from Refugees in Indonesia as Performance.” trans. Tofighian, O. 10th Annual Maroon Conference Magazine. Charles Town, Jamaica: Charles Town Maroon Council, 2018 http://maroons-jamaica.com/modules/mod_flipbook_10/tmpl/book.html#p=28

Boochani, B. “Manus Prison Poetics/Our Voice: Revisiting ‘A Letter from Manus Island’, a reply to Anne Surma.” trans. Tofighian, O. Continuum: Journal of Media and Cultural Studies Vol. 32, 3 (2018).

Behrouz, B. “Chanting of Crickets, Ceremonies of Cruelty. A Mythic Topography of Manus Prison.” trans. Tofighian, O. Island 150, 2017.

Subtitles

Boochani, B and A. Kamali Sarvestani (Film Directors). Chauka, please tell us the time (2017). Subtitles by Tofighian, O.

Media

2018

Boochani, B. “Five Years in Manus Purgatory.” The Saturday Paper, trans. Tofighian, O. https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/politics/2018/09/29/five-years-manus-purgatory/15381432006928 posted 29th September

Boochani, B. “Manus Prison Theory.” The Saturday Paper, trans. Tofighian, O. https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/opinion/topic/2018/08/11/manus-prison-theory/15339096006690 posted 11th August

Dana, E. “When I Ran From The Bombs, I Didn’t Realise It Was A Crime To Be A Refugee.” Ten Daily, trans Tofighian, O. https://tendaily.com.au/views/a180627wkr/when-i-ran-from-the-bombs-i-didnt-realise-it-was-a-crime-to-be-a-refugee-20180809 posted 10th August

Behrouz, B. “Australia Locks Up Asylum-Seekers Like me. The U.S. Should Learn From Our Nightmare.” Huffington Post, trans. Tofighian, O.https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/opinion-boochani-australia-trump-asylum-detention_us_5b31347ee4b00295f15f8d4b posted 25th June

Behrouz, B. “Refugees Held by Australia Languish in a World Beyond Suffering and Suicide.” CNN, trans. Tofighian, O. https://edition.cnn.com/2018/06/19/opinions/australia-manus-refugee-opinion-intl/index.html posted 20th June

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Behrouz, B. “The ‘Offshore Processing Centre’ I Live in is an Island Prison.” Financial Times, trans. Tofighian, O. https://www.ft.com/content/00620a94-5db2-11e8-ad91-e01af256df68 posted 29th May

Behrouz, B. “Salim Fled Genocide to Find Safety. He Lost His Life in the Most Tragic Way.” The Guardian, trans. Tofighian, O. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/may/25/salim-fled-genocide-to-find-safety-he-lost-his-life-in-the-most-tragic-way posted 25th May

Behrouz, B. “Political Power Plays are Killing Innocent People.” Ten Daily, trans. Tofighian, O. https://tendaily.com.au/views/a180521tlb/political-power-plays-are-killing-innocent-people-20180521 posted 21st May

Behrouz, B. “Silenced in Ways that No-One Hears Your Shouts and Screams.” Sydney PEN, trans. Tofighian, O. https://pen.org.au/blogs/news/silenced-in-ways-that-no-one-hears-your-shouts-and-screams posted 20th May

Boochani, B. “2018 Human Rights Dinner keynote address by Behrouz Boochani.” Human Rights Law Centre, trans. Tofighian, O.https://www.hrlc.org.au/news/2018/5/18/2018-human-rights-dinner-keynote-address-by-behrouz-boochani posted 18th May

Behrouz, B. “Mohamed’s Life Story is a Tragedy. But it’s Typical for Father’s Held on Manus.” The Guardian, trans. Tofighian, O. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/mar/27/mohameds-life-story-is-a-tragedy-but-its-typical-for-fathers-held-on-manus posted 27th March

Boochani, B. “Four Years After Reza Barati’s Death, We Still Have No Justice.” The Guardian, trans. Tofighian, O. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/feb/17/four-years-after-reza-baratis-death-we-still-have-no-justice posted 16th February

2017

Boochani, B. “A Letter From Manus.” The Saturday Paper, trans. Tofighian, O. https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/politics/2017/12/09/letter-manus-island/15127380005617 posted 9th December

Boochani, B. “I Write From Manus as a Duty to History.” The Guardian, trans. by Tofighian, O. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/dec/06/i-write-from-manus-island-as-a-duty-to-history posted 6th December

Boochani, B. “’This is Hell Out Here’. How Behrouz Boochani’s Diaries Expose Australia’s Refugee Shame.” The Guardian, trans. by Tofighian, O. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/dec/04/this-is-hell-behrouz-boochani-diaries-expose-australia-refugee-shame posted 4th December

Boochani, B. “Manus Police Pulled My Hair and Beat Me. ‘You’ve damaged our reputation,’ they said.” The Guardian, trans. by Tofighian, O. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/commentisfree/2017/nov/24/manus-police-

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pulled-my-hair-and-beat-me-youve-damaged-our-reputation-they-said posted 24th November

Boochani, B. “All We Want is Freedom – Not Another Prison Camp.” The Guardian, trans. by Tofighian, O. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/nov/13/all-we-want-is-freedom-not-another-prison-camp posted 13th November

Boochani, B. “The Night we Tried to Save a Life Among Hundreds of Starving Men.” Huffington Post, trans. By Omid Tofighian http://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/behrouz-boochani/the-night-we-tried-to-save-a-life-among-hundreds-of-starving-men_a_23268837/ posted 8th November

Boochani, B. “The Breath of Death on Manus Island: Starvation and Sickness.” The Guardian, trans. by Tofighian, O. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/nov/03/the-breath-of-death-on-manus-island-starvation-and-sickness posted 3rd November

Boochani, B. “Manus is a Landscape of Surreal Horror.” The Guardian, trans. by Tofighian, O. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/nov/02/manus-is-a-landscape-of-surreal-horror posted 2nd November

Boochani, B. “The Refugees Are in a State of Terror on Manus.” The Guardian, trans. by Tofighian, O. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/31/the-refugees-are-in-a-state-of-terror-on-manus-behrouz-boochani posted 31 October

Boochani, B. “Diary of Disaster: The Last Days Inside Manus Island Detention Centre.” The Guardian, trans. by Tofighian, O. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/30/diary-of-disaster-the-last-days-inside-manus-island-detention-centre posted 30th October

Boochani, B. “Days Before the Forced Closure of Manus, We Have No Safe Place to Go.” The Guardian, trans. by Tofighian, O. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/oct/27/days-before-the-forced-closure-of-manus-we-have-no-safe-place-to-go posted 27th October

Boochani, B. “’The Man Who Loves Ducks’: the refugee saving animals on Manus.” The Guardian, trans. by Tofighian, O. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/sep/14/the-man-who-loves-ducks-the-refugee-saving-animals-on-manus posted 13th September.

Boochani, B. “The Tortuous Demise of Hamed Shamshiripour, Who Didn’t Deserve to Die on Manus Island”, The Huffington Post, trans. by Tofighian, O. http://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/behrouz-boochani/the-tortuous-demise-of-hamed-shamshiripour-who-didnt-deserve-t_a_23076393/ posted 14th August.

Boochani, B. “Rising tension on Manus Island”, The Saturday Paper, trans. by Tofighian, O. https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/politics/2017/07/29/rising-tension-manus-island/15012504004995 posted 29th July.

Boochani, B. “A Kyriarchal System: New Colonial Experiments/New Decolonial Resistance” 9th Annual Maroon Conference Magazine. Charles Town, Jamaica: Charles

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Town Maroon Council. 2017. https://maroons-jamaica.com/conference2017/modules/mod_flipbook_3/tmpl/mobile/index.html

2016

Boochani, B. “Faysal Ishak Ahmed’s life was full of pain. Australia had a duty to protect him”, The Guardian, trans. by Tofighian, O. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/dec/30/faysal-ishak-ahmeds-life-was-full-of-pain-australia-had-a-duty-to-protect-him?CMP=share_btn_fb posted 30th of December.

Boochani, B. “A Cruel and Violent Political Strategy”, The Huffington Post, trans. by Tofighian, O. http://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/behrouz-boochani/a-cruel-and-violent-political-strategy/ posted 18rd October.

Boochani, B. “Mehdi Savari: Actor, Prisoner, and Improbable Star of Manus Island”, New Matilda, trans. by Tofighian, O. https://newmatilda.com/2016/06/23/mehdi-savari-actor-prisoner-and-improbable-star-of-manus-island/ posted 23rd June.

Boochani, B. “Malcolm Turnbull, why didn’t you answer my question on Q&A about Manus Island?” The Guardian, trans. by Tofighian, O. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/jun/21/malcolm-turnbull-why-didnt-you-answer-my-question-on-qa-about-manus-island posted 21st of June.

INTERVIEWS AND MEDIA

2018 Interviewee at Internazionale a Ferrara. https://www.internazionale.it/festival/protagonisti/omid-tofighian

2017 Interpreter for Behrouz Boochani and Arash Kamali Sarvestani at Q&A for Chauka, please tell us the time. Sydney Film Festival. http://archive.ferve.tickets/sff/2017/session_sff.asp?sn=Vivid+Ideas+SFF+Present%3A+Extended+QA%3A+Chauka+Please+Tell+Us+the+Time

Interpreter for Behrouz Boochani and Arash Kamali Sarvestani at Q&A for Chauka, please tell us the time. ACMI Melbourne. https://www.acmi.net.au/events/chauka-please-tell-us-time/

Interpreter for Behrouz Boochani at Q&A for Chauka, please tell us the time. Adelaide Film Festival. https://adelaidefilmfestival.org/titles/106016/chauka-please-tell-us-the-time

2015 Interviewed by 6PR Perth Radio on extremism and the white curriculum.2014 Radio interview regarding research and cultural activities for an

Indigenous Australian and Iranian hip hop collaboration. http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/drive/iranian-indigenous-hip-hop-duo/5707016

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2011 Special radio program, “Islam and the Arab Spring”, for ABC’s Encounter. http://www.abc.net.au/rn/encounter/stories/2011/3238008.htm

INVITED LECTURES

2018 In Translation Lecture Series – American University in Cairo, Centre for Translation Studies. ‘No Friend but the Mountains: Translation as Literary Experimentation and Shared Philosophical Activity.’ American Studies Workshop: Transnationalism and Geopolitical Positionalities – American University in Cairo. ‘Rethinking Transnationalism’The Philosophy Club – American University in Cairo. ‘Reclaiming Narratives of Racial Displacement

2017 Netherlands-Flemish Institute for Culture, Cairo‘Why Is My Curriculum White?Clinical Psychology Honours Seminar – University of Sydney, Clinical Psychology Unit. ‘Cognitive Colonialism, So where are the other knowledge systems?’Re-Imagining Epistemology – University of Sydney, Dept. of Philosophy: ‘Cognitive Colonialism. So where are the other knowledge systems?

2015 Middle Eastern and Diaspora Hip Hop - University of Sydney, Dept. of Arabic Language and Culture

2014 Along the Silk Road: Conquerors, Traders and Explorers – University of New South Wales, School of International Studies

2013 Islam, Democracy, Development and Gender – University of Sydney, Department of Government and International RelationsWhere Hip Hop Meets Philosophy - The Street University, Ted Noffs Foundation

2011 Art and Intellectual Life in Contemporary Iran – WEA, Sydney2010 Moderator/Presenter - International Panel at “Call for Dialogue”,

International Conference on Human Rights and Justice in Iran – Free University of Berlin, Germany.

2009 Plato’s Timaeus – Institute of Philosophy, Leiden University

CONFERENCES

2018

Keynote at “Citizens of Hip Hop? Emerging Transnational Identities”, Department of Sociology – Gender Studies Program, Macquarie University

2017

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Respondent on book launch panel at the Australian Society for Continental Philosophy Conference, University of Tasmania. Book: The Habits of Racism: A Phenomenology of Racism and Racialized Embodiment.

Presenter and panellist at Affective Shifts Inside and Outside the Nation and Body: Rethinking How Refugee Research is Engendered https://www.arts.unsw.edu.au/events/academic-symposium/

Presenter and translation on behalf of Behrouz Boochani (scholar, journalist and justice advocate detained on Manus Island) at Refugee Alternatives: Improving Policy, Practice and Public Supporthttp://www.refugeealternatives.org.au/

2016“Why Is My Curriculum White? Australasian Universities and Intersectional Discriminations”, ACS: Crossroads in Cultural Studies Conference, University of Sydney

“The Free University of Western Sydney”, Emerging Approaches to Rhetoric, Writing Hub, University of Sydney

“Why Is My Curriculum White?”, APSA 2016, UNSW: https://apsa2016.arts.unsw.edu.au/node/65/paper/1639

“Epistemic Justice and Racialised Displacement”, Writing Hub Research Seminar, Writing Hub, University of Sydney

“Reclaiming Narratives of Racialised Displacement”, Dismantling Damaging Social Imaginaries, Dept. of Philosophy, University of Sydney. https://groups.google.com/forum/#!msg/SydPhilArchive/fx3kajo9yfQ/8VF-ztl2AwAJ

“Transnational Hip Hop”, Theatre and Performance Studies Research Seminar, University of Sydney.

“Racialised Thought Experiments/Linguistic Injustice”, Philosophy Postgraduate Research Seminar, University of Sydney.

“Racialised Thought Experiments/Linguistic Injustice”, Philosophy Postgraduate Research Seminar, ANU

2015

“Epistemic Injustice and Education: Decolonising with Hip-Hop and Slam”, Sydney Teaching Colloquium, University of Sydney. https://www.itl.usyd.edu.au/GetInvolved/sydneyteachingcolloquium/2015/abstracts/2015-Abstracts%2024.pdf

“’I think, therefore I belong’ – Meditations on Minorities and Philosophy”, WSU Philosophy Seminar Series. http://www.westernsydney.edu.au/philosophy/home/research_seminars/research_seminars_2015/omid_tofighian

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“Minorities and Philosophy”, MAP Launch, Department of Philosophy, University of Sydney.

“Talking Transnationalism: In conversation with Saba Vasefi and Mahmoud Salameh”, Conference on the Transnational and Transgenerational in Central and West Asia and their Diasporas, Monash University, Melbourne.

2014“’Aussie’ Rap Remixed: Multiculturalism, Marginalisation and Music”, Identity Research Network Workshop, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne.

“Suffering from Sanctions”, Global Justice Seminar Series, Swinburne Institute for Social Research, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne.

“Penalties on Progress – Sanctions and the Arts”, Iran in the World Conference, Deakin University, Melbourne.

2013

“The Visual Heritage Research Project: Iran Narrated by Historical Postcards”, A Taste of Paradise: In Celebration of Iranian Cultural Heritage, CCANESA, University of Sydney.

“Iranian Identity and Iranian Asylum Seekers”, Migration Support Programs Conference, Australian Red Cross, Sydney.

“Hip Hop Homiletics in South-West Sydney: Old Testament Heroes in a New Testament Groove”, Where Have All the Cults Gone? A Symposium for Professor J. Gordon Melton with CENSUR and Department of Studies in Religion, University of Sydney.

2012

“Iranians continue to be persecuted after fleeing Iran – Australia’s human rights dilemma”, Iranian Alliances Across Borders Conference, UCLA, Los Angeles, USA.

“Religiosity, secularism and hybridity in Ferroukhi’s Le Grand Voyage”, Nonreligion and Secularity Research Network Conference, Goldsmiths, The University of London, UK.

“Digi-tafsir: Middle Eastern hip hop, exegesis and social transformation in a digital age”, Return to the Street Conference, Goldsmiths, Centre for Cultural Studies, The University of London, UK.

“The theology of Paul Tillich as religious studies methodology”, Australasian Philosophy of Religion Association Conference, School of Philosophy, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne.

2011-2012

Persian International Film Festival and University of Sydney. Institutional sponsorship to organize and present at 3 screenings and panels at the University of Sydney and State Library NSW.

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http://2012.persianfilmfestival.com/events/

2011

“Prolonged Liminality and Comparative Examples of Rioting ‘Down Under’”, Australian Society for Continental Philosophy Annual Conference, La Trobe University, Melbourne.

“Rethinking Persecution/responses to papers”, fear+hope: Asylum Seekers in Australia – conference/exhibition/concert, organized by The Refugee Art Project in collaboration with The Sydney Society for Literature and Aesthetics, The University of Sydney.

“Representing Afghans in contemporary Iranian society and culture – liminal characters in Iranian New Wave cinema”, Freedom from Persecution? The Question of Afghanistan, a conference held in association with the exhibition ‘Unsafe Haven: Hazaras in Afghanistan’, University of Technology Sydney.

“Complicating the religious and the secular in Farroukhi’s Le Grand Voyage”, Philosophies of Travel: Exploring the Value of Travel in Art, Literature and Society, The 2011 Sydney Society of Literature and Aesthetic Conference. Co-hosted with the Department of Studies in Religion at the University of Sydney.

“Rethinking Sufism in Iranian New Wave Cinema”, Sufism for a New Age: Twenty-first Century Neo-Sufism, Cosmopolitan Piety and Traditionalist Responses, Centre for the Study of Contemporary Muslim Societies, University of Western Sydney Bankstown Campus.

“Digi-tafsir – transforming Middle Eastern societies in a digital age”, Spirited Voices from the Muslim World: Islam, Democracy and Gender Rights. Department of Government and International Relations, University of Sydney.

2010

“Remembering Atlantis: rethinking and contextualizing recollection”, Performances of Memory in the Arts – International conference, Radboud University, The Netherlands.

"Beyond the myth/philosophy dichotomy: foundations for an interdependent perspective", Philosophy in Literature Congress, Vaasa University, Finland.

2009

“Contemporary liminal encounters: moving beyond traditional plots in Majidi’s Baran”, From Pariah to the Pedestal: A Symposium on the Burgeoning of Iranian Cinema, Leiden University, The Netherlands.

2008

“DENA – Contemporary shifts in Iranian art”, Art, Religion, Identity Conference in conjunction to an exhibition by Glasgow artist Hannah Frank, Glasgow University, Scotland.

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2003

“Reality and symbolism in Sufi theology”, The Sydney Society for Literature and Aesthetics Conference, The University of Sydney.

“Orientalist and nationalist interpretations of Iranian-Arab relations”, The Society for Religion, Literature and the Arts Conference, in collaboration with the Department of Studies in Religion, The University of Sydney.

2002

“Rethinking Plato’s theory of art after the Timaeus”, The Sydney Society for Literature and Aesthetics Conference, The University of Sydney.

ARTS, COMMUNITY, and PROJECT MANAGEMENT

2018

Speaker at book launch for Behrouz Boochani’s No Friend but the Mountains: Writing From Manus Prison: UNSW, University of Sydney, Newcastle Library, Melbourne Writers Festival

Organiser of ‘Citizens of Hip Hop? Emerging Transnational Identities’ at the Department of Sociology – Gender Studies Program, Macquarie University

2017

Interpreter and panellist at Sydney Ideas even “Trapped in/Pushed out: Border Politics in the US and Australia, University of Sydney: http://sydney.edu.au/sydney_ideas/lectures/2017/border_politics_US_Australia_forum.shtml

Organiser of 3 film screenings. Introduction and translation of excerpt from film by Behrouz Boochani (scholar, journalist and justice advocate detained on Manus Island) and Arash Kamali Sarvestani. Also, screened film by producer Maher Jamous, and art slideshow by Mahmoud Salameh. Both at Refugee Alternatives: Improving Policy, Practice and Public Supporthttp://www.refugeealternatives.org.au/

2016

Co-founder of the Free University of Western Sydney. Organised launch and numerous seminars involving Indigenous scholars and activists, film screening, and international academics. https://fuws.org/

Curated the Sydney Ideas event ‘Akala, Artists and Community’, Seymour Centre: http://sydney.edu.au/sydney_ideas/lectures/2016/akala_and_artists_in_conversation.shtml

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Presenter at BLACK (Bold Leadership Awareness Culture Knowledge). Mt Druitt. Title: ‘Why Is My Curriculum White?’: http://www.assipj.com.au/author/w3media/page/2/

Chair for opening panel of the Arts and Refugees Forum at the Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre: ‘The Dialectics of Displacement: aesthetics, encounters and community arts practice’. http://www.casulapowerhouse.com/whats-on/events2/arts-And-refugees-forum

Organised and chaired panel discussion ‘Hip Hop Activism: Street Journalism’ for 4Elements Hip Hop Festival at Bankstown Arts Centre.

Chair, Sydney Ideas panel ‘The Australian Mosque: Locality, Gender, and Spirituality.’ http://sydney.edu.au/sydney_ideas/lectures/2016/australian_mosque_forum.shtml

Organised and facilitated series of 3 events by Dr. Frederick Gooding Jr (Ethnic Studies, Northern Arizona University). 1) Spoken word performance, 2) Lecture for Free University of Western Sydney, ‘Negrophobia Worldwide’, 3) mini-conference at the Writing Hub Sydney University ‘Hip Hop: Remixing the Curriculum’.

Organised and moderated Pop Culture, Migration and Revolution: Transnational Responses to Injustice. Vivid Ideas, Sydney.http://pyt.com.au/pop-culture-migration-revolution-vivid-ideas-2016/

Chair for Sydney Ideas talk by Assistant Prof. Umut Azak (Okan University, Turkey): ‘Turkey Under the AKP – Continuity and Change in Islam, Secularism and Democracy.’http://sydney.edu.au/sydney_ideas/lectures/2016/professor_umut_azak.shtml

Invited as panelist for Race and Representation: SUDS Writer’s Festival. University of Sydney.

2015

Introduced Omar Offendum concert and arranged support acts: SyrianamericanA – Hip-Hop-Nation-State-Of-Mind. http://sydney.edu.au/arts/arabic/about/events/?id=4103

Interviewed Omar Offendum for Sydney Ideas: Rhythms, Rebels & Resistance: Omar Offendum on Youth Politics in the Middle East. http://sydney.edu.au/sydney_ideas/lectures/2015/omar_offendum.shtml

Organised Omar Offendum workshop at Street University (Noffs Foundation). http://sydney.edu.au/arts/research/rss/news_events/events/index.shtml?id=4155

Organised and chaired two panels at Hip-Hop Festival at Bankstown Arts Centre:https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mic-check-an-in-depth-look-into-hiphop-and-music-culture-tickets-19113962376#

Organised and chaired Hip Hop Studies Panel Discussion at 4 Elements Harmony Day Festival, Bankstown Arts Centre, Sydney.http://alltogethernow.org.au/news/harmony-day-reflection-2015/

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Organised panel discussion at Iranian Film Festival Australia. Sanctions of the Screen: Punishing Progress in Iran. http://www.iffa.net.au/events/2015/10/sanctions-on-the-screen-punishing-progress-in-iran

Organised Pop Culture, Migration & Revolution: Transnational Responses to Injustice. http://sydney.edu.au/arts/research/rss/news_events/events/index.shtml?id=4082

Participated in WSU panel discussion Racism, Responses & Western Sydney. http://cruwsible.com.au/event/university-western-sydney-uws-diversity-fest-panel-discussion/

2014

Invited to present and conduct Q&A for the film My Brother the Devil (2012), part of the Queer Arab Film Festival. http://sydney.edu.au/arts/arabic_islamic/about/events/?id=2942

Major management role and contributor to Future Youth Festival at Blacktown PCYC. Organised by the NSW Government Community Relations Commission. http://www.crc.nsw.gov.au/about_crc/media_releases/latest_media_releases/documents2/2014/blacktown_future_youth_festival_2014

Coordinated and moderated Hip Hop Studies Panel Discussion at University of Sydney in conjunction with the Noffs Foundation.http://politicalbeanie.tumblr.com/post/86695510669/hip-hop-studies-panel-discussion-at-sydney-university

2013

Executive committee member, “Visions in the Muslim World” Symposium, University of Sydney, Religion State & Society Network. Acquired full funding from RSS Network, Department of Government and International Relations USYD, Power Institute USYD and School of Arts and Media UNSW to invite Dr. Hamid Naficy (Northwestern University) for lectures and book launch. http://sydney.edu.au/sydney_ideas/lectures/2013/professor_hamid_naficy.shtmlhttp://sydney.edu.au/arts/power/events/?id=2156https://sam.arts.unsw.edu.au/events/seminar-hamid-naficy/

Coordinated, convened and presented at A Taste of Paradise: In Celebration of Iranian Cultural Heritage at CCANESA, University of Sydney. http://sydney.edu.au/ccanesa/documents/A%20Taste%20of%20Paradise.pdf

Committee member for Contested Visions in the Muslim World International Symposium at University of Sydney. Organised with the Institute for Democracy and Human Rights; Department of Government and International Relations; and the Religion, State and Society Network, FASS.

Invited chair, book launch of “Muslim Secular Democracy” by Prof. Lily Rahim (ed.). Speakers included Prof. Clive Kessler, Assoc. Prof. Bronwyn Winter, Dr. Naser Ghobadzadeh and Dr. Safdar Ahmed.

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2012

Research trip to the UAE, Oman and Iran (3 months). Focus of research: contemporary art and cinema, digital culture, social movements, intellectual and cultural phenomena.

Invited to participate in the panel discussion for “No Added Sugar – Exhibiting Australian Muslim Women Artists” at the Powerhouse Museum, Casula.

2011

Co-founded The Refugee Art Project. www.therefugeeartproject.com

Organised fear+hope: Asylum Seekers in Australia – conference/exhibition/concert, in collaboration with The Refugee Art Project and The Sydney Society for Literature and Aesthetics, University of Sydney. Funding and institutional support. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4p46WGHcm-A

Sydney Society for Literature and Aesthetics. Funding to publish a special edition of journal

The Refugee Art Project. Institutional sponsorship for 3 art exhibitions from the University of Sydney, ICE Parramatta and Mori Gallery.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDRr_r0JrAs

Selected for the panel discussion of the 14th Sydney Film School Festival, “Contemporary Iranian Cinema: Beauty and Complexity”.

2010

Organized a session of Iranian films for the Leiden International Short Film Festival (www.lisfe.nl).

2009

Co-organized an Iranian film season and symposium with the Persian Studies department at Leiden University and Stadium Generale, academic public lecture office from Leiden University. Full funding and institutional support from Stadium Generale, NOW, LUCID, KNAW. http://www.persianstudies.nl/other-activities/organization-of-workshops-symposia-conferences

Co-organized two philosophy and film events in conjunction with Stadium Generale, academic public lecture office from Leiden University. The theme of both events was reconciliation. Films screened: The Glass House and Rabbit Proof Fence.

Organized and managed two Nawruz (Iranian New Year) concerts in conjunction with Pangaea, the international student organization at the Catholic University of Leuven featuring Iranian band ‘Sokut’.

Organized and managed two film and philosophy events in conjunction with Pangaea, the international student organization at the Catholic University of Leuven. The first

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event focused on the rights of children (“It’s Always Too Late for Freedom” by Mehrdad Oskouei) and the second on refugees (“Baran” by Majid Majidi).

Director of Blue Book Illustration art exhibition and the Iranian Art Festival. Full financial sponsorship from Al Qasba cultural organisation (www.alqasba.ae): 2007 and 2008. http://www.ipsnews.net/2007/06/middle-east-iranian-art-bridges-regional-divide/

Film curator of five Iranian short films for the Emirates Film Competition held in collaboration with Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage. ADACH provided financial and institutional sponsorship: 2008.

Director of The Outspoken Image exhibition. Full financial sponsorship from Bagash Art Gallery in Dubai: 2006.

Director of Women Beyond Borders art exhibition. Full financial sponsorship from Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (www.adach.ae): 2006.

Director of the Takis Moraitis exhibition. Institutional sponsorship from Intercontinental Hotel Abu Dhabi and the Greek Embassy (Ambassador Dr. Panayotis Theodoracopoulos): 2006.

2008

Managed and organized the first international illustration exhibition in the UAE for 31 artists from 11 countries called "The Blue Book Group". Al Qasba cultural complex in Sharjah (cf. www.qaq.ae).

Submitted five Iranian films to the international film section of the Emirates Film Competition in Abu Dhabi.

2007

Managed and organized the “Iranian Art Festival” in conjunction with Qanat al-Qasba cultural centre in Sharjah (www.qaq.ae). http://www.ipsnews.net/2007/06/middle-east-iranian-art-bridges-regional-divide/

2006

Curator for Women Beyond Borders Art Exhibition – Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Managed and organized the “The Outspoken Image” art exhibition for the Dena art group in conjunction with Bagash Art Gallery in Dubai. www.denaartgroup.com

Managed and organized the “Women Beyond Borders” art exhibition for the DENA Art Group in conjunction with the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage. Sponsorship by Al Laali Model School for Girls, Abu Dhabi University and the ADU Future Makers Club. www.denaartgroup.com

2006-2007

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Co-founded the Abu Dhabi Philosophical Society with H.E. the Ambassador of Greece, Dr. Panayotis Theodoracopoulos.

2005

Coordinated and facilitated an art exhibition by Takis Moraitis. Inaugurated at Greek National Day by H.E. the Ambassador of Greece, Dr. Panayotis Theodoracopoulos. Intercontinental Abu Dhabi. www.gallery.gr/index.php?cPath=6_19_56

NONPROFIT/CONSULTATION WORK

2016-Present

Translator for Behrouz Boochani, writer and journalist currently held at the Australian-run Manus Island Regional Processing Centre (Papua New Guinea).

2013-2014

Volunteer for the Ted Noffs Foundation, organizing workshops, organizing events, working with marginalised and stigmatised youth and writing grant proposals.

2011-2014

Paralegal work for George Newhouse (Surry Partners Lawyers) and Fardin Nikjoo (Nikbrown Migration Assistance) on Christmas Island coronial inquest, Villawood Immigration Detention Centre suicide inquest, and other advocacy work in support of migrants and refugees (interpreting, taking statements, media interviews, research and investigation, report writing, etc.).

2010-2014

Support for refugees and asylum seekers in Australia – legal, social, cultural and psychological (www.therefugeeartproject.com).

2003

Certified Volunteer Trainer - The Society of St Vincent De Paul Working with Refugees.

Assistant - English Language Program for migrants and refugees based at University of Sydney

LANGUAGES

English: FluentFarsi/Persian: FluentSpanish: IntermediateDutch: IntermediateFrench: BeginnerArabic: Beginner

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

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Campaign Manager, Why Is My Curriculum White? – Australasia: http://sydney.edu.au/arts/research/rss/news_events/index.shtml?id=4017

Faculty member, Iran Academia – The Institute for Social Sciences and Humanities: http://iran-academia.com/

Member of the Sydney Asia Pacific Migration Centre, University of Sydney

MENTORING

2018

Mentored Dr. Jyhene Kebsi, Lecturer in Gender Studies, Macquarie University, Australia

2016

Mentored filmmaker Mohammad Al Mayahi for Journey of the Youth Iraqi art project. ICE Parramatta. http://ice.org.au/project/rihlat-al-shabab-journey-of-the-youth/

2014

Mentored Arezoo Farazandeh for her PhD project on the narratives of marginalized groups during the Iran-Iraq War (UNSW).

REFEREES

Upon request

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