Academic Council

Maggie is a governance specialist in Australian higher education. She is Chair of the ACCS Academic Board and serves on the governing and academic boards of several other higher education providers. Over more than a decade in senior executive roles, Maggie has led academic governance, quality assurance and regulatory engagement across the higher education sector and directly with TEQSA. Her achievements include successful applications for University College status, TEQSA and CRICOS re-registration without conditions, and the expansion of self-accrediting authority. She continues to support higher education providers in strengthening their governance and preparing for regulatory processes.

Dr Paul Porta is a theologian, theological educator, and academic leader with extensive experience in theological education and ministry formation in Australia and internationally. He currently serves as Dean of Academics at the Australian College of Christian Studies, providing leadership in teaching, curriculum, academic standards, and theological education. He holds a Doctor of Ministry, Master of Theology, Master of Ministry, Master of Arts, and Bachelor of Theology. His doctoral research explored how cultural background influences perceptions of God within a multicultural Christian community, reflecting his interests in practical, Pentecostal, contextual, and ordinary theology, as well as multicultural Christianity. Dr Porta has held senior academic and leadership roles in Brazil, Portugal, and Australia, including Academic Dean and College Principal at Tabor College and Academic Dean of the Brazilian Advanced School of Theology. His work integrates theological scholarship, academic governance, curriculum development, quality assurance, and ministry formation, with a strong commitment to connecting rigorous theological education with the practical needs of churches and diverse Christian communities.

Dr Philip Kern is a New Testament scholar, theological educator, author, and academic leader with more than three decades of experience in biblical and theological education. He has taught at Emmaus Bible College and, since 1998, at Moore Theological College, Sydney, where he has held senior academic roles in New Testament studies. He holds a PhD in Biblical Studies from the University of Sheffield, along with postgraduate degrees in New Testament and Divinity. His expertise includes New Testament studies, Pauline theology, biblical interpretation, rhetoric, narrative, and theological interpretation of Scripture. Dr Kern is the author of Rhetoric and Galatians and Jacob’s Story as Christian Scripture. He has also contributed to academic governance and Christian ministry through service on the EBC/ACCS Academic Board and Resist Ministries. His work combines rigorous biblical scholarship, theological education, research, and ministry formation.

Patricia has long been involved in Education, first as a teacher, then as a teacher trainer with University of New England. She then moved into theological education and taught over many years in several colleges. She was also Secretary for Theological Education with the World Evangelical Fellowship (now World Evangelical Alliance), a part-time voluntary position. Two or three months each year were spent overseas. Her special interest was the emerging training method, Theological Education by Extension (TEE). She has published articles and book chapters on this and other topics. Among colleges where Patricia taught were Tabor College, a Sydney forerunner to ACCC, Bible College of Qld (now Brisbane School of Theology), and Fuller Seminary in California. She has supervised and marked numerous Master’s and Doctoral theses for colleges and universities. This included eight years supervising dissertations for London School of Theology. Now, in semi-retirement, she does similar work for AlphaCrucis University College.

Dr Katherine Hurrell is a clinical psychologist, academic and researcher with expertise across clinical and forensic psychology, counselling, mental health and higher education. She is Director of the Institute for Human Flourishing, the Arts and Spirituality (HFAS) at the Australian University College of Divinity, works within the Graduate Research School, and has held senior academic leadership roles. Katherine completed her postgraduate studies with Distinction and her PhD in Psychology at Macquarie University, where her thesis received a Vice-Chancellor’s Commendation for Academic Excellence for her research into childhood anxiety disorders. Her interdisciplinary research interests include anxiety, trauma and wellbeing, human flourishing, and the intersection of psychology, theology and systems.

Xavier Lakshmanan is the Principal of the Australian College of Christian Studies and an experienced theological educator, scholar, and Christian leader. He holds a PhD in Systematic Theology from Charles Sturt University, along with postgraduate and undergraduate theological qualifications from Australia and India. Dr Lakshmanan’s academic interests include systematic theology, hermeneutics, theological interpretation, and the relationship between theology and philosophy. He is the author of Textual Linguistic Theology in Paul Ricœur and has contributed to theological scholarship through teaching, research, and writing. As Principal, Dr Lakshmanan provides academic and institutional leadership, with a strong commitment to equipping students through rigorous theological education and preparing them for faithful Christian ministry and service.

Dr Elizabeth (Beth) Beech is the Dean of Studies at the Australian College of Christian Studies. Previously, she served as the Director of Graduate Studies at Toccoa Falls College in Georgia, USA, and Alphacrucis University College in Sydney Australia, and as Senior Officer, University Governance and Risk at Avondale University in Cooranbong, NSW. Previously, as the Academic Dean of the National Institute for Christian Education (NICE), she developed a research interest in transformative worldview education related to teaching, curriculum, leadership, and governance. Beth served as a missionary for over 20 years in Bolivia, South America. She is a graduate of Asbury University (B.A.), Azusa Pacific University (M.A.), Regent University (PhD) and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (MTS).

Dr. Sehyun Kim is a biblical studies expert, currently serves as the Dean of Sydney Korean College of Theology and the Senior Pastor of Sunhan Presbyterian Church in Sydney, Australia. Dr. Kim has dedicated his career to theological education and pastoral ministry. Over the past two decades, he has lectured at various institutions in South Korea and Australia. His current research focuses on New Testament Christology, particularly the Christology of the Gospel of John. He is also interested in biblical interpretation from a Korean perspective and immigrant theology.

Carolyne was born and raised in Kenya. She moved to Kenya’s capital city, Nairobi, to attend University. She has served in various organisations, including Barclays Bank of Kenya (now ABSA) as an Assistant Credit Manager; The Co-operative University as a sessional lecturer; Connexus Corporation as Partnership Officer and Finance Specialist; and, most recently, completed a 7-year assignment as a General Manager in a missionary capacity in Papua New Guinea. She is a gifted administrator who has volunteered at Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) and Save the Children, among others. She is an active member of the Cairns Christian Community Church. She is passionate about literacy and training and bases her teaching on the Word of God. Her professional experience and academic training have given her the confidence to serve in diverse capacities.