Noel Preston

Noel Preston is an ethicist, theologian and social commentator currently Adjunct Professor in the Key Centre for Ethics, Law Justice and Governance, Griffith University. He retired in November 2004 as the founding Director of the Unitingcare Centre for Social Justice. Previously (from 1987 – 2001) he held senior academic positions at Queensland University of Technology and Griffith University in the fields of Applied and Professional Ethics.

He is currently on the Committee of Earth Charter Australia. He has been a regular public commentator on social ethics. Among seven books he has sole or co- authored and edited, his introductory textbook Understanding Ethics was reissued as a revised third edition in late 2007 with major additions and updates.

In 2007 he also edited and contributed to an issue of the journal Social Alternatives themed "Global Ethics". In 2006 he delivered the Aquinas Lecture at the Australian Catholic University: "Ethicssan frontieres: toward the vocation of Global Citizenship".

In 2004 he was made a Member of the Order of Australia for services to the community in the field of ethics. In his capacity as a social justice campaigner since the early 1970s and as a Minister of the Uniting Church he has previously held leadership roles in various church social justice portfolios including inaugural Convenor of the Uniting Church's Commission on Social Responsibility, Queensland Director of Action for World Development and Executive Officer of the Victorian Synod Division of Social Justice.

He has been the founding chair/convenor of the Queensland social action groups Concerned Christians (1976), People for Nuclear Disarmament(1983), Citizens Against Corruption (1988).In 2006 he published a memoir/social history (Beyond the Boundary: a memoir exploring ethics, politics and spirituality, Zeus Publications).

Noel's academic qualifications are: Cert.Teach. (KGCAE), BA., BD.,(Uni of Qld) , M.Ed (Hons.) (UNE), Th.D. (Boston University)

Noel is a grandfather and father of two daughters and a son. In retirement he currently lives in Wellington Point with his wife Olga Harris. Their address is: 1 Burgess Crt., Wellington Point, Q. 4160

Contact: n.preston@griffith.edu.au , 0419 789 249

Author's website: Noel Preston's web site