Dr. Benjamin Penny

Biography

Benjamin Penny is a Senior Research Fellow at the Australian Centre on China in the World at the Australian National University. He holds a PhD from ANU and has extensive expertise in research related to contemporary China, particularly in the areas of religious and spiritual movements. His career includes significant roles such as Deputy Director of the School of Culture, History & Language and involvement with the Herbert Valmae Freilich Foundation. With a rich academic background that spans institutions like the University of Sydney and Cambridge, Penny has dedicated his research to interpreting Chinese religions and studying new religious movements in Taiwan. He has been influential in the establishment of the Australian Centre on China in the World, contributing as a foundation editor for the Humanities Research journal and serving as a Harold White Research Fellow at the National Library of Australia. Penny's scholarly contributions are recognized through a high h-index and numerous publications addressing various facets of Chinese spirituality and religious history.

Research Interests