Dr. Rodrigo Acuña is a Spanish teacher, specialist in Latin American politics, and filmmaker.

He holds a BA (Hons) in Politics and International Relations and Spanish/Latin American Studies from the University of New South Wales (UNSW), as well as a Diploma in Education from the same institution.

He received the Benchmark Prize in Hispanic Studies from UNSW in 2005 and a Learning and Teaching Award for Teaching Excellence from Macquarie University’s Faculty of Arts in 2009. In 2013, after receiving an Australian Postgraduate Award (APA) from the Australian Government, he completed a PhD on Venezuelan foreign policy at Macquarie University.

For two decades, Rodrigo has written on Latin American politics for outlets including the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), ARENA Magazine, Canadian Dimension, The Conversation, Crikey, Eureka Street, NACLA, New Matilda, The Diplomat, Truthout, and Z Network, as well as academic journals such as the Journal of Iberian and Latin American Research (JILAR), Latin American Perspectives, Macquarie Law Journal, and Global Discourse. From 2020 to 2024, he hosted the podcast Indestructible for Alborada: Latin America Uncovered (UK).

He has been interviewed by ABC Radio National, Al Jazeera (London), The Australian, A Public Affair (Madison, Wisconsin), Indus News (Pakistan), SBS Radio (Spanish), The Sydney Morning Herald, TeleSUR and Venezolana de Televisión. He has delivered talks at numerous institutions including the Australian National University, University of Sydney, Cervantes Institute (Sydney), La Trobe University, Macquarie University, the Venezuelan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the NSW Parliament Theatre, the University of Hong Kong, and UNSW.

In 2025 he participated in a Round Table discussion at the Parliament of Australia for the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances.

In 2024, he independently released his first documentary, Venezuela: The Cost of Challenging an Empire, co-produced with journalist Nicolas Ford. He is currently working on a second documentary, Chile 73: Australia, the Subimperial Connection. His work can be followed on social media or supported on Patreon, where he publishes a bimonthly newsletter on Latin America.

Contact:
rodrigo.indepj@gmail.com | rodrigo.indepj@protonmail.com