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, Deepcut News, The Diplomat, El Español en Australia, Eureka Street, Latin America Bureau, NACLA, New Matilda, Red Pepper, 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, The Canberra Times, The Daily Telegraph, El Ciudadano TV (Chile), Indus News (Pakistan), News Corp Australia, Radio 786 (South Africa), A Public Affair (Madison, Wisconsin), Radio Blue Mountains 89.1FM, SBS Radio (Spanish), 2SER 107.3FM, 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, Victorian Trades Hall Council, Venezuelan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, NSW Parliament Theatre, 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.

Rodrigo is a former associate lecturer from Macquarie University. He has spoken at several Latin American film festivals while his efforts to promote a greater understanding of Latin America have been recognised by the embassies of Uruguay and Venezuela in Australia, as well as the Chilean-Australian community.

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