Kim Cunio

Kim Cunio is a Senior Lecturer in composition and convenor of musicology at the Australian National University (ANU), part of the College of Arts and Social Sciences. From 2019 to 2023, he served as Head of the ANU School of Music, driving initiatives such as Indigenous engagement strategies, global music performance programs, and philanthropic funding. His leadership included revitalizing the School’s performance capacity, securing over $6.5 million in endowed philanthropy, and establishing Australia’s first free National Indigenous recording studio (Yil Lull).

Research interests span music composition, traditional and ethnomusicology, music in health contexts, and interdisciplinary projects with sciences and Indigenous knowledges. Notable collaborations include work with the Gyuto Monks of Tibet, the British Antarctic Survey (music inspired by space sounds), and projects addressing social issues like enforced feticide in India. He also co-leads decolonization efforts in academia with scholars like Kate Harriden and Jess Weir.

• Awards: ABC Golden Manuscript Award, ANU leadership award
• Initiatives: ANU Music Press, Women and Music programs, Music of the Global South projects
• Impact: $22M annual economic contribution to ACT economy via arts activities

Kim contributes to public discourse through ABC Radio segments and policy work with ANU’s Crawford Centre for Public Policy. His teaching includes the Ngarra Burria program training First Nations composers, and he oversees a PhD program focused on artistic practice research.