ECU City welcomes Clothilde Bullen, respected leader in arts, culture and creativity
Image: Jamie James
Edith Cowan University (ECU) has appointed acclaimed Wardandi and Badimaya curator, writer and advocate Clothilde Bullen as the inaugural Lead, Cultural Strategy and Development for the world-class ECU City campus.
Clo will lead the strategic development of projects and initiatives that showcase and celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, people, art, languages and histories at ECU City, as well as the wider university.
The appointment is part of ECU’s broader commitment to cultivating creativity and technology at ECU City, while realising innovative opportunities and new connections in education, research and industry.
She joins ECU from the Art Gallery of Western Australia where she has served on their executive team as the Senior Curator and Head of Indigenous Programs. She also brings extensive experience from Sydney's Museum of Contemporary Art Australia and is currently Co-Chair of Indigenous Voices; a Board member of the UNESCO International Association of Art Critics (Australian chapter); and Chair of the Board of the National Association for the Visual Arts.
ECU’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Students, Equity and Indigenous), Professor Braden Hill, said the appointment would reinforce ECU’s leadership role in the higher education sector, while extending the university’s engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
“Clo’s appointment is exceptionally exciting as there is no one better in the nation at thinking about the ways we can tell cutting-edge, immersive and meaningful First Nations stories, that inspire, educate and engage.
“Her leadership will see ECU City realise the vision of Whadjuk elders and First Nations communities more broadly, to become an important canvas and space for art, culture, performance and storytelling.
“Clo’s exceptional national profile and strong international connections will also help bring together an important intersection of existing and new cultural institutions in Perth to create exciting opportunities for collaboration, creativity and activation.”
The newly established position will play an integral role in the development of the world-class ECU City, which is set to welcome staff and students from semester one, 2026.
Located on one of the world’s oldest learning places, in the heart of Perth, the campus will build on the University’s commitment to supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ engagement with higher education.
ECU City will inject new energy into the Perth CBD with more than 10,000 students and staff from ECU’s creative industries, business and technology programs, including the world renowned Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA); the School of Business and Law; arts, design, communications, broadcasting and screen programs from the School of Arts and Humanities; and the University’s Kurongkurl Katitjin Centre for Indigenous Australian Education and Research.
The $853 million landmark project is part of the Perth City Deal, and is a collaboration between the Australian Government, the Western Australian Government and ECU, to deliver Perth’s first fully comprehensive inner-city university campus.