Dr Kulam Shanmugam
Academic Skills Librarian, Lead Institute of Higher Education
Dr Kulam Shanmugam joins us as Academic Skills Librarian, bringing 30 years of experience in education and libraries across Sri Lanka and Australia. He began his career at Eastern University in Sri Lanka, where he spent a decade supporting English language programs. After moving to Australia, he shifted his focus to librarianship and has since worked in libraries at all levels of government—local, state, and federal.
Dr Kulam is a member of the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) and holds a Master’s in TESOL (UK), a Diploma in Library & Information Studies (TAFE NSW), a Graduate Diploma in Library and Information Management (CSU), and a PhD from Western Sydney University, completed in 2024.
He has also worked in Papua New Guinea, teaching and managing programs at two business colleges. Most recently, he was Manager of Library & Information Services and Academic Skills Advisor at Gateway Business College, NSW. There, he built a new library from the ground up, selected and implemented a Library Management System, and developed a strong collection of textbooks, eBooks, and databases.
Dr Kulam has worked as a specialist Client Services Librarian for Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) at the University of New England for one year providing library services including consultations to the academics, students and researchers in person and online.
Dr Kulam is enthusiastic about helping students succeed and creating welcoming, well-resourced learning environments. He’s excited to share his experience and contribute to high-quality library and academic support services that make a real difference in students’ lives.