Kumi Taguchi

Born in Melbourne, Victoria, to her Japanese father and Australian mother, Kumi Taguchi grew up in rural New South Wales learning classical violin from the age of five.  

A talented violinist, Kumi studied music at the University of Wollongong (UOW) but soon found a new calling in media and broadcast.

Kumi has worked in the media for over 25 years in Australia and Asia, and is currently the host of SBS’s Insight and the podcast.  She is also a guest reporter on Dateline.

With an avid passion for stories and being curious … Kumi says the best education has been through learning others’ experiences of life.  

As a diversity of voice advocate, Kumi says about Insight on SBS ‘I want to hear different accents in my studio; I want a miner sitting next to a banker; I want people with tatts.  Socioeconomic and educational diversity are essential’.

Kumi has also leveraged her platform to serve as an ambassador for mental health awareness.

Kumi is one to throw herself into experiences, like running in desert marathons, and sailing the Sydney to Hobart (as a self-described ‘novice sailor’ she battled all the elements of the trip!)   Kumi also loves to travel and exploring new places.

Kumi is an in-demand MC and Speaker.  She has hosted an incredible array of events, including the Australian of the Year Awards, the opening and closing ceremony of the Invictus Games, Vivid Sydney events, and a suite of corporate conferences.