The National Security Podcast

In this episode of the National Security Podcast, His Excellency the Hon George Brandis QC, Australia’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, joins Will Stoltz to discuss Australia’s relationship with the United Kingdom and the ongoing war in Ukraine.The UK-Australia relationship is at a high-water mark of trust and collaboration, cemented by the AUKUS Pact, the UK-Australia free trade agreement, and a united response to Russia’s war on Ukraine. But can the United Kingdom keep one eye on the Indo-Pacific while a crisis unfolds in Europe? And what comes next for cooperation between the two countries? In this episode of the National Security Podcast, Dr Will Stoltz speaks with His Excellency the Hon George Brandis QC at Australia House in London to discuss the High Commissioner’s assessment of Australia’s response to the invasion of Ukraine, his priorities as head of mission, and his passion for world affairs.His Excellency the Hon George Brandis QC is Australia’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom. A barrister by profession, he served as a Senator for Queensland in the Australian Parliament for 18 years. Dr William Stoltz is the Senior Adviser for Public Policy at the ANU National Security College (NSC). He is responsible for mobilising the College’s research and resident expertise to influence and inform current public policy debates.We’d love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to NatSecPod@anu.edu.au. You can tweet us @NSC_ANU and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes. The National Security Podcast is available on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the National Security Podcast, investigative journalist Sean Rubinsztein-Dunlop joins Will Stoltz to discuss his time reporting from the war in Ukraine and the importance of public interest journalism.Has the role of war correspondents changed following one of the most broadcast conflicts in history? How do reporters avoid enabling disinformation campaigns? And are citizen journalists helping or hindering public understanding of the conflict in Ukraine? Sean Rubinsztein-Dunlop has been reporting on Russia’s war on Ukraine for Australia’s national broadcaster. In this episode of the National Security Podcast, he joins Will Stoltz to discuss his recent experiences in Europe and the importance of public interest journalism. Sean Rubinsztein-Dunlop is a reporter with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)’s Investigations Unit. A former investigative reporter for the 7.30 program and police reporter for ABC News, Sean’s assignments have taken him to the Middle East, Africa, Asia and North America, and his investigations have appeared on ABC TV’s Four Corners. Dr William Stoltz is the Senior Adviser for Public Policy at ANU National Security College. He is responsible for mobilising the College’s research and resident expertise to influence and inform current public policy debates.We’d love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to NatSecPod@anu.edu.au. You can tweet us @NSC_ANU and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes. The National Security Podcast is available on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the National Security Podcast, Helen Mitchell and Dirk van der Kley join Will Stoltz to examine the so-called unprecedented regime of economic sanctions targeting Russia following its invasion of Ukraine.What are sanctions, and how do they work in practice? Which, if any, of the sanctions imposed on Russia are unprecedented, and will they have the desired impact? And how might economic statecraft be irrevocably changed following the conflict in Ukraine? Sir Roland Wilson Scholar Helen Mitchell and Research Fellow at ANU School of Regulation and Global Governance Dr Dirk van der Kley join Senior Fellow for Public Policy at ANU National Security College Dr Will Stoltz to examine the economic statecraft at play, discuss the prominence of sanctions in the crisis response, and evaluate how they fit into the long-term strategic planning of liberal-democratic countries, especially in relation to China’s objectives in Taiwan.Helen Mitchell is a Sir Roland Wilson PhD Scholar at The Australian National University (ANU) Centre for Applied Macroeconomic Analysis. She is also an economist and former diplomat.Dr Dirk van der Kley is a Research Fellow at ANU School of Regulation and Global Governance (RegNet).Dr William Stoltz is the Senior Adviser for Public Policy at ANU National Security College.We’d love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to NatSecPod@anu.edu.au. You can tweet us @NSC_ANU and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes. The National Security Podcast is available on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the National Security Podcast, Sir Lawrence Freedman joins Professor Rory Medcalf in conversation to discuss Russia’s war on Ukraine.How could Russia’s war on Ukraine end? Is there a credible path to lasting peace? How concerned should the international community be about the nuclear dimension of this war? On this episode of the National Security Podcast, Professor Sir Lawrence Freedom from King’s College London joins Head of ANU National Security College Professor Rory Medcalf in conversation.Professor Sir Lawrence Freedman is Emeritus Professor of War Studies, King's College London. He was Professor of War Studies from 1982 to 2014 and Vice-Principal from 2003 to 2013. Before joining King's he held research appointments at Nuffield College Oxford, the International Institute for Strategic Studies and the Royal Institute of International Affairs.Professor Rory Medcalf is Head of the ANU National Security College. His professional experience spans more than two decades across diplomacy, intelligence analysis, think tanks, and journalism.Professor Freedman’s blog, which is mentioned in this episode, can be found here.We’d love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to NatSecPod@anu.edu.au. You can tweet us @NSC_ANU and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes. The National Security Podcast is available on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the National Security Podcast, we are joined by Nina Davidson, Deputy Director-General Intelligence at the Office of National Intelligence, to bring you the first instalment of the Women in National Security mini-series, produced in collaboration with Accenture.In this episode of the National Security Podcast, hosts Gai Brodtmann, National Security College Futures Council member, and Meg Tapia, Principal Director for Defence and National Security at Accenture, are joined by Nina Davidson, Deputy Director-General Intelligence at the Office of National Intelligence. In this candid conversation they explore the myths surrounding national security, reveal the national intelligence issues on Nina’s radar, and reflect on her career journey so far. Nina Davidson is Deputy Director-General Intelligence at the Office of National Intelligence (ONI). She joined ONI in October 2021 following six years as Head of Office at the Australian Government’s Productivity Commission.Gai Brodtmann is a member of the ANU National Security College (NSC)'s Futures Council having previously served as a diplomat, defence consultant, Member of Parliament, Shadow Assistant Minister for Cyber Security and Defence and Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Defence. Meg Tapia has 16 years of experience in national security and foreign policy. She served as a diplomat in Papua New Guinea, Afghanistan, and Vanuatu. Currently, Meg is Principal Director for Defence and National Security at Accenture.We’d love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to NatSecPod@anu.edu.au. You can tweet us @NSC_ANU and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes. The National Security Podcast is available on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the National Security Podcast, Mick Ryan, Katherine Mansted, Rory Medcalf and Will Stoltz discuss their initial reactions to the unfolding conflict in Ukraine.Whether Kyiv endures Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion, or is overwhelmed, the lessons of this conflict will redefine global security for decades. In this episode of the National Security Podcast, former Commander of the Australian Defence College Major General (Rtd) Mick Ryan, Director of Cyber Intelligence at Cyber CX Katherine Mansted, Head of ANU National Security College Professor Rory Medcalf and Senior Adviser for Public Policy at ANU National Security College Dr Will Stoltz discuss their initial reactions to the unfolding conflict in Ukraine, foreshadow the work to come, and evaluate the potential consequences of this war in Europe. This episode is the first instalment in a series of conversations on the National Security Podcast which will explore the enduring ramifications of the war in Ukraine. Future episodes will explore economic sanctions as a tool of statecraft, the implications for Australian strategic planning, and the impact on the security of the Indo-Pacific. This program was recorded on Tuesday 1 March.Major General (Rtd) Mick Ryan is author of War Transformed: The Future of Twenty-First Century Great Power Competition and Conflict and former Commander of the Australian Defence College. Katherine Mansted is Senior Fellow in the Practice of National Security at the ANU National Security College and Director of Cyber Intelligence at Cyber CX. Professor Rory Medcalf is Head of the ANU National Security College. His professional experience spans more than two decades across diplomacy, intelligence analysis, think tanks, and journalism. Dr William Stoltz is the Senior Adviser for Public Policy at ANU National Security College. He is responsible for mobilising the College’s research and resident expertise to inform current public policy debates.We’d love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to NatSecPod@anu.edu.au. You can tweet us @NSC_ANU and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes. The National Security Podcast is available on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the National Security Podcast, we’re sharing something special – a taste of the new Women in National Security (WiNS) mini-series, produced in collaboration with Accenture.Join hosts Gai Brodtmann and Meg Tapia in lively conversations with Australia’s female national security leaders and rising stars. Each month, Gai and Meg give listeners an exclusive peek behind the national security curtain, exploring the careers, perspectives and leadership lessons of the women playing vital roles tackling our biggest national security challenges. Showcasing the influential women forging the future of our intelligence, defence and national security sectors, WiNS gives you an insider’s view into Australia’s national security community. Gai Brodtmann is a member of the ANU National Security College (NSC)'s Futures Council, having previously served as a diplomat, defence consultant, Member of Parliament, Shadow Assistant Minister for Cyber Security and Defence and Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Defence. She is currently a member of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute council, Defence Housing Australia board and Oceania Cyber Security Centre advisory board, and an occasional presenter and panellist at the NSC. Meg Tapia has 16 years of experience in national security and foreign policy. She served as a diplomat in Papua New Guinea, Afghanistan, and Vanuatu. Currently, Meg is Principal Director for Defence and National Security at Accenture, bringing together the best people and technology to create positive, long-lasting value in Australia’s national security organisations. We’d love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to NatSecPod@anu.edu.au. You can tweet us @NSC_ANU and use #NatSecPod and #WiNSPodcast. Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes. The National Security Podcast is available on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the National Security Podcast, Dr Nathan Attrill and Dr Liz Buchanan join Dr Will Stoltz to unpack the evolving relationship between China and Russia and its potential impact on Australia.Just before the opening ceremony of the 2022 Beijing Olympics, Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The meeting came as Russian forces amassed on the border of Ukraine, creating a standoff with NATO. To explore what can be drawn from this leaders meeting — and the broader China-Russia relationship – Dr Nathan Attrill from The Australian National University and Dr Liz Buchanan from the Australian War College join Dr Will Stoltz on the National Security Podcast.The views expressed in this podcast are those of the participants, and not of any organisation with which they are affiliated.Dr Nathan Attrill is a China scholar with The Australian National University and was previously a Researcher with The Australian Strategic Policy Institute’s International Cyber Policy Centre. His research interests include domestic Chinese politics and public policy, Chinese Communist Party institutions and systems of influence, and Australia-China relations.Dr Elizabeth Buchanan is Lecturer of Strategic Studies with Deakin University for the Defence and Strategic Studies Course at the Australian War College and a Fellow of the Modern War Institute at the United States Military Academy (West Point). Her research interests include Arctic and Antarctic geopolitics, energy security, Russian grand strategy, and strategic studies.Dr William Stoltz is the Senior Adviser for Public Policy at the ANU National Security College (NSC). He is responsible for mobilising the College’s research and resident expertise to influence and inform current public policy debates.We’d love to hear your feedback for this podcast series! Send in your questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes to podcast@policyforum.net. You can also Tweet us @APPSPolicyForum or find us on Facebook. The National Security Podcast and Policy Forum Pod are available on Spotify, iTunes, Stitcher, and wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the first episode of the National Security Podcast for 2022, Head of the ANU National Security College Professor Rory Medcalf is joined by Royal United Services Institute Senior Research Fellow Veerle Nouwens to explore how the relationship between these two nations could adapt to an increasingly dynamic Indo-Pacific.With ‘AUKMIN’ – the meeting of the Australian and United Kingdom Defence and Foreign Affairs ministers – anticipated soon, how might the partnership between the two countries be revitalised to meet new and emerging security challenges? Professor Rory Medcalf and Veerle Nouwens discuss how Australia and the United Kingdom could increase the impact of their ongoing collaboration in the Indo-Pacific, exploring ideas drawn from their recent Policy Options Paper, Australia and the United Kingdom: an Indo-Pacific security agenda for a revitalised partnership.Veerle Nouwens is a Senior Research Fellow at the International Security Studies Department of the Royal United Services Institute, focusing on geopolitical relations in the Asia-Pacific region.Rory Medcalf is Head of the ANU National Security College. His professional experience spans more than two decades across diplomacy, intelligence analysis, think tanks, and journalism.Policy Options Papers are the flagship publication from the ANU National Security College and offer short, evidence-based and forward-looking insights and recommendations for policymakers on topical national security issues facing Australia. Every paper in the series is informed by consultation and reviewed by practitioner and academic experts. This paper is available here.We’d love to hear your feedback for this podcast series! Send in your questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes to podcast@policyforum.net. You can also Tweet us @APPSPolicyForum or find us on Facebook. The National Security Podcast and Policy Forum Pod are available on Spotify, iTunes, Stitcher, and wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special final episode of 2021 – the 100th National Security Podcast – a team of experts from ANU National Security College examine the security dimensions of the year that was and, looking forward to 2022, explore what might be in store in the year ahead.As a turbulent year for Australia and its region ends, looking back at how 2021 unfolded has much to reveal about where national security policymakers can go from here. In the 100th episode of National Security Podcast, host Chris Farnham is joined by national security experts Katherine Mansted, Will Stoltz, and Rory Medcalf to explore the big events from the last 12 months and analyse how they might shape the security landscape in 2022.Katherine Mansted is Senior Fellow in the Practice of National Security at the ANU National Security College. She is also the Director of Cyber Intelligence at Australia’s largest independent cyber security services company, CyberCX.Dr William Stoltz is the Senior Adviser for Public Policy at ANU National Security College. He is responsible for mobilising the College’s research and resident expertise to influence and inform current public policy debates.Professor Rory Medcalf is Head of the ANU National Security College. His professional experience spans more than two decades across diplomacy, intelligence analysis, think tanks, and journalism.Chris Farnham is the Senior Outreach and Policy Officer at the ANU National Security College. After serving as a soldier in the Australian Army, he worked in roles throughout East Asia with a focus on geopolitics and regional security.You can find out more about the Master of National Security Policy here, and the National Intelligence Community and National Security College Scholarship for Women program here.We’d love to hear your feedback for this podcast series! Send in your questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes to podcast@policyforum.net. You can also Tweet us @APPSPolicyForum or find us on Facebook. The National Security Podcast and Policy Forum Pod are available on Spotify, iTunes, Stitcher, and wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.