The National Security Podcast

What is the difference between open-source intelligence (OSINT) and publicly available information? How can the private sector help intelligence agencies maintain their edge in a world saturated with data?  And how can AI contribute to the operations and effectiveness of these agencies?   In this episode of the National Security Podcast, Barbara Stevens joins Ben Scott to discuss open-source intelligence and how intelligence agencies are navigating rapid technological advancements.  Dr Barbara Stevens is a current member of the Board of Directors at Hexagon US Federal and a former CIA executive who has previously led numerous groups of data scientists and analysts. Ben Scott is a Senior Advisor at the ANU National Security College. He has over 25 years’ experience in diplomacy, think tanks, intelligence and international development.  Show notes:  ANU National Security College academic programs: find out more Office of the Director of National Intelligence report: find out more The IC Data Strategy 2023-2025: find out more CIA builds its own artificial intelligence tool in rivalry with China: find out more  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.

What is the significance of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s upcoming visit to Beijing? What outcomes can realistically be achieved, given the turbulent Australia-China relationship? And can Australia-China relations continue to stabilise into the future?  In this episode of the National Security Podcast, Rowan Callick and Richard Maude join Rory Medcalf to discuss Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s upcoming visit to China, what will be on the agenda, and how this visit might shape the bilateral relationship. Rowan Callick is an Industry Fellow at Griffith University's Asia Institute and an Expert Associate at the ANU National Security College. Richard Maude is Executive Director, Policy at Asia Society Australia, and a Senior Fellow at the Asia Society Policy Institute. Professor Rory Medcalf AM is Head of ANU National Security College. His professional experience spans more than three decades across diplomacy, intelligence analysis, think tanks, journalism and academia.  Show notes:  ANU National Security College academic programs: find out more National Defence: Defence Strategic Review 2023: find out more Former Ambassador Arthur Sinodinos on PM Albanese’s US visit: find out more  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.

How can Australia’s social cohesion be maintained, against a global backdrop of conflict, foreign interference and economic coercion?Is the nation's security architecture fit for purpose? And how can the political class develop public awareness of national security challenges, without being alarmist?   In this episode of the National Security Podcast, Senator James Paterson joins Rory Medcalf to discuss some key security issues and policy issues that Australia is facing, both, domestically and at an international stage.  Senator James Paterson is a Liberal Senator for Victoria and Shadow Minister for Home Affairs and Cyber Security. He is also the Australian co-chair of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China. Professor Rory Medcalf AM is Head of ANU National Security College. His professional experience spans more than three decades across diplomacy, intelligence analysis, think tanks, journalism and academia.  Show notes:  ANU National Security College academic programs: find out more National Defence – Defence Strategic Review 2023: find out more  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.

As Prime Minister Anthony Albanese prepares to visit President Joe Biden later this month, what priorities will be on his agenda? Is AUKUS at risk of overshadowing other parts of the US-Australia relationship? And what confidence can the Australian government have in the stability and reliability of the United States amid ongoing political turmoil?   In this episode of the National Security Podcast, the Hon Arthur Sinodinos AO joins Rory Medcalf to discuss Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s upcoming trip to Washington DC and the future of the Alliance.  The Hon Arthur Sinodinos AO is a Partner and Chair of the Australia Practice of The Asia Group and a distinguished advisor at the ANU National Security College (NSC). He was also the Australian Ambassador to the United States from February 2020 to March 2023.Professor Rory Medcalf AM is Head of ANU National Security College. His professional experience spans more than three decades across diplomacy, intelligence analysis, think tanks, journalism and academia.  Show notes:  ANU National Security College academic programs: find out more   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.

How can governments keep up with the lightning pace of technological change? Is there a 'right' model for tech regulation? And what role can Australia play in this dynamic digital ecosystem? In this episode of the National Security Podcast, Anu Bradford and Johanna Weaver join Jennifer Jackett to discuss the global impact of technological advances, the challenges and opportunities they bring, and the evolving landscape of tech regulation.  Anu Bradford is a Henry L. Moses Professor of Law and International Organization at the Columbia Law School. She is also the author of ‘Digital Empires: The Global Battle to Regulate Technology’.  Professor Johanna Weaver is the founding Director of the Tech Policy Design Centre (TPDC) at the Australian National University and a regular guest lecturer at the ANU National Security College. Jennifer Jackett is a Sir Roland Wilson Scholar at the ANU National Security College.  Show notes:  ANU National Security College academic programs: find out more Digital Empires: The Global Battle to Regulate Technology by Anu Bradford Tech Mirror podcast: find out more 2023-2030 Australian Cyber Security Strategy: find out more Quad Tech Network: an address by the Hon Clare O’Neil MP: watch the video 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.

Why are critical and emerging technologies at the forefront of geopolitical competition? Can the Quad play a part in standard setting without stifling innovation?  And how can the Quad help diversify technology supply chains without creating an ‘international cartel’?  In this episode of the National Security Podcast, Dr Raji Rajagopalan, Dr Akira Igata and Dr John Hemmings join David Andrews to discuss one of Quad’s central pillars – critical and emerging technologies.  Dr Raji Rajagopalan is the Director of the Centre for Security, Strategy and Technology, Observer Research Foundation. Professor Akira Igata is a Project Lecturer and the Director of the Economic Security Research Program at the Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology (RCAST), The University of Tokyo. Dr John Hemmings is the Senior Director of the Indo-Pacific Foreign and Security Policy Program at the Pacific Forum. David Andrews is Policy Manager at the ANU National Security College.   Show notes:  ANU National Security College academic programs: find out more Find out more about the Quad Tech Network A strategy for Quad biotechnology collaboration, Dirk van der Kley and Daniel Pavlich: read more  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.

Why is biotechnology so strategically important? How can the Quad successfully compete with China to harness the opportunities it presents? And what is at stake if ethical leadership in this field falters? In this episode of the National Security Podcast, Dirk van der Kley joins David Andrews to discuss the strategic importance of biotechnology and tangible ways the Quad can deliver collaborative leadership in this crucial area. Dr Dirk van der Kley is a Research Fellow at the ANU National Security College who specialises on technology competition and innovation between the US and China, with a particular interest in biological technologies. David Andrews is Policy Manager at the ANU National Security College.   Show notes:  ANU National Security College academic programs: find out more A strategy for Quad biotechnology collaboration by Dirk van der Kley and Daniel Pavlich: read more Quad Tech Network: find out more   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.

How has violent extremism evolved in recent decades? Why do the words used to discuss and describe extremism matter so much? And what challenges will governments, communities and individuals face in combating these threats in the digital age?  In this episode, Dr Emily Corner, Lydia Khalil, and Professor Michele Grossman join Gai Brodtmann to discuss the evolution of violent extremism, and how these changes create new challenges for policymakers.  Dr Emily Corner is a Senior Lecturer of Criminology at the Australian National University and has worked extensively on projects examining terrorism, radicalisation, and the mental disorders associated with terrorist behaviour.  Lydia Khalil is a Research Fellow on transnational challenges at the Lowy Institute and manages the Digital Threats to Democracy Project. Michele Grossman AM is a Professor and Research Chair, Diversity and Community Resilience at Deakin University. She is a renowned expert in the areas of violent extremism, radicalisation, and community engagement. Gai Brodtmann is a Distinguished Advisor at the ANU National Security College, 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.   Show notes:  ANU National Security College academic programs: find out more   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.

How did a Sri Lankan migrant go from new arrival to Chief Technology Officer in Australia’s secret intelligence service? What barriers can migrants and members of ethnically diverse communities face while trying to forge a career in Australian intelligence? What steps are being taken to create more opportunities for people of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds at ASIS, and in the National Intelligence Community more broadly? In this first-of-its kind interview with an unidentified Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS) officer, Carl Chang and Caroline van Heuzen talk to Raj about his journey of migrating to Australia and finding his place working with Australia's overseas secret intelligence agency. Raj shares the impacts of work ASIS is doing to improve CALD representation within intelligence organisations, and what this means for Australia’s national security. While the name and voice of this ASIS officer has been changed to protect their identify, their story remains unaltered. Carl Chang is co-leader of the Mission Management Division at the Office of National Intelligence (ONI) and is ONI's Cultural and Linguistic Diversity Champion. Raj (name changed to maintain anonymity) is the Chief Technology Officer at the Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS). Caroline van Heuzen is a Deputy Head at the ANU National Security College on secondment from the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.  Show notes: Careers at ASIS: find out more  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.

What is quantum science and why does it matter? How is Australia performing in the “quantum race”?What are some of the ethical, societal and security implications that need to be considered, as the world rushes to get this technology off the ground?  In this episode of the National Security Podcast, Dr Cathy Foley and Professor Michelle Simmons join Professor Rory Medcalf to discuss Australia’s quantum strategy, the technology’s relationship to national security and its ethical and social implications.  Dr Cathy Foley AO PSM is Australia’s Chief Scientist, providing authoritative and independent science advice on whole-of-Government science and technology priorities. She is the author for a message of introduction to Australia’s National Quantum Strategy.Professor Michelle Simmons AO is Director of the Centre of Excellence for Quantum Computation and Communication Technology. She was also named as the 2018 Australian of the Year for her work and dedication to quantum information science. Professor Rory Medcalf AM is Head of ANU National Security College. His professional experience spans more than three decades across diplomacy, intelligence analysis, think tanks, journalism and academia. Show notes: ANU National Security College academic programs: find out more National Quantum Strategy : find out more Quad Tech Network: find out more  AUKUS Pillar 2 – Advanced capabilities programme: find out more How can you prepare now for the quantum computing future? (survey): find out more  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 podcast.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.