Defence Connect Podcast Network

In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, host Steve Kuper is joined by Dr Ross Babbage, CEO of Strategic Forum and senior non-resident fellow at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments.   The pair begin their conversation discussing the origins of Dr Babbage’s report for the Lowy Institute, Deterrence and alliance power: Why the AUKUS submarines matter and how they can be delivered.    The pair also discuss:  Some of the concerns in Australia, the United States, and the United Kingdom around delivering the future SSN-AUKUS fleet.  The risk/reward opportunity available to Australia as part of the generational nation-building program AUKUS represents.  Setting the record straight on some of the misconceptions and focal points that dominate the national conversation about AUKUS.  Enjoy the podcast,  The Defence Connect team

In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, the 2024 Western Australian AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award winner, Mandy Walker, joins senior journalist Robert Dougherty to discuss new ways to integrate regional businesses into the defence supply chain to resist seasonal challenges in Australia. The pair discuss the 2024 WA AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award, the national finals, and working in Western Australia. Walker, co-manager of Walkers Diesel Services, then explains a new initiative expected to pave the way for regional engineering businesses to participate in the defence industry supply chain. Walker and Dougherty wrap up the podcast by looking at decision making in Western Australia and her plans to win the national AgriFutures award. Enjoy the podcast, The Defence Connect team

In this episode of the Cyber Uncut podcast, Peter Maloney, CEO and managing director of AUCloud, joins host Liam Garman to examine the 71 per cent year-on-year increase in cyber attacks against healthcare systems and the risks that this will pose for regular Australians. The pair begin the podcast by unpacking key findings from the 2024 Cyber Security Healthcare Report and the key factors that contribute to this alarming trend. Maloney then provides insight into the Monash Health and MediSecure data breaches and what steps that healthcare providers must take to prevent future breaches. They wrap up the podcast by looking at the ethical implications of healthcare data breaches, while Maloney details the must-need strategies and technologies to ameliorate this risk. Enjoy the podcast, The Cyber Uncut team

In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, Australian Army veteran Adrian Bucci joins senior journalist Robert Dougherty to discuss life in the Australian Defence Force, his deployment to Afghanistan, and becoming the first Australian forward observer to fire artillery on operations since the Vietnam War. The pair discuss Major (Ret’d) Bucci’s time with the Royal Australian Artillery, parachuting with the ADF, and assignment with United Kingdom troops during Exercise Long Look. Bucci then explains the changes to a post-Western intervention Afghanistan as the Taliban takes on a more solidified governmental role. Bucci and Dougherty wrap up the podcast looking at the current world demand for 155mm artillery munitions and what new recruits can look forward to during a career in the Australian Defence Force. Enjoy the podcast, The Defence Connect team

In this episode of the Defence Connect Spotlight podcast, Ed Zoiss, President, Space and Airborne Systems at L3Harris, joins host Liam Garman to unpack how integrated all-domain electronic warfare is a fundamental capability in today’s defence landscape, and how the Australian Defence Force must establish freedom of manoeuvre in the electromagnetic spectrum (EMS). The pair begin the podcast examining how electronic warfare is used in modern military operations and how L3Harris is helping Australia leverage the power of information. Zoiss then unpacks L3Harris’ collaboration with the US Space Force and how space capabilities will be critical for the monitoring and detection of emerging hypersonic and ballistic missile threats. The podcast wraps up assessing the future of electronic warfare and space operations, and how Australia can leverage the Australia–US alliance and AUKUS to build their capabilities in these domains. Enjoy the podcast, The Defence Connect team

In this episode of the Defence Connect Spotlight podcast, Christopher Groves, former Royal Navy submariner and underwater business development lead at QinetiQ, and Graeme Bick, QinetiQ’s global test and evaluation campaign chief solution architect, join host Liam Garman to unpack how test and evaluation will be critical for the success of Australia’s nuclear-powered submarine program. The trio begin the podcast examining the role of T&E in submarine operations, especially in ensuring that the capability remains undetectable while on deployment. Groves and Bick then discuss Australia’s unique geography and oceanographic conditions, and how the transition from conventionally powered to nuclear-powered submarines will pose interesting challenges for Defence and industry. Bick continues the podcast by unpacking how the Submarine Rotational Force - West will shake up naval operations in Australia before Groves wraps up, looking at how T&E will be fundamental for the introduction of emerging capabilities into the Australian Defence Force. Enjoy the podcast, The Defence Connect team

In this episode of the Cyber Daily podcast, Phil Tarrant, Major General (Ret’d) Dr Marcus Thompson, and Liam Garman unpack how society must come to terms with the growing magnitude of IT mishaps and recent changes to Australia’s cyber security leadership.  The podcast begins by analysing the CrowdStrike IT outage and how IT mishaps will increasingly threaten society as we know it – discussing alternatives, including supplier diversification for business and government redundancies.  They then discuss the appointment of Minister Tony Burke as Australia’s new cyber security minister and whether his responsibilities – including the portfolios of home affairs, immigration, arts and cyber security, will give cyber enough time around the cabinet table.  They wrap up by looking at how local government continues to be a weak link in Australia’s cyber security chain.  Enjoy the podcast, The Cyber Uncut team

In this special episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, host Steve Kuper speaks to Taiwan’s most senior representative, Douglas Hsu, to discuss the bilateral relationship and opportunities, and the China question. The pair discuss a range of topics affecting the future of both Australia and Taiwan and the future of security in the Indo-Pacific region, including: The economic and industrial lessons learned by Taiwan throughout its rapid industrialisation and how they can help to shape Australia’s own industrial development. The island democracy’s growing concerns for its security and how the bilateral relationship with Australia is helping to prepare the nation in the event of the unthinkable. The future opportunities, risks, and state of preparedness in the nation amid mounting provocations by the People’s Republic of China. Enjoy the podcast, The Defence Connect team

In this episode of the Defence Connect Spotlight podcast, Nova Systems CEO Dean Rosenfield and chief people officer Shelley Willsmore join host Liam Garman to unpack key lessons from the war in Ukraine for Australia’s industrial base and how Australia can better collaborate with its AUKUS partners. Rosenfield and Willsmore begin the podcast examining key lessons from the British and European defence industries following Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine. They then unpack the concept of diversification across the tripartite AUKUS alliance, ensuring that defence industry and allied militaries don’t duplicate efforts, before examining the role of capability audits in defence. The trio wrap up the podcast looking into overcoming workforce challenges and the importance of ensuring Australia gets Test and Evaluation capability right, following the release of the Defence Industry Development Strategy. Enjoy the podcast, The Defence Connect team

In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, Australian Army veteran and judoka Scott Steer joins Liam Garman to discuss how he and his team are supporting Australia’s veteran community through martial arts with the Veterans Grappling Foundation. The pair discuss Steer’s career in judo before joining the Australian Army, and where he developed the idea of the Veterans Grappling Foundation. Steer then explains how the principles of martial arts – in particular, grappling arts such as Brazilian jiu-jitsu and judo – are important tools in facilitating the transition from military to civilian life. Steer and Garman wrap up the podcast looking at some of the challenges in establishing the charity and its next steps. Enjoy the podcast, The Defence Connect team