Defence Connect Podcast Network

In this episode of the Defence Connect Spotlight podcast, Stephen Kowal, chief executive officer of Atturra, joins host Liam Garman to unpack how Atturra is building a uniquely sovereign workforce to deliver for Defence – and deliver some top tips for SMEs in the defence industry. The pair commence unpacking the importance of sovereignty given Australia’s geographic isolation, and what the Defence Industry Development Strategy (DIDS) means for Australian industrial capability. Kowal then unpacks the workforce constraints facing the defence industry, and what initiatives Atturra employs to get the most from their workforce. The podcast wraps up with some top tips for SMEs navigating this journey, and how Atturra will continue delivering for Defence. Enjoy the podcast, The Defence Connect team

In this episode of the Cyber Uncut podcast, Raj Samani, senior vice-president and chief scientist at Rapid7, joins host Liam Garman to provide intelligence direct from the cyber security battlefield. The pair begin the podcast by discussing the links between leading threat groups and rogue states, detailing their TTPs and operating models. Samani then unpacks recent findings from North Korea’s Kimsuky threat group, lifting the veil on how such threat actors target companies and how Rapid7 works with governments and businesses to keep them safe online. The podcast wraps up by examining emerging TTP trends and how businesses can build effective systems and processes to monitor their organisation’s attack surface. Enjoy the podcast, The Cyber Uncut team

In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, host Liam Garman is joined by Paul Cale, the Australian Army’s subject matter expert for the Army Combatives Program (ACP), to unpack how Cale developed ACP and the importance of combatives in modern close-quarters combat. The pair begin the podcast unpacking the origins of ACP and how Cale drew from his experiences in Afghanistan as a member of 2 Commando and a career in martial arts to develop the Army Combatives Program. Cale then unpacks the ACP core principles and theory, and how they are universal across close-quarters fighting. The podcast wraps up looking at how Army can enhance the delivery of ACP, including encouraging the art of hand-to-hand combatives in the military through the introduction of combatives master trainers. Enjoy the podcast, The Defence Connect team

In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, host Steve Kuper is joined by Jeffrey Hawkins, managing director of Pivot Maritime International, to discuss the role of innovation in Australia’s modern defence industry. The pair discuss: The history of Pivot Maritime International and what sets the Tasmanian company apart from competitors to see the company emerge as one of the nation’s great unsung defence industry innovators. Hawkins’ experience and what it takes – skills and mindset – to build an innovative business culture and what he believes sets Pivot apart from other companies. What is next for Hawkins and Pivot as the company continues to focus on innovation and delivering for Australia’s defence capability. Enjoy the podcast, The Defence Connect team

In this episode of the Cyber Uncut podcast, hosts Phil Tarrant and Major General (Ret’d) Dr Marcus Thompson unpack how foreign actors are targeting persons of interest on social media and how Australians are falling victim to unsophisticated credential stuffing campaigns. Like all news over recent months, the podcast begins talking about Taylor Swift – and how regular Australians became victims of credential stuffing campaigns on a popular ticketing website. The podcast continues with a look into pop culture deepfakes and how artificial intelligence (AI) poses a risk to geopolitical stability. The pair wrap up the podcast by looking into ASIO’s Annual Threat Assessment and how foreign actors have targeted people of interest online, before analysing some of the world’s most high-profile recent data breaches. Enjoy the podcast, The Cyber Uncut team

In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, host Robert Dougherty is joined by Brian Lim, Australian space industry insider and the CEO and founder of Dandelions. The pair discuss: Lim’s previous career in the Singaporean Army and how the island-trading nation’s geostrategic situation has changed in the last 20 years, plus its evolving relationship with the rising power of China. The growing relationship between Australia and Singapore and the opportunities for collaboration and partnership to support Australian deployments in the south-east Asian region. Lim’s history in engaging with Silicon Valley as a space-tech entrepreneur during his time in the United States and the challenges and opportunities facing entrepreneurs seeking to raise capital and build cutting-edge businesses. The need for greater government support for Australia’s space industry following a quick break out of the block and the breakdown of how revenue is generated in Australia’s space industry. Enjoy the podcast, The Defence Connect team

In this episode of the Cyber Uncut podcast, Mark Goudie, director of CrowdStrike Services, joins host Liam Garman to provide insight into the most prolific threats and vulnerabilities facing Australian businesses and how they can immediately take action to defend themselves. The podcast begins by examining critical findings from CrowdStrike’s Global Threat Report before detailing the top things Australian businesses must do to protect their assets.  Goudie and Garman then outline the roles and responsibilities of different departments across a business in the event of a breach – from IT to legal and investor relations.  The pair wrap up the podcast by discussing how businesses can wargame an attack, before addressing common misconceptions in the cyber security industry.  Enjoy the podcast, The Cyber Daily team

In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, senior journalist Robert Dougherty is joined by returning guest, Australian Army Corporal (Ret’d) and Afghan veteran Matthew “Willy” Williams OAM, to discuss the fall of Avdiivka in Ukraine, the ongoing conflict in Gaza, and the emerging discussion around conscription in Australia.  Corporal Williams was deployed as a private to Afghanistan with the Australian Army and left as a corporal in 2020, undertaking a radical career change to operate the 167,000-subscriber “Willy OAM” independent journalism YouTube channel. He now acts as a travelling civilian conflict reporter following a terminal brain cancer diagnosis on his 22nd birthday and after being awarded an OAM in the Queen’s Birthday 2020 Honours List. The pair discuss the recent withdrawal of Ukrainian armed forces from Avdiivka and the changing landscape of the battlefield in Ukraine. They then discuss the controversial topic of war crimes in the conflict, as well as tackling issues regarding the donation of MRH-90 Taipan helicopters and M1 Abrams battle tanks to Ukraine. They also discuss Williams’ travels on the ground in Israel following the October attacks last year and use of drones in the conflict. Finally, the pair discuss the public discourse around the possible conscription in Australia and the comparative effectiveness of called-up troops in Ukraine. Enjoy the podcast, The Defence Connect team

In this special Defence Connect Podcast, hosts Liam Garman and Steve Kuper unpack the findings of the government’s independent analysis of the Navy’s surface combatant fleet with former defence minister and ambassador to the US, the Honourable Kim Beazley AC. The trio begin by discussing the background and logic behind the review and how they shaped the findings the government ultimately released. They then move on to discuss the government’s commitment to expand the number of surface combatants in the fleet and the emphasis on building out the “Tier 2” fleet alongside innovative capabilities, including autonomy. Finally, the trio discuss the balancing act required to deliver this ambitious plan and Australia’s fleet of nuclear-powered submarines. Enjoy the podcast, The Defence Connect team

In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, host Steve Kuper is joined by WA Minister for Defence Industry and Veterans Issues, Paul Papalia CSC, MLA, to discuss the West Australian government’s ambitious plans to help build the state’s defence industry. The pair discuss the opportunities presented by the trilateral AUKUS agreement and Australia’s acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines will provide for WA defence industry businesses. The pair also discuss the growing interconnectivity and engagement of the WA government with our international AUKUS partners and the important role these industry partners play in supporting the long-term development of the state and nation’s defence industry workforce and defence industrial base. Finally, they then discuss programs like the WA government’s Defence Ready Initiative that are designed to help support the maturity, development and lower the barriers to entry for WA’s defence industry. Enjoy the podcast, The Defence Connect team