Defence & Security Podcast Network

Momentum Media

The Defence & Security Podcast Network hosts a unique series of podcasts, featuring discussions with key enablers from across the Australian defence and security industry.

The podcasts provide the perfect blend of business intelligence and insights from a range of guests, which include government officials, ADF personnel, industry stakeholders, and members of the academic community.

By aligning ourselves with the ADF and the Commonwealth government, we are uniquely placed to deliver a dynamic 360° platform that bridges the gap between the customer (Defence) and industry.

We split our focus not just into the traditional sectors of Land (Army), Air (Air Force) and Sea (Navy), but into the six new Capability Streams:

- Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, Electronic Warfare and Cyber
- Key Enablers
- Air and Sea Lift
- Maritime and Anti-Submarine Warfare
- Strike and Air Combat
- Land Combat and Amphibious Warfare

As Defence moves to ensure the Force Structure Review and the First Principles Review: Creating One Defence plans are met, Australian industry involvement is critical for mission success.

The Defence & Security Podcast Network will provide you and your business with valuable lessons, tips and insights into the industry, putting your company in the best position to take part in the increased Defence spending.

We'll cover every aspect of doing business in the defence industry, from the tender process to recruitment, success stories, access points to Defence, smart business strategies, and geopolitical insights.

Subscribe to the Defence & Security Podcast Network and be part of this exciting and innovative industry.

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August 18 · 37 min
SPOTLIGHT: Building Australia's missing middle – how DIDS reshapes defence industry economics
Australia's 2026 Defence Industry Development Strategy (DIDS) signals a significant shift in how Defence acquires capability, moving beyond traditional procurement models towards earlier collaboration with industry and a greater focus on innovation, software and continuous capability development. The 2026 Defence Industry Development Strategy marks a doctrinal shift in how Australia approaches defence acquisition: rather than locking capability requirements and then inviting industry to bid, Defence should explore available technologies with industry partners before committing resources – fundamentally rewriting the commercial relationship between procurer and supplier. Rebecca Humble, CEO of Aurizn, a private equity-backed Australian defence technology firm, discusses what the strategy means for Australian defence companies and why building sovereign capability requires more than policy intent alone. She explores the need for deeper engagement between Defence and industry, the role of private capital in helping Australian businesses scale, and the importance of developing a stronger ecosystem of mid-sized defence companies capable of translating innovation into enduring capability. The conversation also examines how software, AI and digital experimentation are changing traditional acquisition approaches, why commercial incentives must support SME growth, and what Australia can learn from international models while developing an approach tailored to its own strategic and industrial environment. Without effective implementation, the ambitions of DIDS risk remaining aspirational. But if Defence, industry and investors can work together to create stronger pathways from innovation to capability, Australia has an opportunity to build a more resilient and sustainable sovereign defence industrial base. Critically, Humble notes Australia lacks the social licence for defence investment that the United States enjoys and has been hesitant to embrace private equity as a force multiplier for SME growth – precisely the funding model driving emerging companies towards scale. Without deliberate policy enactment and commercial accountability, the DIDS risks remaining aspirational rather than transformative. Enjoy the podcast, The Defence Connect Spotlight team
August 17 · 24 min
CYBER UNCUT: Why cyber security's basics still matter in the age of AI, with ThreatLocker's Keiran Human
Malicious browser extensions, AI-powered phishing, and the evolution of Australia's Essential Eight are all putting renewed focus on proactive cyber defence. Hear ThreatLocker's lead cyber security engineer, Kieran Human, explain why organisations need to get the basics right before attackers get the chance to exploit them. Malicious browser extensions are giving attackers another route into corporate environments, with phishing campaigns tricking users into installing tools capable of running arbitrary code. Cyber Daily's David Hollingworth and Human break down how the so-called Edgecution attack method works, how initial access brokers fit into the ransomware ecosystem, and why even highly technical employees can fall for increasingly convincing social engineering. The conversation then turns to what defenders can actually do about it. Human argues that security teams need to move beyond relying solely on detection and response, with application allow-listing and other proactive controls providing a critical layer of protection when users inevitably make mistakes. Finally, Hollingworth and Human examine the future of Australia's Essential Eight, including the move towards the new Essentials framework and potential guidance for enterprise, cloud, and AI environments. Enjoy, The Cyber Uncut team
August 14 · 47 min
THE PROGRESS REPORT: Against the tide – Captain Mona Shindy on gender, culture and change in the Royal Australian Navy
Someone has to take the plunge and shoulder the burden. A pioneer forging the path for the future generations of women in the Australian Defence Force, no matter the consequences. Royal Australian Navy Captain (Ret'd) Mona Shindy shares her unique journey serving in the Royal Australian Navy as a warship weapons engineer, becoming one of the first three women to serve on an Australian warship, being selected as the first female captain to wear a hijab and, finally, leaving a legacy as the inaugural and only chief of navy strategic advisor on Islamic cultural affairs. In this episode of The Progress Report, senior journalist Robert Dougherty sits down with Captain Shindy to discuss her extraordinary career spanning more than 25 years in the Royal Australian Navy, her trauma and triumphs navigating the treacherous waters of gender bias, cultural expectations and resistance to change. The pair also look ahead to the future, how Defence has improved and how it can better understand and support personnel from diverse cultural and religious backgrounds. Beyond her own career, Shindy reflects on leadership, the nature of negative military culture, her memoir, Shattering identity bias, and a newly launched Mona Shindy Foundation designed to provide mentoring, networks and support to people who may not otherwise have access to them. The Progress Report. New voices. Real stories. Big shifts. Enjoy the podcast,The Progress Report team
August 13 · 10 min
UK–Australia defence cooperation, GCAP and CEA advanced radar, with UK Minister Luke Pollard
How can the UK and Australia deepen defence industry cooperation while balancing high-end capabilities with Ukrainian-style affordable mass? In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, senior journalist Robert Dougherty is joined by UK Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard during his current visit to Australia. Minister Pollard is undertaking a broader tour of the country's defence industry and headlining the Australian British Chamber of Commerce's Defence Industry Lunch in Perth on 17 August. The podcast conversation includes the following topics: The UK's approach to the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), Canada's new observer status and the potential for further international partners to join the program. The UK's focus on building defence capabilities with allies through shared workshares, technology and industrial cooperation. Defence technology co-development with Ukraine, including two-way intellectual property sharing and the scaling of Ukrainian and British capabilities. The role of innovation and rapidly changing electronic warfare requirements in shaping how Western militaries support Ukraine. The UK's approach to a "high-low-mid mix" of defence advanced platforms, mid-range systems and affordable mass. Opportunities for Australian defence companies to enter the UK market, including the potential integration of CEA Technologies' active electronically scanned array radar into UK capabilities. Finally, the discussion wraps up by examining how closer UK–Australia defence industry partnerships can strengthen sovereign capability while creating skilled jobs, apprenticeships and long-term employment opportunities in both countries. Enjoy the podcast, The Defence Connect team
August 10 · 40 min
CYBER UNCUT: Inside the OT threat landscape, with Dragos' field CTO APAC, Alex Nehmy
In this episode of Cyber Uncut, Cyber Daily's Liam Garman is joined by Alex Nehmy, who explains why securing critical infrastructure requires a different approach to traditional IT security. Discover why operational technology has become one of the highest-value targets for sophisticated threat actors, how attacks on OT differ from conventional data breaches, and why visibility into industrial environments is the foundation of effective defence. The discussion explores real-world examples of cyber attacks causing physical disruption, the growing risks posed by supply chains and connected devices, and why the idea of a truly "air-gapped" network is often more myth than reality. The conversation also examines how AI is reshaping both offensive and defensive cyber operations, the challenges organisations face in protecting modern extended OT (XOT) environments, and the practical steps security leaders can take to improve resilience against nation-state threats. Whether you're responsible for IT, OT, or critical infrastructure, this episode offers valuable insights into one of cyber security's most important and rapidly evolving battlegrounds. Listen now to hear how security leaders can strengthen their OT defences, reduce risk, and stay ahead of increasingly sophisticated cyber adversaries. Enjoy, The Cyber Uncut team
August 6 · 42 min
From hardware to algorithms – how Defence is embedding AI into warfare without surrendering human accountability
Defence's chief data officer and AI strategist explain how autonomy reshapes decision making while keeping commanders accountable for outcomes The Australian Defence Force's approach to artificial intelligence and autonomous systems is not a rush towards unmanned warfare, it is a disciplined pivot toward decision-aid systems that augment human judgement rather than replace it. Speaking ahead of ADSTAR 2026, Defence's chief data integration officer, Dr Paul Robards, and chief of space, intelligence, national security and cyber division, Andrew Seedhouse, outline how the Defence Force is engineering accountability into AI systems at scale. The centrepiece is a philosophy that officers remain personally accountable for all decisions, with AI functioning as a high-powered analytical support tool rather than an autonomous agent. The challenge is acute. Defence systems now ingest vast volumes of sensor data, satellites, drones, communications and cyber intelligence, creating information overload rather than clarity. AI's role is to parse this deluge, surface decision options ranked by strategic utility and present them with full traceability back to the source data. Commanders retain the final say; algorithms provide the why. Both speakers emphasise the tension between technological velocity and governance rigour. Frontier AI labs release new capabilities weekly. Defence's testing, security validation and policy alignment move faster than legacy defence timelines but must remain slower than pure research cycles. Experimental systems run on ranges with physical limiters; enterprise systems sit firewalled in sandboxes until rigorous vetting confirms fitness for operational deployment. Equally critical is Australia's industrial capacity challenge. Ukraine's autonomous systems success reflects decades of manufacturing expertise. Australia must build equivalent capability rapidly yet cannot rely on Defence alone to sustain industry. Commercial diversification and allied procurement partnerships are essential. The strategic upside for a middle power is stark: AI enables capability multiplication without conventional force parity. Small teams wielding superior analytics and autonomous systems can achieve disproportionate effect. The hard work now is execution without ethical compromise. Enjoy the podcast, The Defence Connect team
August 5 · 41 min
CONTESTED GROUND: Weak, vulnerable, backwater – Australia's choice between strategic camps and managed decline
Dr Ross Babbage warns that without urgent economic reform and industrial recalibration, Australia risks becoming a client state of Beijing. Returning to the Defence Connect Podcast, strategic analyst Dr Ross Babbage delivers an unsparing diagnosis: Australia is drifting towards a future of strategic weakness, economic vulnerability and de facto dependence on Beijing – unless the nation urgently reverses course on industrial policy, governance efficiency and the information asymmetry crippling public debate. In a wide-ranging conversation with host Steve Kuper, Babbage articulates an emerging geopolitical fracture: the world is crystallising into distinct economic camps. The first, led by the United States and including Western democracies, is erecting selective tariffs and deepened trade ties. Camp two is China and its authoritarian satellites. A third comprises developing nations watching carefully before committing. Australia's position, Babbage argues, remains fatefully ambiguous. While virtually every Western ally has taken protective measures against Chinese manufacturing dumping and industrial subsidy – a regime he quantifies at eight to 18 times the support other nations provide – Australia has remained conspicuously reticent. China's leverage remains decisive: our iron ore and coal exports are non-negotiable parts of Beijing's strategic calculus. The deeper problem, he stresses, runs through economic governance itself. Australia has deindustrialised deliberately over three decades, shed critical capabilities in steel and advanced manufacturing, surrendered energy cost advantage and starved investment in domestic capability. Without deliberate recalibration – smaller government, redirection of trade partnerships, strategic investment incentives – Australia defaults towards clientelism. Equally critical is the communication void. Defence industry leaders, board chairs of major firms and even policymakers routinely tell Babbage they were unaware of the scale of Chinese subversion, intellectual property theft and coordinated disintegration operations aimed at fracturing Western cohesion. The path forward, he argues, demands frank public briefings, ruthless priority setting and abandonment of exhausted economic orthodoxies. Without it, Australia becomes the strategic backwater Beijing expects. Enjoy the podcast, The Contested Ground team
August 4 · 51 min
Undersea dominance – Australia charts the maritime future through autonomous systems and AUKUS innovation
Australia's next strategic edge will be built beneath the waves, combining autonomous systems, artificial intelligence and AUKUS cooperation to reshape the underwater battlespace. In a special Defence Connect Podcast episode recorded for the ADSTAR 2026 summit, Admiral Stephen Hughes, on the eve of his retirement, and Chief of Air and Maritime Dr Ninh Duong outline how the succession of Defence Strategic Reviews since 2023 has crystallised a seismic shift in Australian naval posture. The Indo-Pacific underwater domain, they contend, has become irreversibly more contested, more congested and increasingly transparent – demanding not just new platforms, but fundamentally reimagined operational concepts. The centrepiece of this transformation remains Australia's commitment to conventionally armed nuclear-powered submarines. But equally critical, ADML Hughes emphasises, is the emergence of a distributed, scalable ecosystem of uncrewed systems: the Ghost Shark extra-large autonomous underwater vehicle developed with Anduril, the C2 Robotics Speartooth platform and surface vessels like Ocius Bluebottle. These systems, he argues, function not as replacements for crewed capability, but as force multipliers – saturating the environment, absorbing risk and freeing high-end platforms to deliver the deterrent effect only sophisticated platforms can provide. Yet the genuine strategic revolution lies not in platforms themselves but in the algorithms, payloads and interoperable control architectures that AUKUS Pillar 2 is cultivating. Dr Duong stresses that Australia's comparative advantage rests in the convergence of technologies: advanced sensing, edge processing, AI-enabled decision support, and the governance frameworks that will allow sovereign capability to scale across allied networks. Both speakers emphasise a persistent communication gap: the failure of public discourse to articulate the integrated logic thread binding the National Defence Strategy, the Defence Industry Strategy, and emerging science and technology roadmaps. Without that coherence in messaging, they warn, political pressure and social media fragmentation risk fracturing public support for the whole ambitious edifice. As Australia readies for the post-Hughes era, the maritime imperative remains unambiguous – and technologically, strategically and diplomatically complex. Enjoy the podcast, The Defence Connect team
August 3 · 35 min
CYBER UNCUT: Aussie AI, 900k impacted by Origin hack, Victorian courts breached, and eSafety v Telegram
In this week's podcast, Cyber Daily's Daniel Croft and David Hollingworth argue for sovereign Australian AI, catch up with the Origin Energy data breach, uncover a Court Services Victoria hack, and ponder the efficacy of taking a foreign chat platform to court over terror content. Should Aussie banks have access to Australian Taxation Office data to stop fraud? That's how the podcast kicks off, alongside the revelation that fraudsters are using AI to fake documents to secure massive bank loans. For Hollingworth and Croft, the answer is a resounding yes, which is also the case when it comes to sovereign AI capability, as Australian company Maincode brings its own coding agent online. This week, Origin Energy revealed the extent of its recent data breach, while Court Services Victoria disclosed it had fallen victim to prolific hacker 2019. It's been a torrid time for data security in Australia, with even an insider threat rearing its head in a data breach at NSW Health. Finally, the pair discuss whether or not eSafety can effectively sue chat platform Telegram over pro-terror content, while the Australian Communications and Media Authority said it is suing Optus over its Triple Zero failures last year. Just another week in cyber security. Enjoy, The Cyber Uncut team
July 30 · 24 min
Australian Army Cadets pathways, submarine industry growth and Australia's fuel security
How can Australia strengthen its future defence workforce while building sovereign industrial capability across shipbuilding, sustainment and advanced military technology? In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, Stephen Kuper, Robert Dougherty and Bethany Alvaro unpack a series of developments across Australia's defence and industrial landscape, including new pathways into higher education through the Australian Army Cadets, growth in the submarine supply chain and emerging defence industry opportunities. Discussion includes a new initiative from James Cook University that recognises the Australian Army Cadets experience as part of university admissions and the role cadet programs can play in building future defence capability. The team also examines major announcements linked to Australia's naval industrial base, including a contract awarded to Bisalloy Steels to support construction of Virginia Class submarines and the selection of a contractor to design a floating dry dock that will support Australia's future nuclear-powered submarine fleet. Attention then turns to the announcement of a pre-feasibility study into a proposed new Australian oil refinery and the broader implications for national preparedness and economic security. The panel also explores developments unveiled at the Farnborough International Airshow, including the appearance of the MQ-28 Ghost Bat alongside the Meteor beyond-visual-range missile, Boeing's plans to establish international manufacturing hubs, and growing international interest in next-generation combat aircraft programs such as the Global Combat Air Programme. Rounding out the episode, the team discusses comments about the Ghost Shark, chemical weapons restrictions and facial recognition from Anduril founder Palmer Luckey. Enjoy the podcast, The Defence Connect team
July 27 · 43 min
CYBER UNCUT: OpenAI model goes rogue, Origin Energy hacked, and Victoria takes aim at online bullies
In this week's podcast, Cyber Daily's Daniel Croft and David Hollingworth cover what happens when AI goes wild, one of Australia's biggest energy providers discloses a data breach, and Premier Jacinta Allan goes after big tech. The podcast kicks off with a massive data breach impacting AI music-generating platform Suno, and the implications of OpenAI admitting it was one of its AI agents responsible for "malicious activity" targeting Hugging Face. AI breaking its own guardrails is a thing that is happening now, and it is something everyone in the field should be paying attention to. Then it's on to the week in data breaches, and Hollingworth gets into the details of the Origin Energy hack, while Croft outlines the impact of an attack on a Coca-Cola subsidiary. Each one involves real impact, from personal data to company operations. And that's just the tip of the iceberg this week! Finally, the pair find some solace in the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) revealing it found nothing wrong with Qantas in the wake of its own data breach in 2025, proving that you can do everything right when it comes to securing data, but still come to grief. And then there's good news out of Victoria, with the state government outlining its plans to tackle online harms without banning kids from social media, and limiting the spread of workplace surveillance. Just another week in cyber security. Enjoy, The Cyber Uncut team
July 23 · 42 min
CONTESTED GROUND: The blind faith factor – why Australians trust an ADF they don't understand
As global security deteriorates, a major new UNSW Canberra survey reveals a startling paradox in the Australian psyche: unwavering trust in the Australian Defence Force, coupled with a deep misunderstanding of its operations, widespread apathy towards increased funding, and a shocking drop in support for traditional alliances. Australia's relationship with the ADF is reaching a strange inflection point. Joining Steve Kuper on Contested Ground, UNSW Canberra's Dr Richard Dunley and Dr Nicole Townsend reveal how the latest public sentiment data exposes a dangerous disconnect between Canberra's strategic reality and the public's expectations. At first glance, the report offers a comforting narrative for Defence leadership. Public trust in the ADF remains impressively high, holding steady from 2025. Nearly 70 per cent of Australians trust the ADF as an institution, and over 65 per cent trust it to act ethically. However, as Dunley and Townsend reveal, this trust is built on a foundation of profound public ignorance. Despite escalating global tensions, most respondents admitted they are uninformed about current ADF operations. This highlights a persistent and widening gap between the ADF's complex, widespread operational commitments and the Australian public's understanding of what their military actually does. This lack of understanding is having tangible impacts on public policy appetite. The survey found that despite Australians reporting a deteriorating perception of global security, support for additional Defence funding has flatlined, remaining steady at roughly one-third of the population. More concerningly, the researchers noted a small but significant growth in the number of respondents actively favouring cuts to the Defence budget. "Australians are feeling less secure, yet they aren't willing to pay more for security," Kuper says, driving to the heart of the paradox. The public seems most comfortable viewing the ADF through the lens of a highly capable emergency management agency. There is overwhelming support – over 82 per cent – for the ADF's involvement in domestic disaster relief, and strong backing (68.4 per cent) for regional humanitarian assistance. Yet, when it comes to hard power and traditional strategic posture, the survey reveals a dramatic shift. In a major departure from the 2025 data, support for the ADF operating closely with traditional allies – particularly the United States – has plummeted by nearly 20 per cent. While a slim majority (54.4 per cent) still support these alliances, outright opposition has spiked dramatically. Conversely, the public shows a naive optimism towards regional security treaties. Australians broadly believe the recent mutual defence treaty with Papua New Guinea will enhance security, even though only 37 per cent of respondents actually knew the treaty existed. A similar trend of "sentiment over substance" emerged regarding veterans. While the public strongly supports government initiatives for veterans, there is a distinct lack of awareness regarding actual veteran issues or policies. Join Kuper, Dunley, and Townsend on Contested Ground as they dissect these findings and ask the critical question: Can the ADF rely on public trust if that trust is blind? Enjoy the podcast, The Contested Ground team
July 23 · 38 min
Defence preparedness, artificial intelligence productivity, and Australian industrial resilience
How prepared is Australia for a more contested strategic environment, and what role can defence industry, emerging technology, and economic resilience play in strengthening national security? In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, Stephen Kuper, Robert Dougherty, and Bethany Alvaro unpack key insights from the inaugural Australian Defence Industry Accelerator Summit and the Australian Defence Industry Awards, alongside broader discussions about Australia's preparedness for future security challenges. Discussion includes concerns raised by defence and national security experts regarding Australia's readiness for potential conflict in the Indo-Pacific, particularly in relation to growing tensions surrounding Taiwan and strategic implications of China's military modernisation. The team explores commentary from former diplomats and strategic analysts on Australia's response to China's growing regional influence. Attention then turns to defence spending, public perceptions of national security investment, and the challenges governments face in balancing cost-of-living pressures with the need to strengthen military capability. The team also examines forecasts for artificial intelligence-driven productivity gains, the likelihood of a correction in the AI investment boom and the economic risks posed by instability in the Middle East. Rounding out the episode, the panel discusses collaboration between Defence and industry, strengthening cyber security practices and streamlining defence exports. Enjoy the podcast, The Defence Connect team
July 17 · 27 min
CYBER UNCUT: AI won't replace security teams – it will decide whether they keep you, with Securonix's Ajay Biyani
Join Cyber Daily's David Hollingworth and Securonix's senior vice president for Asia-Pacific and Japan, Ajay Biyani, to break down why the challenge for organisations isn't replacing analysts – it's giving them the tools they need. Security operations centres are under unprecedented pressure as cyber attacks become faster, more sophisticated and increasingly powered by AI. At the same time, security teams are expected to do more without additional staff or budget. Rather than replacing people, Biyani contends, AI is proving most valuable by filtering out false positives, correlating data across disconnected security tools, and allowing analysts to concentrate on genuine threats, threat hunting and incident response. As AI agents become more common across enterprises, security teams will also need visibility into machine identities and automated systems, creating an entirely new attack surface that demands modern security operations and AI-assisted defence. The message for business leaders is clear: modernise security operations now or risk falling behind attackers already using AI to their advantage. Investing in AI-powered security isn't about reducing headcount – it's about empowering analysts, improving resilience, and ensuring the organisation is prepared for the inevitable cyber incident before it happens. Enjoy, The Cyber Uncut Team
July 14 · 47 min
CONTESTED GROUND: Shots fired! Chinese missile test shatters Australia's "fog of peace", with Mike Pezzullo
As Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese moves to secure the Pacific and ensure continued alignment with Australia, China threw a wrench in the works by conducting a ballistic missile test, effectively firing the starter's gun on a countdown to war. In a chilling diagnosis of the Australian political landscape, the latest Contested Ground podcast presents a blunt thesis: the nation has traded the rigorous, strategic statecraft of the past for a hyper-partisan focus on domestic "household" economics, leaving Australia dangerously unprepared for the brewing realities of global conflict. Hosts Phil Tarrant and Major General (Ret'd) Dr Marcus Thompson sit down with former Department of Home Affairs secretary Mike Pezzullo to unpack a harsh truth. The political class has become obsessed with the "household offer" – the immediate, transactional relief of cost-of-living policies at the expense of long-term strategic vision. Pezzullo argues that modern politics has atrophied its ability to handle global affairs because, quite simply, politicians no longer view deep strategic expertise as a necessary tool in their belt. The conversation takes a sharp turn when Pezzullo, leaning on his decades of experience, offers a sobering assessment of the Indo-Pacific. He posits a 10–15 per cent probability of a major Pacific conflict by 2028, a window tied to China's internal political calendar and the strategic positioning of US combat assets in Australia. This isn't merely academic posturing; it is a call for an integrated national plan that currently does not exist. Pezzullo's warning is clear: while Australia has a "quiet" military culture and lacks the martial fervor of other nations, this complacency is a liability when facing a potential major power confrontation. Perhaps the most provocative thread of the discussion is the challenge to our current leadership's capabilities. When asked if the current political establishment is equipped to manage a national crisis of this magnitude, the consensus is grim. The conversation draws parallels to Yes, Prime Minister, suggesting that while current leaders might try to channel their inner Churchill when pressure mounts, they lack the foundational historical and strategic literacy that defined the era of leaders like Kim Beazley and Gareth Evans. The podcast concludes on a pessimistic but realistic note: proactive leadership is unlikely. Pezzullo suggests that the system is so entrenched in domestic optics that it may take a significant crisis, an event more traumatic than a pandemic or supply chain shock, to force the necessary "overpressure" on government. Until that catalyst arrives, the national security apparatus remains in a holding pattern, hoping for peace but arguably failing to prepare for the strategic storms on the horizon. Enjoy the podcast, The Contested Ground team
July 14 · 48 min
SPOTLIGHT: Counter-drone innovation, directed energy and delivering operational outcomes, with EOS Defence Systems' Lee Kormany
How is Australia's defence industry accelerating innovation to keep pace with rapidly evolving threats, from autonomous drones through to directed energy weapons? In this episode of the Defence Connect Spotlight podcast, host Robert Dougherty is joined by Lee Kormany, executive vice president Electro Optic Systems Defence Systems Australia. The discussion builds on a recent $5.7 million contract announcement from the federal government that EOS Defence Systems will develop the R400 SLINGER counter-uncrewed aerial systems capability, under the Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator's Mission Syracuse. The pair explores how EOS has adapted its remote weapon systems to address emerging aerial threats, the importance of rapid capability development and why collaboration between Defence, industry and academia is becoming increasingly critical to the sovereign industrial base. Kormany also examines how artificial intelligence, directed energy and software-enabled hardware are shaping the next generation of defence capabilities. She highlights the importance of practical innovation that delivers operational outcomes rather than simply demonstrating technological potential. The podcast conversation includes the following topics: How EOS transformed its R400 remote weapon station into an effective counter-drone capability through rapid engineering innovation. Why directed energy weapons and high-energy lasers are becoming increasingly important for modern defence operations. The need to accelerate capability development and deliver operational systems at the pace of evolving threats. The role of collaboration between Defence, industry and academia in developing sovereign Australian capability. How Australia's Defence Industry Development Strategy, AUKUS Pillar 2 and workforce initiatives are helping shape future defence innovation. The growing role of artificial intelligence, autonomy and software-defined systems in supporting faster and more informed military decision making. Finally, the conversation examines how sovereign manufacturing, export growth and practical engineering innovation are positioning Australian industry to deliver advanced defence capabilities at home while supporting international partners in an increasingly contested strategic environment. Enjoy the podcast, The Defence Connect Spotlight team
July 13 · 28 min
CYBER UNCUT: Trust is the new attack surface, with ThreatLocker APAC director of operations Emile Barakat
Cyber criminals and nation-state actors are no longer relying on malware alone – they're exploiting trust. Here's what you need to know to fight back. ThreatLocker's Emile Barakat joins Cyber Daily's David Hollingworth to help Australia's business leaders understand how threat actors target professionals on platforms like LinkedIn – and how it needs to be addressed. Whether it's a fake recruiter, consultant, or business partner, attackers invest weeks or months in building credibility before asking victims to open a file, run code, or share sensitive information. The old advice of "don't click suspicious links" is no longer enough – employees must learn to question suspicious opportunities just as much as suspicious emails. Traditional security awareness training also needs an overhaul. Quarterly phishing exercises remain important, but modern attacks increasingly hide behind legitimate-looking software, trusted open-source tools, and highly personalised AI-driven social engineering. The message for business leaders is simple, says Barakat: assume your organisation is a target, regardless of its size. Enjoy, The Cyber Uncut Team
July 9 · 22 min
Strengthening security ties, Fiji defence pact and Australia's counter-drone push
How can Australia balance the need to strengthen international security partnerships while accelerating investment in domestic defence capability across multiple domains? In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, Stephen Kuper, Robert Dougherty and Bethany Alvaro discuss a busy week across defence, national security and industry. Discussion includes new cooperation agreements signed by the Australian Federal Police with the FBI, PayPal and the US Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division to deepen collaboration against terrorism, transnational crime and emerging security threats. The team explores Australia's growing strategic partnerships in the Indo-Pacific, including the landmark defence treaty signed between Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, and what the agreement means for regional security and Pacific stability. Attention then turns to sovereign capability, including Carbonix becoming the first Australian company to achieve a Safety Assurance Integrity Level III certification for a long-range uncrewed aerial system alongside the announcement of a new $85.9 million F-35 Air Power Precinct in the Hunter region, which will enhance sustainment for Australia's Joint Strike Fighter fleet and regional operators. The team also examines Lieutenant General Susan Coyle's historic appointment as Australia's first female chief of Army, Air Marshal Glen Braz's transition to chief of Joint Capabilities, and the leadership changes shaping the future direction of the Australian Defence Force. Rounding out the episode, the panel discusses the government's $5.7 million investment in Electro Optic Systems' Australian-made R400 Slinger counter-drone system under Mission Syracuse and what it signals for the future of sovereign defence manufacturing and counter-uncrewed aerial systems capability. Enjoy the podcast, The Defence Connect team
July 8 · 52 min
CONTESTED GROUND: Lessons from the UK in political polarisation, generational dislocation and intergenerational warfare, with Ben Dullroy, Bravo Delta Advisory
While Australia's level of political atomisation is far from as bad as what is being experienced in the broader Western world, we're not far-off. How we engage with generations of Australians will have dramatic ramifications for our national security in the immediate and longer term. Following mounting political tensions across the Western world, with startling examples in the United Kingdom in recent weeks, Australia and Australians have been watching with bated breath as to how long it will take for those simmering tensions to boil over closer to home. These undercurrents have served to combine with mounting intergenerational hostilities and competition over employment, housing and lifestyle opportunities, with younger Australians increasingly feeling like they were sold a bung deal. Speaking with Ben Dullroy of Bravo Delta Advisory, host Steve Kuper unpacks the rising political isolation, tensions and, for the establishment parties of Australian politics, concern over the rise of populism on both the left and right of the political divide. The pair detail the areas of comparison and contrast between Australia and other similar nations like the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, discussing emerging trends in the respective political discourse and agenda setting and what Australia can do to avoid the same pitfalls as some of our compatriot nations. They also discuss the impact of immigration, declining employment prospects and one of the most overlooked aspects behind social cohesion – the dating scene and the intersections of social and cultural investment and national security. Enjoy the podcast, The Contested Ground team
July 6 · 38 min
CYBER UNCUT: Why cyber security's next battle will be won by speed, with Qualys CEO Sumedh Thakar
Qualys' CEO joins the Cyber Uncut podcast to explain why autonomous remediation, smarter patching, and risk-based security will define the next generation of cyber defence. Cyber security is entering a new era as powerful AI models dramatically reduce the time it takes attackers to discover and exploit vulnerabilities. In this episode, Qualys CEO Sumedh Thakar joins Cyber Daily's Liam Garman to explain why businesses need to look beyond the headlines surrounding Anthropic's Mythos and focus on what AI really means for cyber risk. The conversation explores how organisations can turn the tables by using AI to identify and remediate vulnerabilities before attackers strike. From smarter patching to autonomous remediation and risk-based prioritisation, Thakar outlines why speed, not just visibility, is becoming the defining factor in cyber defence. Looking ahead, the pair discuss why AI-driven attacks will demand AI-driven security and why CISOs and business leaders need a roadmap for autonomous remediation. If you want to understand how AI is reshaping both sides of the cyber security battle – and what your organisation should do next – this is an episode you won't want to miss. Please see links to the reports below: Verizon 2026 Data Breach Investigation Report (DBIR) [palink.co] – includes data by Qualys from Section 7 of Qualys TRU's The Broken Physics of Remediation report [palink.co] The Broken Physics of Remediation Enjoy, The Cyber Uncut team

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