Defence & Security Podcast Network

This week on Cyber Uncut, David Hollingworth and Bethany Alvaro talk about how Australia is lagging in AI adoption, the grey areas of facial recognition and surveillance, the alarming youX data breach, and Hollingworth's visit to Montreal to chat about physical security with Genetec.

The pair kick off with news from Deloitte regarding an alarming slowdown in AI adoption across Australian enterprises, while Bethany picks apart her concerns over surveillance technologies and why facial recognition may well have a place in Australian stores.

This is followed by Hollingworth talking about a recent trip to Montreal, where he was a guest of physical security firm Genetec. He got to see its impressive technology in action and sat down with the company's principal security architect and manager, Mathieu Chevalier, on the intersection of physical and cyber security.

Plus, the pair go into the details of a data breach impacting hundreds of thousands of Australians after a hacker penetrated the network of Aussie fintech outfit youX, and what the breach means for the company's customers.

Enjoy, The Cyber Uncut team

How does a law student's "gap year" in recruitment turn into a 17-year career leading operations in the defence sector?

In this episode, Amelia De Angelis, chief operating officer of Kinexus, shares her journey from industry outsider to co-founding The Future Through Collaboration, a program that has mentored over 600 women.

Amelia discusses the importance of "embracing your awkward self" and why the myth of "work-life balance" should be replaced by her "glass balls and bouncy balls" philosophy – learning which priorities are fragile and which are OK to drop.

From navigating the steep learning curve of defence to coaching community basketball, Amelia explains how a simple "10 seconds of courage" can define a career and create a lasting ripple effect of leadership.

The Progress Report. New voices. Real stories. Big shifts.

Enjoy the podcast, The Progress Report team

In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, Stephen Kuper is joined by Robert Dougherty and Bethany Alvaro to unpack major developments in defence innovation, autonomous air combat and shifting alliance dynamics.

The discussion begins with the federal government's proposed $500 million co-investment fund aimed at accelerating defence technologies, including artificial intelligence, cyber security, autonomous systems, electronic warfare and quantum capabilities.

Attention then turns to the US Collaborative Combat Aircraft program, where Shield AI will integrate its Hivemind autonomy software into Anduril Industries' Fury aircraft.

Regionally, the team assesses Indonesia's plan to contribute troops to a Gaza stabilisation force under diplomatic efforts led by President Donald Trump, and what it could mean for Australia's own policy settings.

They also discuss confirmation that Papua New Guinea military personnel will receive Australian Combat Assault Rifles made by Thales Australia.

The episode concludes with analysis of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's Munich Security Conference speech on allied burden-sharing, before finishing on a lighter note with new military working dog facilities at RAAF Base Tindal.

Enjoy the podcast, The Defence Connect team

In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, senior journalist Robert Dougherty is joined by journalist Bethany Alvaro to unpack a week spanning government conflict of interest concerns, Defence space capability updates and anti-Israel protests in Sydney.

The discussion opens on the scrutiny surrounding Paul Brereton, commissioner of the National Anti-Corruption Commission, and questions over the disclosure of his advisory work with the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force on Afghanistan matters, raising conflict of interest concerns and political criticism.

Attention then turns to the ADF's new space operations roles, highlighting the growing importance of satellite communications, cyber capabilities and emerging domains in future force structure.

The team also examines the US Department of Defense decision to cut ties with Harvard University from 2026–27, plus the ideological and national security concerns, alongside broader implications for civil–military academic partnerships.

Down Under, the pair revisits continuing coverage of the recent Defence Estate Audit report and concerns from the Returned & Services League Australia and Australian Army cadet organisations over the proposed sale of historic sites.

The episode concludes with an analysis of protests in Sydney following the visit of Israeli President Isaac Herzog and allegations of excessive from the NSW Police Force.

Enjoy the podcast The Defence Connect team

This week on Cyber Uncut, David Hollingworth and Daniel Croft discuss more trouble for Elon Musk's AI empire, the rise of a very active new ransomware group that may not be what it seems, and an alarming discovery while investigating the latest tranche of Jeffrey Epstein documents.

The pair kick off with news that French police have raided the offices of X, while Aussie activists call on app stores to ban the Grok AI chatbot over its sharing of sexual abuse material. Croft also looks into Moltbook, the new social media platform for AI agents.

In cyber security news, scammers are targeting property investors, with millions of dollars at stake. Other scammers are posing as Australian Federal Police officers to trick victims out of their cryptocurrency, and the brand new 0APT ransomware group has claimed a massive hack of an Australian healthcare provider – but have they really?

Finally, Hollingworth and Croft discover something truly strange about just why their names show up in – of all places – the Epstein files. Let's just say the FBI are regular readers of Cyber Daily.

Enjoy, The Cyber Uncut team

In this episode of The Progress Report, Tash Taylor sits down with Gabby Costigan, a powerhouse leader in the global defence sector and a pioneer for women in STEM. From her early days in the Australian Defence Force to becoming the first female CEO of BAE Systems Australia, Gabby's journey is a masterclass in resilience, career pivoting and leading with purpose.

Beyond the boardroom, Gabby discusses the vital role of mentorship and her deep-rooted passion for advocating for defence families, offering invaluable advice for anyone looking to lead with resilience and purpose.

The Progress Report. New voices. Real stories. Big shifts.

Enjoy the podcast, The Progress Report team

In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, Stephen Kuper is joined by Robert Dougherty and Bethany Alvaro to unpack recent news of Australian industry developments, humanitarian assistance, US domestic unrest and the shifting foundations of global power.

The discussion opens with Australian defence industry news, including Ferra Engineering's latest agreement with Boeing to support delivery of the High Altitude Anti-Submarine Warfare Weapon Capability for the P-8A Poseidon fleet, reinforcing Australia's role within global defence supply chains.

Attention then turns to EOS Defence Systems and its evolving international strategy amid concerns over limited domestic support for counter-uncrewed aerial system capabilities, with analysis of the company's growing footprint in Europe and the Middle East through a new partnership with Milrem Robotics.

The team also examines the Defence Estate audit, which has confirmed the partial or full divestment of 68 defence sites nationwide. Key locations discussed include Victoria Barracks in Sydney, HMAS Penguin, RAAF Base Williams at Laverton, and several sites across Western Australia and South Australia, alongside debate over reinvestment priorities and future force structure.

The panel weighs in too on Australia's announcement of an additional $50 million in aid to Afghanistan, bringing total assistance since 2021 to $310 million.

The conversation then shifts to the United States, where recent unrest linked to immigration enforcement has reignited debate around the Insurrection Act, martial law and the limits of federal authority. The team unpacks constitutional constraints, historical usage, media freedom concerns and the potential political ramifications ahead of upcoming US elections.

The episode concludes with a broader strategic discussion on what it means to be a "serious middle power" in an era of intensifying competition. The panel questions whether Australia's economic resilience, industrial base, military capability and capacity for power projection are sufficient to sustain its self-image, particularly as the rules-based global order continues to erode.

Enjoy the podcast The Defence Connect team

In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, Steve Kuper and Major General (Ret'd) Dr Marcus Thompson are joined by Dr Malcolm Davis, Australian Strategic Policy Institute defence strategy and capability senior analyst, to unpack the strategic shockwaves emerging from the United States' 2026 National Defense Strategy.

The trio examine what Washington's shift towards an offshore balancing posture means for Australia, including renewed pressure to lift defence spending, the implications of deterrence by denial along the first island chain, and the risks of assuming unconditional US support in a rapidly deteriorating Indo-Pacific security environment.

They also explore the growing assertiveness of China, the fine line between stabilisation and accommodation, and whether Australia is approaching a modern-day version of World War II's "1939 tipping point moment" that demands greater self-reliance, expanded defence industrial capacity, and difficult conversations with the Australian public.

Finally, the discussion turns to force structure, autonomous systems, guided weapons, and the hard choices facing government as Australia seeks to balance immediate readiness, AUKUS, and long-term strategic resilience in an era of uncertainty.

Enjoy the podcast, The Contested Ground team

This week on Cyber Uncut, David Hollingworth and Bethany Alvaro discuss the murky world of employee data theft, look at a pair of ransomware attacks – one local, one a touch further afield – and take a look at the new cyber security strategy announced by the NSW government.

The podcast opens with research that suggests the new year, and January in particular, is a prime time for employees to make off with important business data, either by accident or accidentally on purpose.

In cyber security news, World Leaks has taken responsibility for hacking athletics giant Nike, while the Anubis operation has shared passports and legal documents it stole from a New Zealand law firm. Hollingworth also breaks down a cyber security tabletop exercise he recently took part in, and why they are an essential part of any organisation's cyber resilience strategy.

Finally, the eSafety Commissioner is asking people to dob in kids getting around the social media ban, while the pair share some insights from the experts for World Data Privacy Day.

Enjoy, The Cyber Uncut team

In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, the entire team of Stephen Kuper, Robert Dougherty and Bethany Alvaro examines current news surrounding Australia's changing strategic environment: from diplomacy and armoured warfare to intelligence capability to the future of the rules-based global order.

• The episode opens with the appointment of Greg Moriarty as Australia's next ambassador to the United States. The former defence secretary has drawn broad bipartisan support, while opinions differ on the impact of outgoing Australian ambassador to US and former prime minister Kevin Rudd.
• Attention then turns to the unveiling of the M1E3 Abrams prototype, signalling the US Army's next step in main battle tank evolution and a definitive link to the Australian defence industry.
• The discussion shifts to the recent speech from Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who has publicly questioned the very existence of a post-war rules-based order.
• The team also deliberates on the demographic and economic trends rapidly shifting influence towards populous regional states such as Indonesia and India, raising the prospect that Australia may soon face strategic pressure from neighbours it once viewed as junior partners.
• Next, UK's launch of a fast-tracked undergraduate degree in drone engineering is highlighted as a response to lessons from Ukraine, while the team questions whether Australia risks falling behind.
• The episode concludes with final confirmation that the Royal Australian Air Force has received its first MC-55A Peregrine intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and electronic warfare aircraft.

Enjoy the podcast The Defence Connect team