Defence & Security Podcast Network

In this episode of the Defence Connect podcast, Vice-Admiral (Ret'd) Paul Maddison joins host Liam Garman to unpack how Australian academics have leveraged AUKUS Pillar II opportunities to build a stronger Australian Defence Force.

• VAdm (Ret'd) Maddison begins the podcast discussing his time as vice-admiral in the Royal Canadian Navy and High Commissioner of Canada to Australia before his appointment as director of the UNSW Defence Research Institute.
• The pair then unpack the Security & Defence PLuS program, a partnership between Arizona State University, King's College London, and UNSW, to leverage opportunities provided by AUKUS and deepen academic collaboration across the three partner nations.
• The pair wrap up the podcast discussing the Trailblazer program, a nexus between Defence, industry, and academia to support Australian defence innovation.

Enjoy the podcast, The Defence Connect team

In this episode of the Cyber Security Uncut podcast, Major General (Ret'd) Dr Marcus Thompson and Phil Tarrant unpack the recent Volt Typhoon malware targeting critical infrastructure, and the motivations behind cyber security attacks.

• Dr Thompson and Tarrant begin the podcast by unpacking the financial and reputational ramifications of a cyber security breach, examining how the Latitude hack has resulted in forecast losses of $95 million to $105 million.
• The pair then discuss the recent Volt Typhoon malware that has targeted US critical infrastructure in Guam, which could disturb US military communications.
• The podcast wraps up by analysing recent comments from the AFP Commissioner on state-based hackers attacking Australian infrastructure, and how the military and law enforcement agencies can be better used to keep Australians safe.

Enjoy the podcast, The Cyber Security Uncut team

In this episode of the Defence Connect podcast, host Steve Kuper is joined by Fullbright Scholar and Ukraine War correspondent Misha Zelinsky to unpack the impact of Australia's cultural cringe on national security

The pair discuss:

• Zelinsky's diverse employment and academic background and how they have shaped his conceptualisation of Australia's "Cultural Cringe".
• The need for Australia to begin viewing itself differently and preparing itself and the people to take on a larger role in the broader geopolitical environment.
• The podcast wraps up with the pair discussing the impact of hybrid and grey zone warfare on the national psyche and what we need to do to reshape the cultural narrative.

Enjoy the podcast, The Defence Connect Team

In this episode of the Defence Connect podcast, hosts Liam Garman and Steve Kuper discuss the challenges of disinformation in the era of great power competition and its implications for national security.

The pair discuss:

• The powerful influence of Russian state-backed disinformation campaigns and efficacy of these operations to undermine social, political, and economic cohesiveness in the West.
• The pair also discuss the national security implications of losing the cognitive war.
• The podcast wraps up with a discussion about what can be done to turn the tide against this new style of hybrid warfare.

Enjoy the podcast, The Defence Connect Team

In this episode of the Cyber Security Uncut podcast, Phil Tarrant and Major General (Ret'd) Dr Marcus Thompson unpack the latest in cyber security, from national security IP theft to the ethics of artificial intelligence (AI).

• The pair begin the podcast by unpacking recent US defence technology data theft cases and recent concerns from the FBI on the US' cyber workforce, diving into how law enforcement agencies can collaborate with militaries to build a stronger cyber posture.
• Dr Thompson and Tarrant then unpack the ethics of AI, discussing recent comments from the chief executive of ChatGPT creator OpenAI calling for greater regulation of AI.
• The podcast wraps up by looking into the government's recently announced National Anti-Scam Centre and how cyber resilience is a job for everybody — not just big business.

Enjoy the podcast, The Cyber Security Uncut podcast

In this episode of the Defence Connect podcast, artificial intelligence and autonomous systems expert Dr S. Kate Devitt joins DC senior journalist Robert Dougherty to discuss ethical military AI in an unethical and increasingly defensive world, as well as the future of defence AI development in Australia.

Dr Devitt is a former chief scientist of Trusted Autonomous Systems Defence CRC, and current adjunct associate professor at the University of Queensland and Queensland University of Technology. She is also the chief executive officer of BetterBeliefs and director of Augmented Decisions.

• The pair begin the podcast discussing the development of the Athena AI integrated military artificial intelligence decision support tool, and the increasing demand for innovative autonomous development.
• The podcast then discusses ethical, legal, and responsible decision making as part of the AI development process and defence applications for AI and autonomous projects.
• They wrap up the podcast discussing Dr Devitt's expectations for future international defence development and a "perfect scenario" for the innovation in sovereign projects.

Enjoy the podcast, The Defence Connect team

In this episode of the Cyber Security Uncut podcast, Edward Farrell, director and principal consultant at Mercury Information Security Services joins hosts Phil Tarrant and Major General (Ret'd) Dr Marcus Thompson to discuss the world of cyber assurance testing.

• The trio begin the podcast by defining whether "ethical hacking" is an appropriate blanket term for advisers engaged in cyber assurance testing, before assessing the relationship between ethics and ideology in penetration testing.
• The podcast then continues unpacking the importance of grappling with multiple points of view to understand the motivations behind threat actors, before Farrell unpacks his day-to-day work in penetration testing.
• The podcast wraps up by looking into how one might pursue a career in penetration testing, before examining the difference between external and internal pen testers and how they can help businesses.

Enjoy the podcast, The Cyber Security Uncut team

In this episode of the Defence Connect podcast, veteran Angela Harper joins Liam Garman to unpack her life after service, delivering critical insights for veterans looking to transition into the civilian world.

• The pair begin the podcast discussing Harper's time in the Australian Army, and what servicemen and women should consider when transitioning from the ADF.
• The podcast then discusses Harper's new mentoring program, Camouflage to Corporate, supporting female veterans in their professional careers.
• The pair wrap up the podcast discussing Harper's upcoming book which examines the lives of everyday heroes in the Australian Defence Force.

Enjoy the podcast, The Defence Connect team

In this episode of the Defence Connect podcast, senior analyst Steve Kuper joins Liam Garman to unpack the Defence Strategic Review – illuminating areas for revision amid increasing global uncertainty.

• The pair begin the podcast analysing how this week's federal budget aligns with the DSR, and whether the spending allocations match government rhetoric for a stronger defence force.
• Kuper then provides insight into how defence thinkers can rethink land, air and sea acquisition.
• The podcast wraps up with a discussion of how Australia can strengthen its northern bases to provide stronger national defence – and enable impactful projection.

Enjoy the podcast, The Defence Connect team

In this episode of the Cyber Security Uncut podcast, Absolute Software cyber security evangelist Dr Torsten George joins host Liam Garman to unpack why organisations need to prioritise cyber resilience over cyber security and how a culture of resilience will enable stronger defence and recovery in the event of a breach.

• The pair begin the podcast by recapping Dr George's recent world tour, providing much-needed insight into how international organisations are refining their approaches to cyber security.
• Dr George then defines a framework of cyber resilience compared to that of cyber security and how this enables businesses to enhance their defences and resume business operations.
• The podcast wraps up by unpacking how the era of remote work is creating endpoint risks for businesses and those emerging threats that businesses must maintain awareness of.

Enjoy the podcast, The Cyber Security Uncut team