Defence & Security Podcast Network

In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, David Connors — chief technology officer/chief information security officer — and David Frith — Australian industry capability manager — at Australian Defence Apparel (ADA), discuss their work developing critical defence equipment for modern warfighters.

Topics covered include:

• ADA's broad suite of products for Defence applications.
• Technological processes underpinning delivery of ADF kit.
• Balancing design and manufacturing innovation with inventory management.
• Building a sovereign supply chain in cooperation with local SMEs.
• ADA's R&D work and the future of defence gear.

Enjoy the podcast, The Defence Connect Team

In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, Gavin Henry, business development manager at Thales; Peter Newnham, director of engineering at Thales; and Neil Hodges, co-founder of BlueZone Group, discuss their proposal for the Royal Australian Navy's SEA 1905 Tranche 1 – Maritime Mine Countermeasures (MCM) Survey program. Topics discussed by the trio include:

• The progress of Thales' bid for SEA 1905 Tranche 1.
• Thales' sovereign MCM offering and the emergence of autonomous capability.
• BlueZone Group's contribution to the SEA 1905 proposal.
• The importance of interoperability with international partners, leveraging common supply chains.
• BlueZone Group's growth ambitions.

Enjoy the podcast,The Defence Connect Team

In this episode of the Cyber Security Uncut podcast, David Connors, chief technology officer/chief information security officer (CTO/CISO) at Australian Defence Apparel (ADA) joins co-hosts Major General (Ret'd) Marcus Thompson, inaugural head of the Australian Defence Force's Information Warfare Division, and Phil Tarrant, director – defence and security at Momentum Media, to discuss the importance of shoring up cyber defences in the aftermath of the Optus breach.

Topics discussed include:

• Learnings from the recent Optus breach and ADA's cyber response.
• ADA's cyber resilience strategy and the importance of protecting critical data in the defence space.
• The benefits of democratising a company's cyber security posture.
• The evolving threat landscape and subsequent changes to regulatory frameworks.
• Challenges Connors has faced during his career in the cyber security industry.
• ADA's cyber security testing regime.

Enjoy the podcast, The Cyber Security Uncut team

In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, David Fallon — business development lead, rotary mission systems at Lockheed Martin Australia and New Zealand — and Dave Cogdall — business development manager, rotary mission systems at Lockheed Martin's global business — discuss the changing nature of Army training. Topics discussed in this podcast include:

• Assessing current Army training practices in Australia.
• Onshoring tried and tested training capabilities leveraged in the United States.
• Harnessing emerging technology to improve the training experience.
• Ensuring training systems are designed to strengthen interoperability.
• Insights into new systems and technologies offered by Lockheed Martin and its local partners.

Enjoy the podcast, The Defence Connect Team

In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, Matthew Duquemin (director, integrated weapons and sensors at Thales) and Alexander Knott (director of Wedgetail Industries), discuss the development of Australia's sovereign small arms design and manufacturing capability. Topics discussed in this podcast include:

• The history of small arms manufacturing from the Lithgow Arms facility in NSW.
• Thales' recent work delivering next-generation capability to the Australian Defence Force.
• Thales' partnership with Wedgetail Industries, aimed at developing new sovereign solutions for warfighters.
• Drivers of innovation in the small arms manufacturing space.
• Modifications to small arms in response to changing warfighting requirements.

Enjoy the podcast, The Defence Connect Team

In this episode of Defence Connect Spotlight, Regional Manager for the National Clothing Store at Ventia, Craig Patterson, and National Contract Manager – Defence at Veolia, Dale Manley, join host Liam Garman to discuss the companies' revolutionary disposal solution that provides a sustainable solution to end of life disposal for Defence uniforms across Defence bases.

• With an objective to deliver an environmentally friendly disposal solution to Defence, the trio begin the podcast unpacking how Ventia and Veolia partnered to develop a recycling system that converts textiles to biofuel, having successfully completed their trial across six Defence bases.
• The podcast continues discussing how the initiative facilitates the secure and safe disposal of high turnover Defence textiles, enabling enhanced and scalable recycling within Defence and diverting 100% of end-of-life uniforms from landfill.
• The trio wrap up the podcast discussing recent interest from the University of NSW and Catholic Schools NSW to expand the biofuel solution beyond Defence.

Enjoy the podcast, The Defence Connect Team

In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, Sarah Pavillard, CEO of ADROITA, joins host Phillip Tarrant to discuss the firm's delivery of engineering, professional services and business strategy consultancy to the defence industry.

• Topics discussed in this podcast include: ADROITA's origin story and Pavillard's transition from the Royal Australian Navy to a career as a business owner in the defence industry.
• The company's core services offering and how it helps defence firms build sovereign capability.
• Managing emerging challenges and business risks.
• Key changes to business models in the hybrid workplace environment.
• ADROITA's plans for the future, including its push to build a global footprint.

Enjoy the podcast, The Defence Connect Team

In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, Major General (ret'd) Mick Ryan, David Horton (vice president, Asia-Pacific at Systematic) and Robert Wilson (business development manager, Asia-Pacific at Systematic), join editor of Defence Connect Liam Garman to discuss how the Australian Defence Force (ADF) can strengthen its posture amid changes to the threat environment.

Key topics of the conversation include:

• Reflections on the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, with a specific focus on how the ADF can learn from Ukraine's resistance to optimise its warfighting posture.
• Systematics' all-domain offering and how it can provide the ADF with a critical advantage on the battlefield.
• The power of a technologically and socially networked military.
• The nature, importance, and role of modern military alliances.
• Building Australia's self-sufficiency and reducing dependence on the global supply chain.
• Investing in distributed lethality v large-scale, platform-oriented capability.
• The future of warfare.

Enjoy the podcast, The Defence Connect Team

In this episode of the Cyber Security Uncut podcast, Andrew Hastie, shadow minister for defence, joins co-hosts Major General (Ret'd) Marcus Thompson, inaugural head of the Australian Defence Force's (ADF) Information Warfare Division and Phil Tarrant, director – defence and security at Momentum Media, to discuss Australia's broader defence strategy.

• The trio begin by discussing the rapidly evolving geostrategic environment against the backdrop of an ongoing conflict in eastern Europe and growing instability in the Indo-Pacific region. • Hastie, a veteran of the ADF, then stresses the importance of strengthening Australia's defence and security posture, making particular reference to enhancing cyber readiness. • He goes on to explain why the Commonwealth government must continue investing in Australia's sovereign industrial capability to reduce dependence on foreign networks. • The shadow minister for defence concludes by outlining his top three priorities over the next three years.

Enjoy the podcast, The Cyber Security Uncut team

In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, Graeme Bulte, CEO of Aquaterro, joins host Phillip Tarrant to discuss the company's new work to deliver next-generation capability to the Australian Defence Force.

• The pair begin by announcing Aquaterro's selection to support Project LAND 159 Tranche 1 as part of a NIOA-led team recently selected by the Commonwealth government.
• Bulte discusses the company's contribution to the program, which involves the delivery of a new side-arm weapons system for warfighters.
• The CEO then shares plans for the future, including the establishment of a new small-arms facility in Victoria.
• Bulte concludes by explaining Aquaterro's business model, revealing how the company funds its growth ambitions.

Enjoy the podcast, The Defence Connect Team