Defence & Security Podcast Network

2018 has been a year dominated by naval shipbuilding in Australia. Defence Connect Podcast host Phil Tarrant is joined by Rear Admiral Jonathan Mead, Commander of the Australian Fleet, for an in-depth conversation about the $90 billion naval shipbuilding plan, industry opportunities and the operational utility of a larger fleet. RADM Mead will unpack his experience across Navy's growing procurement agenda, his current role and responsibilities within the service, and a focus on attracting and retaining the right talent within the broader ADF. He will also address the media scrutiny surrounding shipbuilding programs, including the Hunter Class frigates and Attack Class submarines, and how the upcoming venture will shape Australia's naval shipbuilding sector going forward. Finally, the pair will also discuss how Navy is committed to improving relationships with industry to improve the speed and efficiency of the procurement process while ensuring that Navy maintains its technological edge now and into the future. Enjoy the podcast, The Defence Connect team

In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, host Phil Tarrant is joined by Defence Connect journalist Stephen Kuper to discuss the stories that made the most impact on the Defence Connect audience in 2018. They will discuss a year dominated by naval shipbuilding, with almost half of the top 20 stories being centred around the SEA 5000 future frigate program, and both Phil and Stephen will discuss the podcasts that they consider to be must-listens. Phil and Stephen will also provide some insight into what can be expected from Defence Connect in 2019, and share where you can next meet the team. Enjoy the podcast, The Defence Connect team

In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, host Phil Tarrant is joined by the director of Shadow Business Development, Matt Hill, who will address the benefit for SMEs to seek involvement in trade shows both in Australia and abroad. Hill will share some of his tactics for maximising exposure at these events and how governments push to make Australia a major defence exporter creates huge opportunity for SMEs within the sector. He will reveal the mistake that many make when trying to connect with industry, the importance of being inviting and engaging, and reveal the must-attend upcoming trade shows for SMEs. The pair will also talk about the changing defence sector landscape, with Hill sharing his thoughts on why such rapid change is occurring and discussing the future of Shadow Business Development. Enjoy the podcast, The Defence Connect team

In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, host Phil Tarrant is joined by the deputy CEO and managing director maritime at Babcock Australia and New Zealand Bob Love, who will look back at his long and varied career in defence, and share his thoughts surrounding Australia as a shipbuilding hub. Love will discuss his involvement with Babcock, BMT and the Royal Navy, including his part in the major construction acquisition of aircraft carriers. He will share how the UK relationship between services and industry differs to the Australian sector, and why he believes that the Australian defence industry has a unique advantage in comparison with other countries. Having received an Order of the British Empire from the Queen for his involvement in the recovery of HMS Nottingham off the coast of Australia, Love will discuss the story behind it and share his plans to turn the story into a book upon his retirement. Enjoy the podcast, The Defence Connect team

In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, host Phil Tarrant is joined by the chief executive of Israeli start-up Security Matters, Haggai Alon, to discuss how through the identification of a security breach by the Israeli government 12 years ago, they were able to launch a business with an ambitious goal – to be recognised as the global record of physical goods by creating digital twins of physical products. Alon will discuss the practical defence application of their technology, which is able to mark and make identifiable any solid, liquid or gas and ultimately track its value, batch origin, movements and date of production, and also unpack Security Matters' decision to recently list on the Australian Stock Exchange. With Australia being its first development outside of the Israeli market, Alon will discuss the decision to seek Australian investment, and analyse the culture of tech innovation within the Israeli technology space. Enjoy the podcast, The Defence Connect team

In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, host Phil Tarrant is joined by Major General Fergus (Gus) McLachlan AO of the Australian Army, who will discuss how the services are implementing modern leadership and best equipping themselves for the future. MAJGEN McLachlan will discuss the recent Anzac centenary and how, as a department, Army is navigating the task of retaining the spirit and traditions of history, while also innovating in an industry that has become increasingly more collaborative. He will discuss how this collaboration is aiding the development and training of defence industry, and why some have concerns over the changing environment. Acknowledging the differences between the Army today compared with the more traditional model, MAJGEN McLachlan will discuss why Army technology has previously been so segregated, and why there is a push going forward to create a network of technology that connects deployed land combat systems so that further technological developments could be implemented almost seamlessly. Enjoy the podcast, The Defence Connect team

In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, host Phil Tarrant is joined by Amanda Holt, the chief executive of SYPAQ Systems, who will share her advice for SMEs looking to navigate and capitalise on the Commonwealth government's defence industry export agenda. Holt will address the challenges that they have faced, the importance of Australian Defence Force involvement as a catalyst for creating export opportunities, and share how SYPAQ has taken advantage of innovation events as a way of connecting their products with the end users. With a role on the CDIC advisory board, Holt will unpack both her position within the organisation and the role that the board plays in the defence sector. She will share her plans for SYPAQ going forward, which will see the business grow exponentially in the coming five years, and discuss her thoughts on potential leadership changes as a result of the looming federal election. Enjoy the podcast, The Defence Connect team

With drones growing in popularity for recreational and commercial applications, and Australia one of the leaders in utilising the technology in defence industry, the concept of drone safety both in order to protect the machine and also those on the ground is an important consideration. In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, host Phil Tarrant is joined by Eden Attias, the managing director of ParaZero, a leading drone safety system manufacturer that specialises in drone safety throughout the production process and also offer retrofit options. Attias will unpack how his experience within the Israeli Ministry of Defence has aided his business growth, ParaZero's plans for Australian investment within their organisation and some of the biggest inhibitors facing drone technology within Australia. Enjoy the podcast, The Defence Connect team

Founded by 2017 Australian Young Engineer of the Year Stephen Bornstein, Cyborg Dynamics Engineering has a simple mission to turn great ideas into real products and be a leader in innovation in a variety of engineering sectors, including defence industry. In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, host Phil Tarrant is joined by Bornstein, who will unpack the types of projects the company undertakes and the services it is able to offer SMEs. He will reveal some of the partners Cyborg Dynamics Engineering is currently working with, how his experience in Army Reserves is shaping his business and why he believes that Army Reserves is a great opportunity that younger Australians should be taking advantage of. Bornstein will share his thoughts surrounding the relationship between the defence sector and academia and what needs to be done to strengthen this connection, discuss his plans for Cyborg Dynamics Engineering going forward and reveal what he enjoys about being a business owner. Enjoy the podcast, The Defence Connect team