In this second episode of the ACSS' third season, the Chief Crisis Simulations Officer, Shiva Shah, details what complex systems are, how they are being integrated into the simulations in 2023 and how to best contend with them. Shiva's reading/resource suggestions:

• Systems Effects by Robert Jervis

• ANU School of Cybernetics - "One of the Leading Institutions in the study of complex systems and specifically their relationship with cyber physical systems and ecology, which goes without saying that they underpin some of the greatest national security challenges today"

• The 'Complexity' podcast by the Santa Fe Institute

• Competing for the system: The Essence of Strategic Emerging Rivalries - report by the RAND Corporation

• The Dawn of Everything by David Graeber and David Wengrow

• Neuromancer by William Gibson

We hope you enjoy and learn from this podcast and all podcasts to come. https://australian-crisis-simulation-summit.com/

In this first episode of the ACSS' third season, Tim Hobbs the Founding Director for 2020 and Jacob Huth the Director for 2023 explore where the ACSS has been and where it is going. They detail important information about the value of the Summit for Delegates, Team Members, and Stakeholders and why involving yourself in the ACSS is so important. We hope you enjoy and learn from this podcast and all podcasts to come. https://australian-crisis-simulation-summit.com/

Over the last three years Australia has relied heavily on its defence force to respond to non-military related crises arising from bushfires, floods, and the pandemic. In this episode, former Chief of the Australian Defence Force (1998-2002) Admiral (Retired) Chris Barrie outlines why this is problematic for both military preparedness and national resilience, and proposes that a universal service scheme involving Australia’s young people might better prepare Australia for a range of crises in the future.

Opinions and views expressed on topics in this series reflect the personal opinions of our highly esteemed guests. Statements made within this series do not reflect the views of the ACSS, ANU or our sponsors.

In a discussion with Fergus Hanson from ASPI (Australian Strategic Policy Institute), cyber policy, vulnerabilities, attacks, and resilience are explored with in-depth examples and hypotheticals. Situations like life-threatening cyber attacks are explored, alongside various other discussion points like policy targeted towards different threat actors, how to manage a situation in which victims (of cyber crime) are prosecuted due to suggested ransom-payment laws, recent data breaches like Medibank and Optus, the intertwining of information technology with operational technology, and various others. Understanding how Australia can become a cyber resilient society is vitally important for our future leaders, because every year, Australians are haemorrhaging billions to cyber criminals and as our society becomes more and more reliant on technology, we also become increasingly vulnerable.

Opinions and views expressed on topics in this series reflect the personal opinions of our highly esteemed guests. Statements made within this series do not reflect the views of the ACSS, ANU or our sponsors.

This year is the 20th anniversary of the Bali bombings. In this episode, we are joined by Sylvia Laksmi, an Indonesian national, former financial intelligence analyst and counter-terrorism expert. We discuss Indonesia’s counter-terrorism program, expanding cooperation between Indonesia and Australia to combat terrorism at its source and the challenges in tracking financial flows to terrorist organizations.

Opinions and views expressed on topics in this series reflect the personal opinions of our highly esteemed guests. Statements made within this series do not reflect the views of the ACSS, ANU or our sponsors.

Cyber is evolving rapidly, with threats increasing in sophistication as they exploit the vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure, defence capabilities, and knowledge. Governments and the private sector struggle to address cyber crises and their ramifications with limited purview and waning resources. It is clear that the approach to cybersecurity must be adapted to be more resilient to the field’s growing complexity, however, first we must understand the threats we face. In the first of two podcasts on cyber, Dave Cohen, General Manager of the Cyber-Tech Institute of Australia, sheds light on vulnerabilities, resilience, and concerns for the future.

Interventions are fraught with risk. Risk for those providing assistance. Risk for those on the ground. Exploring the nuances of success, the idea of fragile states, and the means of accountability, this podcast provides listeners with the important contextual understanding of such a complex topic. This week, we had the privilege of being joined by distinguished academic and practitioner, Dr. Nicholas Lemay-Hébert to discuss some of the field’s most complex questions.

Opinions and views expressed on topics in this series reflect the personal opinions of our highly esteemed guests. Statements made within this series do not reflect the views of the ACSS, ANU or our sponsors.

In the midst of the 2022 Australian Federal Election campaign, the Solomon Islands pressed ahead and signed a security agreement with China lighting a political firestorm. The agreement between Honiara and Beijing is just one of the many steps in China’s growing power and expansive ambitions. What are the security implications and what does this all mean for the region broadly and more importantly for those in Canberra? Dr Benjamin Herscovitch joins us this week to discuss the Solomon Islands Chinese Security agreement and its strategic implications for China, Australia and the region.

Opinions and views expressed on topics in this series reflect the personal opinions of our highly esteemed guests. Statements made within this series do not reflect the views of the ACSS, ANU or our sponsors.

For almost as long as history, terrorism has existed—a constant in an ever-changing world. With the tragic events of 9/11 catalysing the field as an area of research and study, in this episode, we explore the misconceptions and main ideas which lay central to the complex area of terrorism studies. Having the privilege of discussing the topic with expert Sophie Saydan, we delve deep into the concepts of evolution, the so-called process of radicalisation, the direct threat posed by terrorism, and so much more...

Opinions and views expressed on topics in this series reflect the personal opinions of our highly esteemed guests. Statements made within this series do not reflect the views of the ACSS, ANU or our sponsors.

In this episode, we had the privilege of interviewing ANU’s Chancellor, the Honourable Julie Bishop. The Chancellor devoted her life to Australian politics and spent years across multiple ministerial positions. Her portfolios included Education, Science and Training, Women’s Issues and Foreign Affairs. Some of the Chancellor's later political endeavours include serving as Australia’s first female Minister for Foreign Affairs and representing Australia in the United Nations Security Council. We discussed her career, foreign relations, and her perspective on current and future national security trends.

Opinions and views expressed on topics in this series reflect the personal opinions of our highly esteemed guests. Statements made within this series do not reflect the views of the ACSS, ANU or our sponsors.

Image credit: Lannon Harley/ANU