In this episode, Amy-Rose Goodey is joined by Professor Tanya Monro AC for a far-reaching conversation on emerging technology, decision advantage, national resilience and the systems shaping Australia’s future.
Professor Tanya Monro is Australia’s Chief Defence Scientist and leads the nation’s Defence Science and Technology Group. Her work sits at the intersection of science, technology, national capability and strategic policy, helping shape how Australia responds to an increasingly contested and rapidly evolving world.
The discussion explores how governments and institutions make decisions in environments defined by speed, complexity and data overload, and why the balance between human judgement and technological capability is becoming one of the defining challenges of our time.
From AI and machine reasoning to sovereign capability, research ecosystems and defence innovation, the episode examines how Australia can harness its intellectual capital while remaining interoperable with allies and resilient against emerging risks.
There is also a strong focus on the role of collaboration across universities, industry and government, and why the future of national capability depends on building connected systems rather than isolated institutions.
Throughout the conversation, Professor Monro reflects on the importance of stewardship, strategic focus and long-term thinking in preparing Australia for a future where technology increasingly shapes both economic and national security outcomes.
A thoughtful discussion on science, sovereignty, AI and the infrastructure of decision making in the digital age.
A huge thank you to Rafael Florez at the Australian National University for hosting and producting this episode.
About Professor Tanya Monro AC
Professor Tanya Monro commenced as Chief Defence Scientist in March 2019. Prof Monro is head of Defence Science and Technology Group and Capability Manager for Innovation, Science and Technology in the Australian Department of Defence. In June 2022, Prof Monro was awarded a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) for eminent service to scientific and technological development, to research and innovation, to tertiary education, particularly in the field of photonics, and to professional organisations.
Prof Monro also holds the Bragg Gold Medal for the best physics PhD thesis in Australia, Prime Minister's Malcolm McIntosh Prize for Physical Scientist of the Year, SA Australian of the Year, and the Eureka Prize for Excellence in Interdisciplinary Scientific Research.
Prof Monro obtained her Doctor of Philosophy in physics from The University of Sydney, and was awarded a Royal Society University Research Fellowship at the University of Southampton. Previous roles include Deputy Vice Chancellor Research and Innovation at the University of South Australia and inaugural director of the Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing and the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Nanoscale Bio Photonics at the University of Adelaide.
For contributions to optics engineering and advancing Australian national security, Prof Monro is an International Member of the United States National Academy of Engineering. Prof Monro is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science, the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering, the Optical Society of America and an Honorary Fellow of the Australian Institute of Physics.