The National Security Podcast

What is the Australian Army doing to develop its robotic and autonomous systems capabilities? 

How likely is the prospect of autonomous 'killer robots' taking to the battlefield? 

And can the Australian Defence Force partner with industry for technical solutions while maintaining sovereign capability? 

In this episode of the National Security Podcast, Colonel Robin Smith joins Olivia Shen to shed light on the Australian Army’s Robotic and Autonomous Systems Strategy, and how the team he leads is implementing the plan. 

Colonel Robin Smith is the inaugural Director of the Australian Army’s Robotic and Autonomous Systems Implementation and Coordination Office (RICO) within Future Land Warfare Branch of the Australian Army HQ. 

Olivia Shen is Director in the Executive and Professional Development Program at the ANU National Security College. 

Show notes: 

• Robotic & Autonomous Systems Strategy 
• Robotic and Autonomous Systems Implementation & Coordination Office (RICO)  
• Campaign to stop killer robots 
• ANU National Security College academic programs: find out more 

We’d love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to [email protected]. You can tweet us @NSC_ANU and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes. The National Security Podcast is available on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. 

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How can a better understanding of the Islamic faith help strengthen social cohesion? 

What steps can national security agencies take to ensure diverse communities feel valued? 

And how can the public service more effectively attract and retain staff from these communities? 

In this episode of the National Security Podcast, Islamic scholar and community leader Shaykh Ahmed Abdo, along with former Commonwealth Counter Terrorism Coordinator Tony Sheehan, join Olivia Shen to discuss how Australian governments can lay the groundwork of community engagement outside of crisis, in order to grow resilience and trust among diverse communities. 

Shaykh Ahmed Abdo is an Islamic scholar and community leader in Sydney, as well as being a teacher and a mentor. Ahmed advises a range of government agencies on Islam and interfaith dialogue. 

Tony Sheehan is a Distinguished Advisor at the ANU National Security College. He spent 32 years in government, including as the Commonwealth Counter-Terrorism Coordinator. 

Olivia Shen is a Director in the Executive and Professional Development Program at the ANU National Security College. 

Show notes: 

• ANU National Security College scholarships: find out more 

We’d love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to [email protected]. You can tweet us @NSC_ANU and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes. The National Security Podcast is available on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. 

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What are the pathways for the United States and China to improve their bilateral relationship? 

What might catalyse conflict between the two great powers?

Is Australia prepared for this scenario – and will it take a crisis to find out?

In this episode of the National Security Podcast, Dr Fiona Cunningham joins Gai Brodtmann to unpack the state of US-China relations and each country’s ability and willingness to resolve conflict through open communication. Dr Cunningham also explains how Australia could manage these challenges.

Dr Fiona Cunningham is an Assistant Professor of political science at the University of Pennsylvania, where she studies technology and conflict in East Asia. Her research focuses on how countries leverage nuclear space, cyber and missile technology for coercion, with a focus on China.

Gai Brodtmann is a Distinguished Advisor at the ANU National Security College, having previously served as a diplomat, defence consultant, Member of Parliament, Shadow Assistant Minister for Cyber Security and Defence and Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Defence. 

Show notes: 

• National Intelligence Community and National Security College Scholarship for Women: find out more 

We’d love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to [email protected]. You can tweet us @NSC_ANU and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes. The National Security Podcast is available on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why are Australia’s intelligence agencies growing their public engagement? 

How are these agencies responding to an increasingly complex, challenging and dynamic strategic environment?

And what are intelligence leaders doing to future-proof their organisations, workforces and capabilities?

In this episode of the National Security Podcast, Director-General of National Intelligence, Andrew Shearer, and Director-General of Security, Mike Burgess, join Professor Rory Medcalf to discuss the state of Australian intelligence.

Andrew Shearer is Director-General of National Intelligence and head of the Office of National Intelligence.

Mike Burgess is Director-General of Security and head of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation.

Professor Rory Medcalf AM is Head of the ANU National Security College. His professional experience spans more than three decades across diplomacy, intelligence analysis, think tanks, journalism and academia.

Show notes: 

• Director-General's Annual Threat Assessment, Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, 2023 
• Careers in the National Intelligence Community 
• ANU National Security College scholarships: find out more 
• ANU National Security College academic programs: find out more 

We’d love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to [email protected]. You can tweet us @NSC_ANU and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes. The National Security Podcast is available on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How have historical intelligence organisations evolved into the national security agencies we know today? Who were Australia’s early intelligence professionals? And how has this rich history contributed to the formation of key signals intelligence agreements such as Five Eyes?

In this episode of the National Security Podcast, Clare Birgin and Professor John Blaxland join Dr Will Stoltz to discuss their recently released book, Revealing Secrets: An unofficial history of Australian Signals intelligence & the advent of cyber.

Clare Birgin is a former Australian diplomat and former Visiting Fellow at The Australian National University

John Blaxland is a Professor of International Security and Intelligence Studies at the ANU Strategic and Defence Studies Centre

Dr Will Stoltz is Expert Associate at the ANU National Security College and Senior Manager at CyberCX

Show notes: 

• Revealing Secrets: An unofficial history of Australian Signals intelligence & the advent of cyber
• ANU National Security College academic programs: find out more 

We’d love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to [email protected]. You can tweet us @NSC_ANU and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes. The National Security Podcast is available on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What challenges does China pose to Australia’s security? And have the recent policy responses from Australian Governments been effective? 

In this episode of the National Security Podcast, Dr Euan Graham, IISS Shangri-La Dialogue Senior Fellow, discusses his new book, Australia's Security in China's Shadow, with Professor Rory Medcalf in front of a live audience.

The conversation follows insightful opening remarks delivered by Richard Maude, Senior Fellow at Asia Society Australia, and former Director-General of the Office of National Assessments.

Dr Carolyn Bull is Deputy Head of the ANU National Security College, seconded from the Office of National Intelligence, Australia’s peak intelligence agency.

Richard Maude is Senior Fellow at Asia Society Australia, and former Director-General of the Office of National Assessments.

Dr Euan Graham is a Shangri-La Dialogue Senior Fellow for Indo-Pacific Defence and Strategy at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS).

Professor Rory Medcalf AM is Head of the ANU National Security College. His professional experience spans more than three decades across diplomacy, intelligence analysis, think tanks, journalism and academia. 

Show notes: 

• Opening remarks delivered by Richard Maude
• Book: Australia's Security in China's Shadow by Euan Graham
• ANU National Security College academic programs: find out more 

We’d love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to [email protected]. You can tweet us @NSC_ANU and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes. The National Security Podcast is available on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What is the Defence Strategic Review, and why does it matter? What does it mean for Australian strategy and defence in this contested era? And how will it shape the way the Australian Defence Force and Department of Defence adapt to the risks facing the nation?

In this episode of the National Security Podcast, co-lead of the 2023 Defence Strategic Review (DSR) Secretariat, Professor Peter Dean, joins Professor Rory Medcalf to provide an insider's analysis of the government’s latest strategic defence document.

Show notes:  

• Defence Strategic Review 2023 
• Australian interests in a regional balance of power, National Press Club Address, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon Penny Wong 
• The Defence Strategic Review: a revolution in Australian defence planning?, Stephan Fruehling, The Strategist 
• ANU National Security College academic programs: find out more 

Professor Peter J. Dean PhD SFHEA was co-lead of the 2023 Defence Strategic Review (DSR) Secretariat where he served as senior advisor and principal author for the Independent Leads, His Excellency Professor the Hon Stephen Smith and Air Chief Marshal Sir Angus Houston AK AC AFC (Retd). He is Director, Foreign Policy and Defence at the United States Studies Centre at the University of Sydney.

Professor Rory Medcalf AM is Head of ANU National Security College. His professional experience spans more than three decades across diplomacy, intelligence analysis, think tanks, journalism and academia. 

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How is the Quad navigating China’s growing power and influence in the region? How do the four countries balance their domestic security priorities with their commitments under the partnership? And does India’s position on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine create compatibility challenges?

In this episode of the National Security Podcast, Darshana Baruah, Lisa Curtis and Professor Nobukatsu Kanehara join Professor Rory Medcalf to discuss the Quad partnership at a key time for Indo-Pacific diplomacy. 

Darshana M. Baruah is a Fellow with the South Asia Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace where she directs the Indian Ocean Initiative.

Lisa Curtis is Director of the Indo-Pacific Security Program at the Center for a New American Security.

Nobukatsu Kanehara is Professor of Political Science at Doshisha University. He was previously Assistant Chief Cabinet Secretary to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Professor Rory Medcalf AM is Head of the ANU National Security College. His professional experience spans more than three decades across diplomacy, intelligence analysis, think tanks, journalism and academia.  

Show notes: 

• ANU National Security College academic programs: find out more

We’d love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to [email protected]. You can tweet us @NSC_ANU and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes. The National Security Podcast is available on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How important is Korea to Australia’s regional outlook? What elements of the Australia-South Korea relationship should be strengthened? And can South Korea continue to effectively juggle the competing security priorities of a rising China and a belligerent North Korea? 

In this episode of the National Security Podcast, Dr Lauren Richardson and Dr Michael Cohen join David Andrews to examine the Korean peninsula in the context of Australian foreign and security policy. 

Dr Lauren Richardson is a Lecturer in the Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs at ANU. 

Dr Michael Cohen is a Senior Lecturer and the PhD Convenor at the ANU National Security College.

David Andrews is the acting Policy Manager at the ANU National Security College. 

Show notes: 

• Rethinking the Potential for Australia-ROK Relations, AsiaLink, Lauren Richardson: read now 
• ANU National Security College academic programs: find out more 

We’d love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to [email protected]. You can tweet us @NSC_ANU and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes. The National Security Podcast is available on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What can we learn from First Nations Australians about our obligation to country? And is enough being done to protect native title owners from foreign interference?

In this episode of the National Security Podcast, Lieutenant Colonel Eileen Hall and Dr Danielle Ireland-Piper discuss what security means from an Indigenous Australian perspective, and how cultural knowledge and cultural safety can directly impact domestic and regional security.

Lieutenant Colonel Eileen Hall is the Australian Army's first Command Cultural Advisor to the Regional Force Surveillance Group.

Dr Danielle Ireland-Piper is an Associate Professor and Academic Convenor at the ANU National Security College.

Show notes:

• National Intelligence Community and National Security College Scholarship for Women: find out more
• Astronomy, Sky Country, Karlie Noon, Krystal De Napoli, Margo Neale, April 2022
• The Uluru Statement from the Heart

We’d love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to [email protected]. You can tweet us @NSC_ANU and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes. The National Security Podcast is available on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.