Defence & Security Podcast Network
Business & Economics Podcasts
The Defence & Security Podcast Network hosts a unique series of podcasts, featuring discussions with key enablers from across the Australian defence and security industry. The podcasts provide the perfect blend of business intelligence and insights from a range of guests, which include government officials, ADF personnel, industry stakeholders, and members of the academic community. By aligning ourselves with the ADF and the Commonwealth government, we are uniquely placed to deliver a dynamic 360° platform that bridges the gap between the customer (Defence) and industry. We split our focus not just into the traditional sectors of Land (Army), Air (Air Force) and Sea (Navy), but into the six new Capability Streams: - Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, Electronic Warfare and Cyber - Key Enablers - Air and Sea Lift - Maritime and Anti-Submarine Warfare - Strike and Air Combat - Land Combat and Amphibious Warfare As Defence moves to ensure the Force Structure Review and the First Principles Review: Creating One Defence plans are met, Australian industry involvement is critical for mission success. The Defence & Security Podcast Network will provide you and your business with valuable lessons, tips and insights into the industry, putting your company in the best position to take part in the increased Defence spending. We'll cover every aspect of doing business in the defence industry, from the tender process to recruitment, success stories, access points to Defence, smart business strategies, and geopolitical insights. Subscribe to the Defence & Security Podcast Network and be part of this exciting and innovative industry.
Location:
Australia
Description:
The Defence & Security Podcast Network hosts a unique series of podcasts, featuring discussions with key enablers from across the Australian defence and security industry. The podcasts provide the perfect blend of business intelligence and insights from a range of guests, which include government officials, ADF personnel, industry stakeholders, and members of the academic community. By aligning ourselves with the ADF and the Commonwealth government, we are uniquely placed to deliver a dynamic 360° platform that bridges the gap between the customer (Defence) and industry. We split our focus not just into the traditional sectors of Land (Army), Air (Air Force) and Sea (Navy), but into the six new Capability Streams: - Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, Electronic Warfare and Cyber - Key Enablers - Air and Sea Lift - Maritime and Anti-Submarine Warfare - Strike and Air Combat - Land Combat and Amphibious Warfare As Defence moves to ensure the Force Structure Review and the First Principles Review: Creating One Defence plans are met, Australian industry involvement is critical for mission success. The Defence & Security Podcast Network will provide you and your business with valuable lessons, tips and insights into the industry, putting your company in the best position to take part in the increased Defence spending. We'll cover every aspect of doing business in the defence industry, from the tender process to recruitment, success stories, access points to Defence, smart business strategies, and geopolitical insights. Subscribe to the Defence & Security Podcast Network and be part of this exciting and innovative industry.
Language:
English
Episodes
Venezuela, US military intervention and cartel power vacuums, with Cesar Alvarez
1/14/2026
In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, host Robert Dougherty is joined by Cesar Alvarez, lecturer at Charles Sturt University on terrorism and security studies, to unpack the security, geopolitical and cartel criminal dynamics surrounding recent US military operations in Venezuela.
Alvarez worked for Canberra-based national security think tank Australian Strategic Policy Institute and provided technical advice to the Terrorism Prevention Branch of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. He has also served as a consultant and adviser to the Counter-Narcotics Directorate and the Doctrine and Planning Office of the National Police of Colombia.
He holds a master of policing, intelligence and counter-terrorism with a degree of master of international security studies from Macquarie University. He also holds a bachelor's degree of government and international relations from Externado University of Colombia. Alvarez is the founder and director of public diplomacy organisation Australia-Colombia Dialogue.
During the podcast, the pair discuss a range of topics, including:
Enjoy the podcast,
The Defence Connect team
Duration:00:35:06
CYBER UNCUT: Grok's sexual abuse, Qantas' AI shift, and Trump's cyber warfare?
1/11/2026
In this episode of the Cyber Uncut podcast, Daniel Croft and Bethany Alvaro are joined by Australian Aviation's Jake Nelson to discuss AI, before talking about local hacks, NSW Health, and Trump alluding to the use of cyber warfare in Venezuela.
Croft, Alvaro, and Nelson first discuss Qantas and its shift towards AI implementation in 2026.
The trio then discuss Grok and the dangers of the new "edit image" button that has led to the creation of deepfake child sexual abuse material.
Croft and Alvaro then discuss the Australian band Royel Otis and a failed request by the guitarist to obtain the anonymous details of users he said were defaming him.
Finally, the two discuss Trump and his hinting that cyber warfare may have been used in the strikes on Venezuela to shut off the lights and create pathways in for US forces.
Enjoy the episode,
The Cyber Uncut team
Duration:00:35:01
Venezuela, dark fleet shipping and the blurred lines of maritime law, with Salvatore Mercogliano
1/8/2026
In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, host Robert Dougherty is joined by Salvatore R Mercogliano PhD, Campbell University professor of history in North Carolina and What's Going on With Shipping host, as they discuss US operations in Venezuela, the capture of leader Nicolás Maduro and international maritime implications for "dark fleet" shipping.
Mercogliano, a former merchant mariner, holds degrees in military and naval history, maritime history and nautical archaeology, and marine transportation. He previously authored the 2017 book Fourth arm of defense: Sealift and maritime logistics in the Vietnam War.
The pair discuss a range of topics, including:
Enjoy the podcast,
The Defence Connect team
Duration:00:33:29
CONTESTED GROUND: Venezuela, Russia, China, Iran and America's resurgence
1/7/2026
In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, co-host Steve Kuper and returning co-host Liam Garman unpack the fallout of the American special forces raid in Venezuela.
The pair also discuss the broader global ramifications emerging as a result of the American direct action in Latin America, including:
Enjoy the podcast,
The Contested Ground team
Duration:00:39:34
SPOTLIGHT: Confronting a contested Indo-Pacific, with Lockheed Martin's Admiral (Ret'd) Phil Davidson
1/7/2026
In this episode of the Defence Connect Spotlight Podcast, host Steve Kuper is joined by former commander of US Indo-Pacific Command, Admiral (Ret'd) Phil Davidson, as they discuss the allied efforts to confront a contested Indo-Pacific.
As part of this special conversation, the pair discuss a range of subjects, including:
Enjoy the podcast,
The Defence Connect Spotlight team
Duration:00:33:24
Robotics and artificial intelligence in the military domain, with Lieutenant Colonel Dr Adam J Hepworth
12/25/2025
In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, host Robert Dougherty is joined by the director of the Australian Army's Robotic and Autonomous Systems Implementation and Coordination Office, Lieutenant Colonel Dr Adam J Hepworth, as they discuss emerging artificial intelligence and robotics implications for the Australian Army.
LTCOL Hepworth leads the advancement of emerging technology, including robotics, autonomous systems, AI and autonomy for the Australian Army. He holds a bachelor of science in mathematics from the University of NSW, a master of logistics and supply chain management from the University of South Australia, a graduate diploma in scientific computation and a master of science in operations research from the United States Naval Postgraduate School, and a doctor of philosophy in computer science from the University of NSW.
He is a visiting fellow at the University of NSW and an expert member of the Global Commission for Responsible AI in the Military.
The pair discuss a range of topics, including:
Enjoy the podcast,
The Defence Connect team
Duration:00:35:30
Maritime power, naval readiness and civilian preparedness, with Jennifer Parker
12/22/2025
In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, host Bethany Alvaro is joined by Jennifer Parker, one of Australia's leading voices on maritime security, to examine the rapidly evolving strategic environment in the Indo-Pacific and what this means for Australia's naval capability, national preparedness and civilian resilience.
With more than two decades of service as a warfare officer in the Royal Australian Navy, Parker now serves as an expert associate at the Australian National University's National Security College and works across a number of think tanks and universities, bringing both operational and strategic insight to the discussion.
The pair discuss:
Enjoy the podcast,
The Defence Connect team
Duration:00:34:08
CYBER UNCUT: Bondi shooting misinformation, ShinyHunters returns, and how to stay cyber safe while travelling
12/21/2025
This week, for the last Cyber Uncut of 2025, David Hollingworth and Daniel Croft talk about Grok's spreading of misinformation regarding the tragic Bondi terror attack, OpenAI's admission of "high cyber risk", the re-emergence of ShinyHunters with a string of possible extortion attempts, ransomware attacks on medical centres, and important tips for using public Wi-Fi over the holidays.
The pair kick things off with reports of how Grok utterly failed to deliver accurate information regarding the 14 December shootings targeting the Jewish community in Sydney. The chatbot utterly failed to meet the moment, leading to multiple instances of incorrect information circulating on X.
In cyber security news, ShinyHunters is engaging in a string of extortion attempts that may – or may not be – linked to its breach of data analytics firm Mixpanel. It's a bit of a ride and a fascinating example of how quickly things can change in the cyber crime landscape. Plus, two more Aussie healthcare centres fall victim to ransomware attacks.
And finally, some helpful travel advice, a wrap-up of our big moments from 2025, and some things to look forward to in 2026.
See you next year
The Cyber Uncut team
Duration:00:45:49
Radicalisation and national security after the Bondi Beach terror attack, with Dr Levi West
12/17/2025
In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, host Robert Dougherty is joined by Dr Levi West, an Australian National University Research Fellow (radicalisation, extremism, terrorism) and former director of terrorism studies at the Australian Graduate School of Policing and Security.
The pair take an in-depth look at the national security and counterterrorism aspects of the 2025 Bondi Beach shooting in Sydney.
The terrorist attack targeted Jewish members of the public attending a Hanukkah (Jewish festival of lights) event on Sydney's Bondi Beach. Fifteen people, including a 10-year-old girl, two rabbis and a Holocaust survivor, were killed in the attack. Two police officers were shot and injured.
The two Islamic State-aligned gunmen were identified by NSW Police as father and son, Sajid Akram, 50 (deceased), and Naveed Akram, 24 (critically injured).
The pair discuss a range of topics, including:
Enjoy the podcast,
The Defence Connect team
Duration:00:49:10
SPOTLIGHT: Sovereign capability and the evolving battlespace, with Saab's Andy Keough and Nova Systems' Dean Rosenfield
12/15/2025
In this episode of the Defence Connect Spotlight podcast, host Steve Kuper is joined by Andy Keough, managing director at Saab Australia, and Dean Rosenfield, CEO of Nova Systems.
The conversation focuses on the collaboration between Saab and Nova Systems in the multi-domain command, control, communications and computers (C4) area, emphasising the need for sovereign capabilities in Australia due to rapidly changing technology and geopolitical challenges.
Both companies have a long history of working together, with Saab focusing on command and control systems and Nova Systems on operational test and evaluation and systems engineering.
The discussion covers the importance of systems integration, test and evaluation, and digital engineering in the increasingly software-based system-of-systems environment, highlighting the role of investing in people and embracing technologies like artificial intelligence and machine learning.
Key challenges for the defence industry include security concerns with new technologies like AI and the need for commercial frameworks that support innovation, experimentation and a higher acceptance of risk from Defence.
Enjoy the podcast,
The Defence Connect team
Duration:00:31:31
CONTESTED GROUND: The nexus of national security, social cohesion and grey-zone warfare
12/15/2025
In this solemn episode of the Contested Ground podcast, hosts Phil Tarrant, Major General (Ret'd) Dr Marcus Thompson and Steve Kuper discuss the immediate aftermath of the Bondi Beach terror attack.
The trio discuss the terrorist shooting at a Hanukkah celebration on Bondi Beach, Sydney, which resulted in at least 15 deaths and over 40 injuries. They also tackle the implications of the targeted anti-Semitic attack on Australia's intelligence and law enforcement community.
The conversation then shifts to the beginning of the broader national conversations that will now be taking place in Canberra and capital cities around the nation, as the nation and Sydney grieve the loss of national innocence.
We would also like to pass on our sincere condolences, thoughts and prayers to those impacted by the tragic events yesterday.
Enjoy the podcast,
The Contested Ground team
Duration:00:14:51
CYBER UNCUT: The Pentagon's new AI platform, SafePay ransomware scores a hat-trick, and social media ban
12/14/2025
This episode discusses the US Department of War's AI "Manifest Destiny", hackers going hard on Aussie victims, and Australia bringing in its brand new social media ban.
Hosts David Hollingworth and Daniel Croft kick things off with artificial intelligence, with CommBank trialling a new DevOps agent and the Pentagon launching its new GenAI.mil platform to "dominate" its adversaries.
The pair move on to cyber crime, and the SafePay ransomware gang strikes at three Australian victims in a single week.
Hollingworth and Croft also discuss the social media ban, which came into effect this week.
Finally, the pair look at the Privacy Commissioner's new compliance crusade and a warning that scammers are posing as charities this Christmas season.
Enjoy,
The Cyber Uncut team
Duration:00:34:47
THE PROGRESS REPORT: The Power of persistence and passion in aviation
12/11/2025
A chance meeting with an astronaut changed Riley Havila's life, diverting her path from medicine straight into the world of aerospace engineering. In this episode of Defence Connect's The Progress Report, host Tash Taylor sits down with Riley Havela, founder of Riley the Aero Girl.
She reveals how simply "shooting your shot" opens doors to valuable connections and emphasises that networking and passion are the ultimate fuels for success. The discussion dives into overcoming imposter syndrome, the necessity of personal branding, and how women are shaping the future of aviation by advocating for essential values like work-life balance.
The Progress Report. New voices. Real stories. Big shifts.
Enjoy the podcast,
The Progress Report team
Duration:00:42:53
SPOTLIGHT: AUKUS, industry acceleration and the future of Pillar 2, with Peter Dean and Hans Tench
12/10/2025
In this episode of the Defence Connect Spotlight podcast, host Steve Kuper is joined by Peter Dean, professor of strategic studies at The Australian National University and within the Strategic and Defence Studies Centre and one of the lead authors of the 2023 Defence Strategic Review, and Hans Tench, senior executive and global AUKUS lead from Leidos Australia, to unpack the rapidly evolving strategic, political and industrial landscape surrounding AUKUS, with a particular focus on the often-overlooked Pillar 2.
The conversation follows the first face-to-face meeting between US President Donald Trump and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, where President Trump signalled strong support for AUKUS and committed to accelerating the delivery of nuclear-powered submarines under Pillar 1.
The trio discuss a wide range of topics, including:
Enjoy the podcast,
The Defence Connect team
Duration:00:46:40
CONTESTED GROUND: Australia's strategic crossroads and aspects of national resilience
12/9/2025
In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, hosts Phil Tarrant and Major General (Ret'd) Dr Marcus Thompson are joined by special guest Dr Ross Babbage, chief executive officer of Strategic Forum and Non-Resident Senior Fellow at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments in Washington DC.
Together, the trio dive into Australia's rapidly shifting strategic landscape, the pressures shaping the US–Australia relationship, and the risks emerging across the Indo-Pacific as 2026 approaches.
The team also tackles the return of a Trump administration in the US government amid rising uncertainty surrounding the People's Republic of China's internal trajectory.
A central theme of the discussion is Australia's struggle to prioritise national security in line with allied expectations.
The conversation then shifts to the composition of Australia's political leadership and its effect on national preparedness.
Finally, the podcast ends with a discussion on military deterrence and insight into needed improvements in national resilience, industrial mobilisation and defence capability in Australia.
Enjoy the podcast,
The Contested Ground team
Duration:00:46:45
SPOTLIGHT: Maritime readiness and the evolving AUKUS journey, with Leidos' Kevin Quarderer and ANU's Jennifer Parker
12/8/2025
In this episode of the Defence Connect Spotlight podcast, host Steve Kuper speaks with former US naval attaché to Australia and Leidos Australia international science and technology director Kevin Quarderer and leading naval strategist Dr Jennifer Parker, an expert associate at the National Security College - The Australian National University.
The trio, appearing from the Indo Pacific International Maritime Exposition 2025 in Sydney, discuss a range of factors shaping Australia's accelerating maritime focus and the operational realities of the AUKUS trilateral agreement.
Both guests note the sharper strategic tone of this year's event, reflecting Canberra's growing recognition that national security will be shaped at sea.
They also discuss advanced training pipelines, force protection, maintenance capacity and the reopening of key ports to support US, UK and Australian submarine operations.
Logistics emerges as the decisive factor in maritime readiness, with both guests warning that the depth of Australia's replenishment fleet and supplies could constrain maritime operations, particularly as missile consumption rates continue to rise globally.
Autonomy remains a major theme, with Quarderer and Parker highlighting its potential to extend reach, enhance survivability and complement crewed platforms.
Enjoy the podcast,
The Defence Connect team
Duration:00:23:41
CYBER UNCUT: The National AI Plan, social media ban worries, and Aussie retailer Oxford hacked – plus e-sports!
12/7/2025
In this episode of the Cyber Uncut podcast, David Hollingworth and Bethany Alvaro talk about the week's cyber security and AI news!
Hollingworth and Alvaro get things started by unpacking the Australian government's National AI Plan. Is it actually good governance, or more of a vibe ripe to be abused by the AI giants?
The pair then talk about the eSafety Commissioner's warning that smart car systems are being taken advantage of by domestic abusers, and concern over the impact of the looming social media ban might have on queer youth, before looking at a pair of interesting cyber security incidents from the past week.
But we end on some good news. Hollingworth and Alvaro share some reactions to the National AI Plan, before talking about a new UK initiative to stand up an e-sports event to promote and sharpen vital cyber security skills.
Enjoy,
The Cyber Uncut team
Duration:00:37:53
Launched effects and attack helicopter modernisation, with Terry Jamison
12/4/2025
In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, host Robert Dougherty is joined by business development director for Boeing Attack Helicopter Programs, Terry "TJ" Jamison, as they discuss the changing strategy of attack helicopters in modern warfare and the development of "launched effects".
Jamison, a 30-year veteran of the US Army, has previously commanded an air cavalry squadron in Iraq and a combat aviation brigade in Afghanistan. The former Apache attack helicopter pilot retired from US military service as a colonel with more than 5,000 flight hours in helicopters, such as the AH-64D Apache Longbow and CH-47 Chinook.
The pair discuss a range of topics, including:
Enjoy the podcast,
The Defence Connect team
Duration:00:23:27
SPOTLIGHT: Leveraging digital capabilities to empower Defence with Dee Lucero and Mohammad Siddique, DXC Technology
12/1/2025
In this episode of the Defence Connect Spotlight podcast, host Steve Kuper is joined by Dee Lucero and Mohammad Siddique from DXC Technology, where they unpack the intricacies of the Defence Enterprise Resource Planning program and the role of digital systems in supporting the broader transformation.
The trio also discuss a range of factors shaping the digital transformation of Australia's defence enterprise, including:
Enjoy the podcast,
The Defence Connect team
Duration:00:42:56
CYBER UNCUT: Holiday scams, pollies warned ahead of Chinese visit, and Russian hackers sanctioned
11/30/2025
In this episode of the Cyber Uncut podcast, David Hollingworth and Bethany Alvaro talk about the week's cyber security and AI news!
Hollingworth and Alvaro get things started with a warning about a rise in AI-driven holiday scams taking advantage of the silly season. The pair also talk about a recent call from CPA Australia for young Australians to embrace AI to drive their entrepreneurial dreams.
And then it's on to cyber security, with parliamentarians in Canberra warned to secure their connected devices ahead of a visit by a Chinese official, and worrying research on how the Chinese AI platform DeepSeek can actively insert vulnerabilities into code when certain "political triggers" are detected. And, sadly, the hacking never stops, with cyber extortionists targeting a pair of Aussie organisations.
But we end on some good news. Hollingworth and Alvaro cover the newly announced AI Safety Institute, as well as the very welcome news of sanctions targeting a Russian cyber criminal service provider.
Enjoy,
The Cyber Uncut team
Duration:00:30:16