Defence Connect Podcast Network

In this episode of the Cyber Uncut podcast, Mark Goudie, director of CrowdStrike Services, joins host Liam Garman to provide insight into the most prolific threats and vulnerabilities facing Australian businesses and how they can immediately take action to defend themselves.

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In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, senior journalist Robert Dougherty is joined by returning guest, Australian Army Corporal (Ret’d) and Afghan veteran Matthew “Willy” Williams OAM, to discuss the fall of Avdiivka in Ukraine, the ongoing conflict in Gaza, and the emerging discussion around conscription in Australia. 

Corporal Williams was deployed as a private to Afghanistan with the Australian Army and left as a corporal in 2020, undertaking a radical career change to operate the 167,000-subscriber “Willy OAM” independent journalism YouTube channel.

He now acts as a travelling civilian conflict reporter following a terminal brain cancer diagnosis on his 22nd birthday and after being awarded an OAM in the Queen’s Birthday 2020 Honours List.

The pair discuss the recent withdrawal of Ukrainian armed forces from Avdiivka and the changing landscape of the battlefield in Ukraine.

They then discuss the controversial topic of war crimes in the conflict, as well as tackling issues regarding the donation of MRH-90 Taipan helicopters and M1 Abrams battle tanks to Ukraine.

They also discuss Williams’ travels on the ground in Israel following the October attacks last year and use of drones in the conflict.

Finally, the pair discuss the public discourse around the possible conscription in Australia and the comparative effectiveness of called-up troops in Ukraine.

Enjoy the podcast,
The Defence Connect team

In this special Defence Connect Podcast, hosts Liam Garman and Steve Kuper unpack the findings of the government’s independent analysis of the Navy’s surface combatant fleet with former defence minister and ambassador to the US, the Honourable Kim Beazley AC.

The trio begin by discussing the background and logic behind the review and how they shaped the findings the government ultimately released.

They then move on to discuss the government’s commitment to expand the number of surface combatants in the fleet and the emphasis on building out the “Tier 2” fleet alongside innovative capabilities, including autonomy.

Finally, the trio discuss the balancing act required to deliver this ambitious plan and Australia’s fleet of nuclear-powered submarines.

Enjoy the podcast,
The Defence Connect team

In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, host Steve Kuper is joined by WA Minister for Defence Industry and Veterans Issues, Paul Papalia CSC, MLA, to discuss the West Australian government’s ambitious plans to help build the state’s defence industry.

The pair discuss the opportunities presented by the trilateral AUKUS agreement and Australia’s acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines will provide for WA defence industry businesses.

The pair also discuss the growing interconnectivity and engagement of the WA government with our international AUKUS partners and the important role these industry partners play in supporting the long-term development of the state and nation’s defence industry workforce and defence industrial base.

Finally, they then discuss programs like the WA government’s Defence Ready Initiative that are designed to help support the maturity, development and lower the barriers to entry for WA’s defence industry.

Enjoy the podcast,
The Defence Connect team

In this special episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, Liam Garman, Steve Kuper, and Rob Dougherty unpack the independent analysis into Navy’s surface combatant fleet – and what the recommendations will mean for the Royal Australian Navy and defence industry.

• The podcast begins by examining how the recommendations will change the makeup of the Royal Australian Navy, with the introduction of up to 11 new general purpose frigates and the reduction of the Hunter Class program from nine to six.
• The three then look into how the Royal Australian Navy appears to be grasping the benefits offered by autonomy.
• They wrap-up the podcast discussing how the growth of Australia’s surface fleet to 26 may create challenges for the Defence workforce.

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The Defence Connect team

In this episode of the Cyber Uncut podcast, Liam Garman, David Hollingworth, and Daniel Croft provide critical insights for business leaders on how to craft an investor and media relations strategy in the event of a breach.

• The trio begin the podcast by discussing the latest news before diving into how cyber breaches require all hands on deck to get a company back to business as usual.
• Hollingworth and Croft then provide anonymised case studies of investor and media relations strategies that have allowed companies to take control of the narrative.
• The podcast wraps up with a list of top tips for businesses to get on the front foot in the event of a breach.
  
  Enjoy the podcast,
  The Cyber Daily team

In this episode of the Defence Connect podcast, host Steve Kuper is joined by Dr David Kershaw, chief science strategic planning and engagement of the Defence Science and Technology Group.

The pair begin discussing the evolution of the Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG) and how it is working to help deliver key capability outcomes in line with the Defence Strategic Review.

They then move on to the role DSTG plays in bringing together Defence, industry, and academic institutions around the country through organisations like the NSW-based Defence Innovation Network (DIN) to bring together the best and brightest to solve the unique scientific challenges that face the Australian Defence Force.

Finally, they discuss the opportunities available to industry and academia to work with DSTG to deliver capability outcomes for the Australian warfighter.

Enjoy the podcast,
The Defence Connect Team

In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, Julian Hill MP, chair of the Defence subcommittee of the joint standing committee on foreign affairs, defence and trade, joins host Steve Kuper to unpack the work of the subcommittee over 2023.

The pair begin by discussing the oversight role of parliamentary committees and the valuable work they do working with parliamentary decisionmakers and the public service to represent the interests of constituents. 

They also discuss the War Powers legislation currently before the Parliament and the importance of having Parliament involved in the decision-making process, particularly off the back of recent revelations about the lead-up to Australia’s involvement in the 2003 invasion of Iraq. 

Finally, the pair discuss the focal points of the Defence Annual Report 2022–23, for which submissions are now open and encouraged. 

Enjoy the podcast,   
The Defence Connect Team

In this episode of the Defence Connect Spotlight podcast, Alastair MacGibbon, chief strategy officer of CyberCX, joins host Steve Kuper to unpack the importance of cyber security in delivering our nation’s most important defence projects – including nuclear-powered submarines.

• The pair begin the podcast unpacking how cyber security is critical for defending defence supply chains and protecting the equipment used by Australia’s soldiers, sailors, and aviators.
• MacGibbon and Kuper then discuss how threat actors always target the most vulnerable parts of the supply chain, usually smaller subcontractors, before examining some trends in cyber security.
• The podcast wraps up with a discussion into the role of cyber security in AUKUS Pillars I and II, and how it is essential for Australian organisations to enhance their cyber security standards as we become the custodians of nuclear technology.

Enjoy the podcast,
The Defence Connect team

In this episode of the Cyber Uncut podcast, Mercury ISS’ Edward Farrell and Niru Verma join host Steve Kuper to discuss the latest trends in cyber security and the importance of building a tailor-made security strategy for your business.

• The trio begin the podcast by unpacking how cyber security underpins all military capabilities, whether on land, at sea, or in the air, before discussing the importance of instituting threat-driven approaches to cyber.
• Farrell and Verma then unpack the latest trends in cyber security and how businesses should build bespoke cyber security strategies that address the most likely vectors for attack, as opposed to the vulnerabilities that are most in vogue.
• They then discuss the most concerning threats for businesses, before examining just how easily threat actors can use credential stuffing to break into your organisation’s network.
• The podcast wraps up by examining Mercury’s philosophy of prevention over response, before discussing what is next on their business horizon.

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The Cyber Daily team

In this episode of the Defence Connect Spotlight podcast, Allan Dundas, chief executive officer of DEWC Services, joins host Liam Garman to discuss how the company is helping to revolutionise the Australian Defence Force’s C4ISREW capabilities.

• Dundas begins the podcast defining why C4ISREW (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, Electronic Warfare) is critical to enabling the military success of the ADF across all warfighting domains, and how militaries must secure freedom of manoeuvre in the electromagnetic spectrum.
• The pair then unpack how DEWC Services is building this capability within the ADF, employing world-leading engineers, scientists, and academics to train the warfighter.
• They wrap up the podcast examining how DEWC Services is overcoming Australia’s skilled labour shortages, including how to attract the best talent, and how they are ensuring their current staff can overcome current and future C4ISREW challenges with advanced training programs including their graduate and mentorship programs.

Enjoy the podcast,
The Defence Connect team

In this episode of the Defence Connect Spotlight podcast, host Stephen Kuper is joined by Dassault Systèmes’ Francois Mathieu and Shaun Edsall to unpack how the company is delivering efficiency and security in Australia’s defence sector.

• The trio begin the podcast unpacking the history of Dassault Systèmes and how the company has grown to 24,000 employees over 40 years, providing innovative solutions to allied militaries across the globe.
• They then examine the company’s model-based system engineering program to de-risk critical projects, accelerate time frames, and create reusable frameworks for future deliverables.
• The podcast continues by analysing how navies across the globe are grasping onto the concept of modularisation, before examining how the company is collaborating with primes, the supply chain, and academia to drive efficiency and security.

Enjoy the podcast,
The Defence Connect team

In this episode of the Defence Connect Spotlight podcast, host Steve Kuper is joined by CAE’s director of global naval market development, Simon Ancona, to unpack how the science of training is enhancing national security.

• The pair begin the podcast unpacking how training fundamentally underpins readiness, accessibility, and sustainability, ensuring that both personnel and equipment are able to defend Australia’s national interests.
• Ancona then unpacks trends in maritime training across the globe and challenges faced by navies in providing instruction by land and sea.
• They continue discussing how the science of training can be used to generate a next-generation force, employing technologies such as simulation to enhance the training environment.

Enjoy the podcast,
The Defence Connect team

In this special Defence Connect Podcast recorded at the Indo Pacific 2023, host Steve Kuper and special guest Professor Peter Dean discuss the factors shaping the future Royal Australian Navy.

The pair begin the podcast discussing the latest maritime platform revelations at the Indo Pacific International Maritime Exposition 2023, with some of the standout proposals from Navantia Australia, BAE Systems, and Luerssen.

They then discuss the impact of the Defence Strategic Review and its findings on the future Royal Australian Navy fleet to maximise the impact of the future nuclear-powered submarine fleet.

Finally, they discuss the role of the Navy in helping deliver impactful projection as articulated by the government and the avenues towards shaping the fleet to help deliver that.

Enjoy the podcast,
The Defence Connect Team

In this episode of the Cyber Uncut podcast, Liam Garman, David Hollingworth, and Daniel Croft unpack the biggest news stories for 2023 – and dive into the recent Rhysida and ALPHV attacks. 

• The trio begin the podcast by unpacking the latest hack against Insomniac Games by Rhysida, which saw over a terabyte of data leaked online, as well as recent movements within the ALPHV ransomware gang.
• They then unpack the top five news stories of the year.
• Garman, Hollingworth, and Croft then wrap up the podcast by discussing recent research on a recently uncovered Chinese disinformation campaign.

Enjoy the podcast,
The Cyber Uncut team

In this special episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, host Steve Kuper is joined by Nathalie Sarlin, co-founder and director at Buzzworks and the 2023 Australian Defence Industry Awards, Female Defence Leader of the Year winner.

The pair begin discussing Nathalie’s journey from lawyer to defence industry business owner, mother and innovator.

They also discuss the challenges facing women in executive leadership roles in the defence industry, the hurdles to climbing the ladder, and the exciting opportunities available in the sector.

The pair also discuss the importance of awards programs like the Australian Defence Industry Awards for recognising the growing role women play in Australia’s defence industry.

Finally, the pair discuss the growth trajectory of Buzzworks and its history as a veteran-owned business, shaking up the innovation cycle for the Australian warfighter.

Enjoy the podcast,
The Defence Connect Team

In this special Defence Connect podcast recorded at Indo-Pacific 2023, host Steve Kuper is joined by NGA chief executive Christine Zeitz and Northrop Grumman’s maritime/land systems and sensors division general manager Ingrid Vaughan and senior director for strategy and business development Tom Wears.

The group begin discussing their key highlights and takeaways from the first few days of the 2023 Indo-Pacific Maritime Exhibition and Sea Power Conference, with much of the emphasis on the AUKUS trilateral partnership.

They discuss Northrop Grumman’s global role and expertise in the key areas across AUKUS Pillars I and II, with a heavy emphasis on the developing realm of cyber and quantum computing, among others.

They also discuss Northrop Grumman’s little-known role in supporting the US nuclear submarine program and central role in the supply chain for the US Navy’s Virginia Class submarines.

Finally, they discuss the key links and connections Northrop Grumman Australia enjoys with the global organisation that allows it to leverage the company’s skills, experience and expertise in a mutually beneficial, symbiotic relationship that builds real, in-country capability here in Australia.

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The Defence Connect Team

In this episode of the Cyber Uncut podcast, Leon Poggioli, ANZ regional director at Claroty, and Liam Garman unpack what the 2023–2030 Australian Cyber Security Strategy means for the industry and how businesses can build XIoT policies to mitigate the risk of penetration.

•            The pair begin the podcast by analysing how the 2023–2030 Australian Cyber Security Strategy will support the growth of Australia’s cyber security industry and what it will mean for businesses.

•            Poggioli and Garman then analyse how threat actors can use harmless devices such as doorbells to penetrate networks.

•            The podcast wraps up by discussing practical advice on how businesses can protect themselves and their assets from attack.

Enjoy the podcast,

The Cyber Uncut team