Defence Connect Podcast Network

In this episode of the Defence Connect Spotlight podcast, Babcock Australasia chief executive Andrew Cridland joins host Liam Garman to discuss how Babcock is uniquely positioned to support the delivery of AUKUS Pillar I and the allied surface combatant fleet.

• The pair begin the podcast by unpacking Cridland’s long career in the defence industry and Babcock Australasia’s key priorities over the coming year, including continued expansion in the Asia-Pacific region, supporting the delivery of core AUKUS capabilities and continued leadership in HF communications.
• Cridland then details how Babcock is uniquely placed to support the delivery of Australia’s first nuclear-powered submarines, including how the company supports the maintenance of the UK’s entire nuclear-powered submarine fleet.
• The podcast wraps up by unpacking how Babcock is supporting the delivery of allied surface combatants, looking at how the Arrowhead offering is providing an affordable, efficient and scalable option for navies across the globe.

Enjoy the podcast,
The Defence Connect team

In this episode of the Defence Connect Spotlight podcast, Defence Connect’s Steve Kuper sits down with Nic Maan, vice-president of government solutions, APAC, at KBR, to discuss how KBR will help tackle Australia’s toughest infrastructure, services and sustainment challenges.

• The pair begin the podcast by discussing Maan’s distinguished career in the defence industry and how sustainment and maintenance programs are fundamental for ensuring the ongoing operational capability of Australia’s military hardware.
• Maan and Kuper then discuss KBR’s long-term strategy to provide enhanced capability in infrastructure, services and sustainment and how the company has facilitated a culture of partnership between the supply chain and Defence to surmount any challenges along the way.
• The podcast wraps up by looking into the company’s commitment to helping the Commonwealth and our AUKUS allies deliver AUKUS Pillars I and II.

Enjoy the podcast,
The Defence Connect team

In this latest series of the Defence Connect Podcast, the Australian Defence Industry Awards Winner Showcase, Defence Connect sits down with award winners from ADIA 2023 to find out what makes them the best and the brightest in Australia’s defence industry.

This inaugural episode features Excellence Award winner and Academic of the Year Dr Marian-Andrei Rizoiu, unpacking his research into combating the effects of misinformation.

• The podcast begins by detailing Dr Rizoiu’s background as a computer engineer, how he used his skills to assess information flows in online and offline environments and its impact on information warfare.
• Dr Rizoiu and host Liam Garman then unpack his research in detecting information operations agents beyond simply analysing what content they were posting.
• The podcast wraps up with the pair discussing how to combat and mitigate the impact of misinformation in our democracy.

Enjoy the podcast,
The Defence Connect Team

In this episode of the Cyber Uncut podcast, hosts Phil Tarrant and Dr Marcus Thompson discuss the key recommendations and findings from the recently released Australian Cyber Security Strategy, ASD Cyber Threat Report, and ASIC cyber pulse survey.

The pair discuss: 

• recent appointments at Penten and unpack breaking news in the cyber security industry;

• updates to the ASD Essential Eight Maturity Model, in particular, examining how new guidelines will help mitigate threat detection and response times; and

• the must-know findings from the ASD Cyber Threat Report and ASIC cyber pulse survey, and how the Australian Cyber Security Strategy will shape the cyber security industry.

In this special episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, recorded at Indo Pacific 2023, host Steve Kuper and Jennifer Parker – director, defence policy, at National Security College – discuss her recent report for ASPI, titled, An Australian maritime strategy: resourcing the Royal Australian Navy.

In this episode of the Defence Connect podcast, senior journalist and host Robert Dougherty discuss digital defence infrastructure with former US Special Operations Command director of networks and services, Colonel (ret’d) Joseph M Pishock.

Joseph Pishock is a 28-year veteran communicator of the US Army and has attended further study at St John’s University in New York City and as a fellow at Columbia University.

Dougherty and Pischock discuss lessons learnt while leading the communication systems of US Special Operations, including in active international war zones.

The pair also discuss the advancement of defence technology and its impacts on monitoring and protecting fundamental digital infrastructure.

They then discuss Pishock’s guest presentation at the recent annual Military Communications and Information Systems expo in Canberra.

They take a deep dive into the importance of remote defence monitoring systems, using first-hand experience of a US special operation in Africa affected by hurricane in Florida.

Finally, the pair discuss how mapping and visualising systems allow countries to spend their Defence budgets more effectively, as well as the role of observability processes for defence cyber security evolving over time.

Enjoy the podcast,
The Defence Connect team

In this episode of the Defence Connect Spotlight podcast, Nova Systems’ chief people officer Shelley Willsmore and Miranda Van Hooff, executive director at Military and Emergency Services Health Australia (MESHA), join host Phil Tarrant to unpack how Defence industry can attract and retain the industry’s best and brightest and how the two organisations support veterans as they transition into civilian life.

• The podcast begins unpacking how employee value propositions are leveraged to attract leading talent amid ongoing workforce constraints and how the industry can better collaborate to support Defence.
• They then discuss upskilling existing employees, including how Nova Systems is training its engineers to provide test and evaluation services for new and emerging technologies.
• The podcast wraps up by unpacking how Nova Systems and MESHA have teamed up to support veteran employment and how the industry can benefit from the unique skill sets of Australia’s veteran community.

Enjoy the podcast,
The Defence Connect Team

In this special episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, host Steve Kuper is joined by Meryl Swanson MP, Member for Paterson, at the Indo Pacific 2023 Maritime Expo to discuss the latest news around defence and defence industry. 

The pair begin the podcast discussing the latest news around the Indo Pacific 2023 Maritime Expo and the key priorities of the Albanese government.

The pair also discuss the Albanese government’s commitment to the nation’s defence and defence industry, pushing back against the comments made by the Opposition’s defence spokespeople.

In particular, Swanson highlights the importance and deliberate nature of the government's Defence Strategic Review and the deliberate, considered actions taken by the Albanese government in delivering the findings of the review.

Finally, the pair discuss the key, standout exhibitors of the Indo Pacific 2023 Maritime Expo for Swanson and her key findings following a recent trip to the US to speak with US lawmakers about the AUKUS agreement.

Enjoy the podcast,
The Defence Connect Team

In this special episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, host Steve Kuper speaks with Nick Asscher and Bill Freeman, directors at Touchpoint Technology, to discuss the increasing importance of trust and reliability when delivering technology solutions for Defence.

Recorded live at Indo Pacific 2023, they begin discussing the history of Touchpoint and its growing role in supporting the Department of Defence and key defence companies.

They also discuss the challenges facing ICT suppliers in the defence and national security space and the rising importance of secure, reliable, and “trusted” suppliers to provide Defence with the confidence that sensitive information is secure even in a contested environment.

Finally, they discuss the emerging trends in the defence ICT space and the long-term planning, logistics, and infrastructure that enable our critical defence capabilities.

Enjoy the podcast,
The Defence Connect Team

In this special podcast at Indo Pacific Expo, host Steve Kuper is joined by the shadow minister for defence, the Hon Andrew Hastie MP and the shadow minister for defence industry, the Hon Luke Howarth MP, to discuss the news and feeling on the ground at Indo Pacific 2023.

In this special two-part podcast, they discuss the news around the national security community and the defence industry represented at the Indo Pacific exhibition in Sydney.

They discuss the feeling of concern and dismay among defence industry, particularly SMEs, as the Navy and the industry wait to see the government’s response to the independent surface fleet review.

They also discuss the growing concerns about our broader national security and the impact on our economic stability and prosperity in this era of great power competition.

Finally, they also discuss programs like AUKUS – a true nation-building endeavour – that can provide opportunities and long-term security for generations of Australians.

Enjoy the podcast,
The Defence Connect Team

In this episode of the Cyber Uncut podcast, Jaya Baloo, global chief security officer at Rapid7, joins host Liam Garman to unpack how Australia’s regulatory environment is impacting businesses trying to manage the rapid pace of change in today’s digital environment.

• The pair begin by looking at how Baloo’s career developed and the challenges she’s faced keeping global organisations secure.
• Baloo and Garman then discuss the changing threat landscape and how cyber has become a hotly contested domain, especially when it comes to the conflicts in Ukraine and Israel, before looking at the reduced barrier to entry for young, patriotic hackers.
• The podcast wraps up with the pair breaking down the threats facing Australian businesses and what motivates hackers to go about their criminal enterprises.

Enjoy the podcast,
The Cyber Uncut team

In this episode of the Defence Connect podcast, senior analyst Steve Kuper and senior journalist Rob Dougherty discuss the issues shaping the naval debate in the lead up to Indo Pacific 2023.

The pair discuss:

• The autonomous vessel question and the implications on the arrival of elements of the US Navy’s autonomous ghost fleet in Sydney.
• Concerns about major Australian naval capability programs, including the Hunter and Arafura Class programs, and potential solutions like Babcock’s Arrowhead 140 frigate currently on offer to the Royal New Zealand Navy.
• The latest scuttlebutt in the lead up to Indo Pacific 2023 and potential announcements like LAND 8710-1 or SEA 2200 that may happen next week.

Enjoy the podcast,
The Defence Connect Team

In this episode of the Defence Connect podcast, aircraft expert and Australian Aviation editor Adam Thorn joins senior journalist and host Robert Dougherty to discuss recent international military aviation news from the Middle East, over the South China Sea, and in Australia.

The pair discuss:

• The Australian Defence Force’s MH90 Taipan helicopter fleet at career’s end, with a recent fatal crash during Exercise Talisman Sabre and previous struggles with a number of technical issues.
• The United States Department of Defence reports detailing close encounters, release of flares, and dangerous manoeuvrers of People’ Liberation Army fighter jets near US reconnaissance aircraft over international waters.
• Australia’s launch of repatriation flights in the Middle East as conflict continues between Hamas and Israel. The Royal Australian Air Force C-130J Hercules and C-17A Globemaster heavy transport aircraft have both been deployed.
• Finally, the pair wrap up the podcast with some lighthearted analysis of the recently US-published 2023 Annual Report on Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena from October this year.

Enjoy the podcast,
The Defence Connect team

In this episode of the Cyber Uncut podcast, Drew Bagley, vice-president and counsel for privacy and cyber policy at CrowdStrike, joins host Liam Garman to unpack the emerging cyber security trends facing Australian businesses and how the Australian government can draw from success overseas to build a robust and agile policy framework to protect Australians online.

• The pair begin the podcast by unpacking findings from CrowdStrike’s 2023 Threat Hunting report, detailing the emerging and evolving threats that all Australian businesses must monitor, including fascinating insights about the proliferation of non-malware and identity-based attacks.
• Bagley and Garman then discuss the Commonwealth’s 2023 to 2030 Australian Cyber Security Strategy and what the Commonwealth can learn from best practice from overseas governments.
• The pair wrap up the podcast by analysing how governments the world over turn to CrowdStrike to develop their cyber security strategies, and some of the global cyber security company’s top tips for businesses to improve their security online.

Enjoy the podcast,
The Cyber Uncut team

In this episode of the Cyber Uncut podcast, Alex Wilson, director of solutions engineering (APJ) at Yubico, joins host Liam Garman to unpack the weaknesses of traditional two-factor authentication and how businesses can strengthen their security through physical two-factor keys.

• The pair begin the podcast by discussing how threat actors can manipulate digital two-factor authentication measures and the challenges of rolling out 2FA across a workforce.
• Wilson and Garman then analyse some use cases for physical 2FA, delivering a simple cyber security solution for individuals as well as large and small businesses.
• The podcast wraps up by examining how Yubico’s YubiKey can be rolled out to provide cyber security assurances to keep business data safe.

Enjoy the podcast,
The Cyber Uncut team

In this episode of the Defence Connect podcast, Professor Emily Hilder, interim Head of the Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator, joins host Liam Garman to discuss how ASCA is facilitating innovation in the defence sector and the Commonwealth’s priority areas for defence technological transformation.

• The pair begin the podcast unpacking how ASCA will facilitate technological growth in the defence industry and how it is working with international partners to support innovation.
• Professor Hilder then examines priority areas for defence, including AI, quantum computing, and advanced materials and manufacturing – and how ASCA can help Australian SMEs on their journey.
• The podcast wraps up unpacking what’s next on ASCA’s horizon and how businesses can better collaborate with Defence.

Enjoy the podcast,
The Defence Connect team

In this episode of the Cyber Uncut podcast, Absolute Software chief technology officer Nicko van Someren joins host Liam Garman to unpack how artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) can be used by both cyber response teams and threat actors – and AI/ML’s inherent limitations.

• The pair begin the podcast by demarcating AI and advanced ML and how the inability of individuals to grasp the full potential of AI is hampering its continued development in business applications.
• Van Someren and Garman then unpack how AI is being used by threat actors and response teams, from automated anomaly detection through to code generation.
• The pair wrap up the podcast by unpacking van Someren’s philosophy on neural networks, how businesses need to embed a culture of cyber resilience and how Absolute Software can help businesses on their cyber security journey.

Enjoy the podcast,
The Cyber Uncut team

In this transformative episode of the Cyber Security Uncut podcast, hosts Phil Tarrant and Liam Garman announce the upcoming rebrand of Cyber Security Connect to Cyber Daily and the launch of the reinvigorated Cyber Uncut podcast.

Following the success of Cyber Security Connect, Cyber Daily will unpack and analyse all areas of digital transformation – ranging from cyber security, artificial intelligence and information systems through to modern digitally enabled business solutions to help Australian organisations leverage the cyber revolution.

We hope you enjoy the podcast, and our hosts will be back next week with the newly launched Cyber Uncut podcast.

Enjoy the podcast,
The Cyber Security Uncut team