Defence & Security Podcast Network

South-east Asia is key to Australia's long-term economic and strategic stability, nurturing those relationships is critical to mutual security and stability. On this episode of the Defence Connect: Insight podcast, host Steve Kuper is joined by Ben Bland, director of the Southeast Asia Program at the Lowy Institute, where the pair discuss the transformation of south-east Asia since the end of the...

BidWrite plays a pivotal role helping defence and industry communicate to meet capability requirements, while generating business in the hotly contested defence industrial ecosystem. On this episode of the Defence Connect podcast, host Steve Kuper is joined by Dr Rodger Manning and David Harvey, principal consultants at BidWrite, to discuss the evolving nature of responding to tenders to support t...

Beca draws on 100 years of experience delivering some of the region's most complex engineering and consulting challenges, with an expanded foothold in defence and defence industry firmly in the company's sights. On this Defence Connect Podcast, host Phil Tarrant is joined by Brendon Pett, operations manager trans-Tasman defence & national security at Beca, as they discuss the evolution of the comp...

Hawker Pacific is one of the leading aircraft sales and support companies in APAC, and one of the largest independent companies of its type in the region, with 800 employees. In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, host Phil Tarrant talks to the business' Vice President Regional Operations, Middle East and Pacific, Ian D'Arcy, about RBI Hawker, a collaboration between Hawker Pacific and Be...

COVID-19 has reshaped the world and RIMPAC '20 wasn't immune, but it did in some ways enhance the way the participants conducted the operations. On this Defence Connect podcast, host Phil Tarrant is joined by Captain Phillipa Hay, RAN, to discuss the ongoing transformation of the Royal Australian Navy and the role interoperability plays in enhancing collective security in the Indo-Pacific. CAPT Ha...

Northrop Grumman's MQ-4C Triton is billed as a step change for the ADF and its long-range, persistent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities serving as a major force multiplier in Australia's future force. On this Defence Connect podcast, host Phil Tarrant is joined by Chris Deeble, chief executive of Northrop Grumman Australia, to discuss the transformational capability...

On this Defence Connect podcast, host Phil Tarrant is joined by Jack Kormas, managing director of Textron Systems Australia, as they discuss the evolving realm of uncrewed and autonomous systems, specifically LAND 129 Phase 3. Kormas and Tarrant discuss Textron Systems Australia's status as a "home grown business" stemming back to 1995 as Aerosonde and the storied history the company has of not on...

Since their inception, Australian industry content (AIC) and sovereign industrial capability have served as key priorities for government with varying degrees of success depending on who you ask. For Defence Industry Minister Melissa Price, collaborative consultation and action are needed. On this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, hosts Phil Tarrant and Steve Kuper are joined by the Minister...

Indigenous Australians have a proud history of serving with the ADF, from World War I to the specialist recon units of NORFORCE. Now as government shifts its focus to developing a sovereign defence industry capability, Indigenous Australians are emerging as a fundamental input to capability. On this Defence Connect podcast, host Phil Tarrant is joined by Defence Indigenous Cultural Adviser Norman...

Australia has a global reputation as a leader in research and development across a number of fields, and the Commonwealth science agency CSIRO plays a key role in that reputation. On this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, host Phil Tarrant is joined by CSIRO chief scientist Dr Cathy Foley to talk about the evolving role of the CSIRO in the post-COVID world and how its research and developmen...

Prime organisations like Leidos Australia play a crucial role in supporting the growth of Australia's defence industry capability and are pivotal to the ongoing success of the government's $270 billion investment in defence capability and sovereign industry. On this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, host Phil Tarrant is joined by Keith Johnson, senior vice president, global capabilities, Lei...

This episode of Defence Connect Insight features former minister for defence, current chairman of Pyne and Partners, and author of The Insider: The scoops, the scandals and the serious business within the Canberra bubble , Christopher Pyne. Pyne joins hosts Phil Tarrant and Steve Kuper to discuss the catalyst for writing his book, whether he ever lost a sense of purpose while serving in government...

The Army in Motion philosophy necessitates a force that is continuously adapting to an everchanging environment, taking guidance from its core strengths and principles, yet always remaining open to developing new ways of employing capabilities. In this episode of Defence Connect Insight Podcast, host Phil Tarrant is joined by the Chief of Army, Lieutenant General Rick Burr, AO, DSC, MVO, to discus...

In this episode of the Defence Connect Insight Podcast, shadow minister for defence industry and WA resources Matt Keogh discusses the opposition's response to the government's $270 billion defence investment over the next decade. Keogh joins hosts Phil Tarrant and Steve Kuper to discuss feedback from Australia's defence industry as they pivot to respond to the challenges of COVID-19 and the local...

At the start of July, the federal government announced a $270 billion commitment to defence spending for the coming decade, and a new holistic strategy for dealing with an increasingly uncertain world in the Indo-Pacific. In this exclusive interview, the Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal Mel Hupfeld, AO, DSC, gives host Phil Tarrant the inside story on how his team is rethinking what a modern air fo...

In this episode of Defence Connect Insight Podcast, the US embassy's Marine Attaché, Mark Weinrich, delves into rapidly evolving relationship between the US Marines and the Australian Defence Force. Weinrich joins host Steve Kuper to also discuss his career from piloting an EA-6B Prowler, to working with the UK Royal Marines Commandos and his transition to supporting the Marine Rotational Force-Da...

Electro Optic Systems (EOS) is the nation's second largest ASX-listed defence and aerospace entity, with clear ambitions to reach the number one spot. In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, host Phil Tarrant is joined by the technology company's CEO of defence, Grant Sanderson, to discuss EOS' recent $100 million contract with the Australian Army, the process for generating innovation wit...

Prior to becoming the member for Wentworth, Dave Sharma spent four years as ambassador of Australia to Israel, navigating the politics and geo-strategic realities of a region as complex and diverse as our own. In this episode of Defence Connect Insight, Sharma joins hosts Phil Tarrant and Steve Kuper to share his learnings from his time as an ambassador, the similarities between Australia and Isra...

Founded almost 26 years ago, Aquaterro is today one of Australia's largest providers of operational, tactical and safety equipment to government, military and commercial end users. In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, host Phil Tarrant is joined by the company's founder and CEO, Graeme Bulte, to share the journey of Aquaterro from its humble beginnings in commercial fishing to a trusted...

After serving as an army captain in Afghanistan, Jason Scanes was under the impression that his interpreter would be granted a special protection visa to join him in Australia. Five years later, frustrated with the lack of transparency around the status of the application, Scanes founded Forsaken Fighters to support other veterans and mission essential personnel in similar positions. In this episo...

COVID-19 has shone a light on just how critical sovereign industry and manufacturing is to Australia's national security. On this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, host Phil Tarrant is joined by Robert Nioa, managing director of NIOA, Australia's largest privately-owned supplier of small arms and ammunition to the sports shooter, law enforcement and military markets. Nioa shares the lessons...

Veteran-owned consulting business Horsell has been providing personalised services in the defence space for the last 13 years. On this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, host Phil Tarrant is joined by Horsell's director and principal consultant, Drew Horsell, and professionalisation manager at KBR, Jon Westerland, to talk about how the two companies collaborate to deliver value to the nation'...

On this episode of Defence Connect Insight, hosts Phil Tarrant and Steve Kuper are joined by the Hon. David Fawcett, senator for South Australia and chair of the parliamentary joint standing committee on foreign affairs, defence and trade. Fawcett delves into the inquiry he is currently leading into the strategic implications of COVID-19, how Australia is currently faring in terms of national sove...

The Defence Science and Technology Group is responsible for delivering expert, impartial advice and innovative solutions to support Australia's defence and national security capabilities. The department's chief defence scientist, Professor Tanya Monro, joins host Phil Tarrant to delve into the critical nature of the relationship between industry, universities and the scientific community. Professo...

Nova Systems' 20-year anniversary in business is a testament to the organisation's commitment to fostering a culture of innovation and delivering value to its stakeholders. On this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, the company's founder and chairman, Jim Whalley, and CEO, Steve Robinson, join host Phil Tarrant to reflect on the genesis story of Nova Systems, the evolution of the organisation...