Defence & Security Podcast Network

Greg Barsby, the managing director of QuinetiQ Australia first joined the Defence Connect podcast during Avalon 2017 to discuss their announcement of the acquisition of logistics support and project management business Rubicon. Greg now joins us to discuss what made that integration a success, and how they have capitalised on this growth opportunity. In their shift from consulting business to engi...

In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, the now vice-chancellor and president of the University of Newcastle, Alex Zelinsky, joins host Phil Tarrant to reflect on his previous role as chief defence scientist and head of Defence Science and Technology (DST). Zelinsky will discuss the expectations of the position within defence industry, share his thoughts surrounding the 2006 white paper an...

In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, Wing Commander (AAFC) Paul Martin Hughes JP joins host Phil Tarrant to discuss his role in shaping the future of the RAAF by attracting talented youth into the sector. WGCDR (AAFC) Martin Hughes will reflect on his journey to his current position, what his responsibilities now entail, and how the voluntary nature of the role for himself and those aro...

In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, managing director of Precision Technic Defence Pty Ltd, Greg Whitehouse joins host Phil Tarrant to reflect on his history within the services and unpack how it has led to his position as managing director with the organisation. Whitehouse will discuss the technology that they are involved in creating, the satisfaction that comes from seeing that tech...

In this episode of the Defence Connect podcast, host Phil Tarrant is joined by Air Commodore  Mike Kitcher,  Commander Air Combat Group to discuss their position in the development of the future of the Royal Australian Air Force. Kitcher will share his thoughts surrounding the arrival of the F35 fighter jets, and discuss how better connectivity across the ADF will lead to a stronger collective joi...

In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, Henry, business development, and Dent, R&D project manager,from Thales Underwater Systems will unpack the growing synergies between industry and Defence to respond to emerging and existing threats in the underwater domain. The pair will also discuss the growing export opportunities emerging throughout the Indo-Pacific and European regions, on the bac...

2018 has been a year dominated by naval shipbuilding in Australia. Defence Connect Podcast host Phil Tarrant is joined by Rear Admiral Jonathan Mead, Commander of the Australian Fleet, for an in-depth conversation about the $90 billion naval shipbuilding plan, industry opportunities and the operational utility of a larger fleet.   RADM Mead will unpack his experience across Navy's growing procurem...

In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, host Phil Tarrant is joined by Defence Connect journalist Stephen Kuper to discuss the stories that made the most impact on the Defence Connect audience in 2018. They will discuss a year dominated by naval shipbuilding, with almost half of the top 20 stories being centred around the SEA 5000 future frigate program, and both Phil and Stephen will disc...

In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, host Phil Tarrant is joined by the CEO of Thomas Global Systems, Angus Hutchinson, who shares his thoughts surrounding collaboration within the SME sector and discusses the unique position of Thomas Global Systems, which operates across both the defence and civilian sectors. Hutchinson reveals some of the projects that Thomas Global Systems is curren...

In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, host Phil Tarrant is joined by the director of Shadow Business Development, Matt Hill, who will address the benefit for SMEs to seek involvement in trade shows both in Australia and abroad. Hill will share some of his tactics for maximising exposure at these events and how governments push to make Australia a major defence exporter creates huge oppor...

In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, host Phil Tarrant is joined by the deputy CEO and managing director maritime at Babcock Australia and New Zealand Bob Love, who will look back at his long and varied career in defence, and share his thoughts surrounding Australia as a shipbuilding hub. Love will discuss his involvement with Babcock, BMT and the Royal Navy, including his part in the m...

In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, host Phil Tarrant is joined by the chief executive of Israeli start-up Security Matters, Haggai Alon, to discuss how through the identification of a security breach by the Israeli government 12 years ago, they were able to launch a business with an ambitious goal – to be recognised as the global record of physical goods by creating digital twins of p...

In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, host Phil Tarrant is joined by Major General Fergus (Gus) McLachlan AO of the Australian Army, who will discuss how the services are implementing modern leadership and best equipping themselves for the future. MAJGEN McLachlan will discuss the recent Anzac centenary and how, as a department, Army is navigating the task of retaining the spirit and tra...

In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, host Phil Tarrant is joined by Amanda Holt, the chief executive of SYPAQ Systems, who will share her advice for SMEs looking to navigate and capitalise on the Commonwealth government's defence industry export agenda. Holt will address the challenges that they have faced, the importance of Australian Defence Force involvement as a catalyst for creatin...

With drones growing in popularity for recreational and commercial applications, and Australia one of the leaders in utilising the technology in defence industry, the concept of drone safety both in order to protect the machine and also those on the ground is an important consideration. In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, host Phil Tarrant is joined by Eden Attias, the managing director...

Founded by 2017 Australian Young Engineer of the Year Stephen Bornstein, Cyborg Dynamics Engineering has a simple mission to turn great ideas into real products and be a leader in innovation in a variety of engineering sectors, including defence industry. In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, host Phil Tarrant is joined by Bornstein, who will unpack the types of projects the company unde...

Troy Huckstepp has successfully made the transition from uniform to the corporate world after leaving the army and creating his own entity, AGIS, in 2006 with a former colleague. The goal was simple, to provide the same type of services that they were delivering in uniform and deliver that back to defence industry. In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, host Phil Tarrant is joined by chie...

Following his 24 years in defence industry, Riccardo Bosi has seen success as a leader across multiple fields. An author, award-winning speaker, internationally recognised leader and innovator, Bosi has had extensive experience in creating new and developing existing organisations. In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, host Phil Tarrant is joined by Bosi, who will share how developing co...

Since its creation by Prince Harry, the Invictus Games has championed the sporting prowess of wounded, injured or sick armed services personnel and their associated veterans in an international adaptive multi-sport event. In the lead up to the games, which this year runs from 20 - 27 October, host Phil Tarrant is joined by athlete Andrew Wilkinson who will be competing in a total of eight events a...

With development underway in Australia to build a reputable and respected space agency, and $41 million allocated to the sector over a four-year period, executive director of international and national engagement at the Australian Space Agency Karl Rodrigues joins host Phil Tarrant to unpack where that will be invested and their plans to triple the Australian space economy in the next 10 years. Wi...

In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, host Phil Tarrant is joined by founding director of GaardTech Steen Bisgaard, who will unpack how its two-dimensional and three-dimensional technologies are being utilised in defence industry training to ensure a higher success rate on the battlefield. Bisgaard will share how through his history in the defence force he was able to identify a gap in t...

Recorded in our mobile studio in Orlando, host Phil Tarrant is joined by Neil Prescott, the director of business development for Lockheed Martin, to discuss the Australian arrival of the F-35 in December. Prescott will unpack the ongoing debate and concerns about the F-35 platform and the capabilities it will bring to the Royal Australian Air Force, why the program has attracted so many critics, a...

Flinders University is at the front line of defence-oriented research and development in myriad different ways across their campuses. From robotics teams making advances that could keep soldiers out of harm's way, fibre optics technology that is revolutionising battlefield communications, and engineers evolving ways to enhance body mechanics, their students and research are imperative to the futur...

Adam Waldie, SEA 1000 capture leader for Thales, recently joined the Defence Connect Podcast to discuss his role in the program and Thales' relationship with the Australian Defence Force. In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, Adam Waldie returns with David Eyles, capture leader for the SEA 5000 program, where the pair will unpack their involvement across both programs. They will discuss...

South Australia is the national centre of naval shipbuilding and submarine sustainment, and the confirmed location for Australia's next generation Future Submarines and Future Frigates. In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, Chief Executive at Defence SA Richard Price joins host Phil Tarrant to discuss the naval shipbuilding project which will see $250 billion over 30 years spent on naval...