In this episode of Defence Connect Spotlight podcast, Liam Garman sits down with Sibel Aktim, a Macquarie University graduate and intelligence officer, to explore postgraduate courses that are available to assist people with their careers in defence and law enforcement.

Inspired by a lecturer, Aktim pursued a master of intelligence, finding a practical bridge between academic study and real-world intelligence work.

The pair discuss major international experiences undertaken during the course of study at Macquarie University, including research in Fiji and the United States.

They also discuss one of the biggest professional takeaways from postgraduate study, the principle of “BLUF” – bottom line up front – which focuses on concise, decision-ready intelligence without unnecessary “fluff”.

Closing out the podcast, Aktim credits Macquarie University’s intelligence program with preparing her for the demands of front-line intelligence work, from managing biases and working collaboratively with international peers to providing clarity under pressure.

Enjoy the podcast,
The Defence Connect team

In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, Major General (Ret’d) Dr Marcus Thompson, Phil Tarrant and Liam Garman dissect the forces shaping Australia’s national security in an increasingly volatile world.

From the shortage of tradespeople to the sustainability of the nuclear submarine program, the team explores how domestic economic realities – including the property market – intersect with defence capability.

The conversation turns to the AUKUS arrangement, as Thompson questions whether Australia’s defence budget can support the ambitions of the trilateral pact with the United States and the United Kingdom. The hosts unpack the risks of over-prioritising certain branches of the ADF and debate whether political change would have altered the trajectory of defence spending.

The team then discusses the recognition of Palestinian statehood – with conditions excluding Hamas from governance. They assess the potential impact on relations with Israel – a nation that has long shared intelligence and counter-terrorism support with Australia – and on Canberra’s role in Middle Eastern geopolitics.

The discussion also delves into public sentiment, with Tarrant highlighting the humanitarian toll of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, and the difficulty of separating moral imperatives from strategic realities.

Enjoy the podcast,
The Contested Ground team

In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, senior journalist Robert Dougherty is joined by the Australian Defence Industry Awards’ Executive of the Year, Tim Walmsley, to discuss the momentous award and his leadership of the BenchOn global resource and supply platform.

The retired Australian Army Major has completed two master’s degrees – in capability development and acquisition and project management – and has worked as an executive in both government and industry for more than 20 years.

The pair discuss a range of topics regarding the defence industry, including:

• Walmsley’s experience winning the Executive of the Year award and the acknowledgement of the entire defence industry at ADIA in Canberra.
• His thoughts regarding service with the Australian Defence Force and a comparison with working in the defence industry.
• Walmsley’s mentors and the people who have inspired and helped along the way at BenchOn.

The pair wrap up the podcast discussing personal challenges and plans for the future.

Enjoy the podcast,
The Defence Connect team