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

In this episode of Defence Connect Spotlight podcast, Liam Garman sits down with Dr Gary Eves, principal technology officer at CAE, to explore how cutting-edge training and simulation are reshaping the way the ADF prepares for tomorrow’s battles.

The discussion dives into CAE’s Integrated Learning Environment, a platform that unites instructors, simulators and analytics into a single, adaptable framework capable of accelerating skills development while reducing attrition.

Eves also unpacks how modern recruits have become digital natives, with high expectations for flexible, engaging learning and are driving transformation in training delivery, and why embracing contemporary learning science is vital for resilience, scalability and team performance in a rapidly evolving defence landscape.

Whether it’s fast-tracking pilots, optimising submarine crews or honing high-performance teams, this conversation offers a glimpse into the future of warfighter preparation and the technology making it possible.

Enjoy the podcast,
The Defence Connect Team

In this episode of the Cyber Uncut podcast, David Hollingworth and Daniel Croft discuss the future of AI and copyright in Australia, ShinyHunters and their relationship to the Scattered Spider hacking collective, and a new ransomware operator targeting small businesses in the ANZ region.

• Hollingworth and Croft kick open things up with a discussion on the Australian Productivity Commission’s suggestion that AI regulations in Australia should be eased, an idea that the pair are not impressed by.
• After a short chat on the latest developments with Elon Musk’s Grok AI, Hollingworth and Croft discuss the latest wave of Salesforce-related hacks and the possible links between two hacking groups, ShinyHunters and Scattered Spider.
• The pair wrap things up with the emergence of a new ransomware operation that has already targeted businesses in Australia and New Zealand. Called PEAR, the group focuses purely on data theft over encryption, which seems to be an emerging trend in ransomware operations.

Enjoy the episode,
The Cyber Uncut team

In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, Major General (Ret’d) Dr Marcus Thompson and Phil Tarrant are joined by Simon Bergman, CEO of M+C Saatchi World Services, to unpack the evolving landscape of grey zone warfare and the role of creative industries in modern conflict.

Drawing on decades of operational and commercial experience, Bergman explores how advertising expertise is being harnessed to support government information operations: crafting narratives, influencing audiences, and shaping perceptions in the contested information environment.

Thompson and Bergman discuss the cultural and operational divide between government and industry, and how M+C Saatchi World Services is bridging this gap through a hybrid team of former military personnel and creative professionals. Together, they examine how this model can enable faster, more effective responses in the grey zone.

The conversation also turns to the impact of artificial intelligence on information warfare. While acknowledging AI’s ability to enhance speed and reach, Bergman stresses the irreplaceable value of human insight in crafting authentic, effective messaging.

Finally, the team reflects on Australia’s information warfare capability, with Thompson calling for greater investment and deeper collaboration with industry to keep pace with adversaries operating below the threshold of open conflict.

Enjoy the podcast,
The Contested Ground team

In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, senior journalist Robert Dougherty is joined by naval warfare expert Jennifer Parker to discuss the recent decision by the Australian government to select the advanced Mogami Class frigate, manufactured by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Mitsui E&S Shipbuilding, for the $10 billion SEA 3000 General Purpose Frigate program.

Parker is an adjunct fellow in naval studies at UNSW Canberra, expert associate at the National Security College, Australian National University and has previously served for more than 20 years with the Royal Australian Navy.

The pair discuss a range of details regarding the recent general purpose frigate decision, including:

• Why the advanced Mogami Class frigate was considered to be the preferred platform for the Royal Australian Navy’s future fleet of general purpose frigates over the German TKMS bid of the MEKO A-200 frigate platform.
• The early rumours surrounding the commercial contest and the diplomatic considerations of choosing a Japanese manufactured frigate.
• Frigate capabilities and personnel characteristics, such as vertical launch systems and possible mine warfare systems.
• Speculation that Department of Defence personnel preferred the MEKO A-200 frigate design and why that may have been the case.
• Discussion around the press conference jab from Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy that the government would be “learning a lesson from the previous Coalition government” by not making major changes to the design.
• Predictions about how the new general purpose frigates will perform against a wave of newly built warships from the People’s Republic of China.

Enjoy the podcast,
The Defence Connect Team

What does it really take to build strength and community when your family is moving at a moment’s notice – and how do you turn that experience into creating meaningful support for veterans and their spouses?

In this episode of The Progress Report, Defence Connect’s Tash Taylor sits down with Julie Hall who comes from a proud family with deep roots in the Australian Defence Force. As a passionate advocate for veteran families and the driving force behind the CommBank for Veterans program, Julie shares how her own connection to service inspired her mission to support those who give so much.

From juggling life across multiple cities and military moves to launching initiatives that help veterans start businesses and find financial security, Julie opens up about the challenges faced by defence families and how resilience becomes part of their DNA.

From sacrifices made to tight-knit communities that form, together they unpack what it means to work with heart, build networks, and champion ideas that change lives.

The Progress Report. New voices. Real stories. Big shifts.

Enjoy the podcast,
The Progress Report team