This week on Cyber Uncut, David Hollingworth and Daniel Croft unpack the week's cyber and AI news and entertain a special guest to boot!

The pair kick off the podcast discussing Qantas facing a backlash over a series of job cuts that may be informed by the company embracing AI, while WiseTech's announcement of 2,000 job cuts definitely is driven by AI uptake. The pair also talk about CrowdStrike's latest research, which shows hackers are embracing AI as much as everyone else.

Hollingworth then unpacks a hacking spree targeting Australian small and medium-sized businesses by the Qilin ransomware operation, as well as a hack that has taken a major Aussie poultry producer offline. The pair also discuss the implications of an Australian man charged for selling cyber secrets to a broker linked to Russia.

Hollingworth introduces this week's guest, ProofPoint CEO Sumit Dhawan, before the pair have a chat about agentic AI threats and how CISOs can educate their boards, and then they have a look at a more lighthearted – somewhat – sex toy data breach.

Enjoy,
The Cyber Uncut team

In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, senior journalist Robert Dougherty is joined by Trevor Fortner, a former US Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal specialist, Blackwater PMC contractor and current EverydaySpy consultant.

Fortner has formerly served as a US Navy EOD master training specialist and operated alongside Tier 1 units, including SEAL Team Six and Delta Force.

He previously led Blackwater's ambassador protection detail, served as a tactical commander for the US ambassador's diplomatic security service protection detail in Iraq, trained personnel with the United Arab Emirates Presidential Guard and Iraqi counter-terrorism units.

He now works as a principal engineer and test architect at Raytheon Missiles & Defense.

• During the podcast, the pair discuss the modern battlefield and future warfare topics, including:
• An insight into the world of Navy EOD and the unique demands of elite special operations training.
• The intelligence, preparation and leadership required for high-risk capture missions, such as the recent US actions in Venezuela.
• Public misconceptions surrounding private military contractors and how the industry has evolved since Iraq and Afghanistan.
• The military strategy shift towards network-centric warfare, artificial intelligence-enabled decision making and industrial resilience.
• The US military's renewed focus on standards, accountability and the resurgence of "warrior culture".

The pair close out the discussion with a rapid-fire round of questions relating to Fortner's military training experience.

Enjoy the podcast,
The Defence Connect team

Defence Connect undertook the above podcast with cooperation from online digital learning platform EverydaySpy. For more information about EverydaySpy, visit the following links.

Find your Spy Superpower: https://yt.everydayspy.com/4aXS3qi
Explore Spy School: https://everydayspy.com/
Listen to the podcast: https://youtube.com/@EverydaySpyPodcast
Learn from a CIA Spy: https://youtube.com/@Andrew-Bustamante

In this episode of the Contested Ground Podcast, hosts Steve Kuper and Liam Garman speak with Agsecure's Andrew Henderson as they unpack the recently released US food security strategy.

The trio unpack the details underpinning the pivot in American thinking resulting in the development of the food security strategy.

They also discuss the key priorities and focus areas identified in the food security strategy, ranging from concerns around biosecurity, foreign ownership of agricultural land through to supply chain bottlenecks and constraints for key inputs.

The trio also unpack the lessons for Australia as we begin our own national conversation about our food security and the challenges we face despite exporting 70 per cent of our annual agricultural produce.

Enjoy the Podcast
The Contested Ground team

In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, host Bethany Alvaro is joined by Graeme Bulte, founder and chief executive officer of Aquaterro, as they discuss developments in next-generation small arms and the company's growing role across defence and law enforcement capability.

The pair discuss Aquaterro's collaborations with global partners as well as emerging technology in hybrid ammunition, projectile design and advanced soldier systems.

They also discuss a range of topics, including:

• Highlights from SHOT Show 2026 and key technology trends across small arms, optics, thermal imaging and helmet systems.
• Developments in the US Next Generation Squad Weapon program, including SIG Sauer's M7 program, hybrid ammunition technology and evolving projectile design.
• Implications for Australia's small arms modernisation efforts, including LAND 159 and lessons from overseas programs such as the United Kingdom's Project Grayburn.
• Opportunities and considerations for sovereign manufacturing in Australia, including local assembly, supply chain integration and ammunition production.
• Aquaterro's expanding capabilities across body armour, helmet systems, textile design and domestic manufacturing for defence and law enforcement customers.
• The until-now unannounced appointment of Major General (Ret'd) Fergus "Gus" McLachlan and former Victoria Police deputy commissioner Ross Guenther APM to Aquaterro's board, strengthening governance and strategic guidance.

Enjoy the podcast,
The Defence Connect team

This week on Cyber Uncut, David Hollingworth and Bethany Alvaro talk about how Australia is lagging in AI adoption, the grey areas of facial recognition and surveillance, the alarming youX data breach, and Hollingworth's visit to Montreal to chat about physical security with Genetec.

The pair kick off with news from Deloitte regarding an alarming slowdown in AI adoption across Australian enterprises, while Bethany picks apart her concerns over surveillance technologies and why facial recognition may well have a place in Australian stores.

This is followed by Hollingworth talking about a recent trip to Montreal, where he was a guest of physical security firm Genetec. He got to see its impressive technology in action and sat down with the company's principal security architect and manager, Mathieu Chevalier, on the intersection of physical and cyber security.

Plus, the pair go into the details of a data breach impacting hundreds of thousands of Australians after a hacker penetrated the network of Aussie fintech outfit youX, and what the breach means for the company's customers.

Enjoy,
The Cyber Uncut team

How does a law student's "gap year" in recruitment turn into a 17-year career leading operations in the defence sector?

In this episode, Amelia De Angelis, chief operating officer of Kinexus, shares her journey from industry outsider to co-founding The Future Through Collaboration, a program that has mentored over 600 women.

Amelia discusses the importance of "embracing your awkward self" and why the myth of "work-life balance" should be replaced by her "glass balls and bouncy balls" philosophy – learning which priorities are fragile and which are OK to drop.

From navigating the steep learning curve of defence to coaching community basketball, Amelia explains how a simple "10 seconds of courage" can define a career and create a lasting ripple effect of leadership.

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

Enjoy the podcast,
The Progress Report team

In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, Stephen Kuper is joined by Robert Dougherty and Bethany Alvaro to unpack major developments in defence innovation, autonomous air combat and shifting alliance dynamics.

The discussion begins with the federal government's proposed $500 million co-investment fund aimed at accelerating defence technologies, including artificial intelligence, cyber security, autonomous systems, electronic warfare and quantum capabilities.

Attention then turns to the US Collaborative Combat Aircraft program, where Shield AI will integrate its Hivemind autonomy software into Anduril Industries' Fury aircraft.

Regionally, the team assesses Indonesia's plan to contribute troops to a Gaza stabilisation force under diplomatic efforts led by President Donald Trump, and what it could mean for Australia's own policy settings.

They also discuss confirmation that Papua New Guinea military personnel will receive Australian Combat Assault Rifles made by Thales Australia.

The episode concludes with analysis of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's Munich Security Conference speech on allied burden-sharing, before finishing on a lighter note with new military working dog facilities at RAAF Base Tindal.

Enjoy the podcast,
The Defence Connect team

In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, senior journalist Robert Dougherty is joined by journalist Bethany Alvaro to unpack a week spanning government conflict of interest concerns, Defence space capability updates and anti-Israel protests in Sydney.

The discussion opens on the scrutiny surrounding Paul Brereton, commissioner of the National Anti-Corruption Commission, and questions over the disclosure of his advisory work with the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force on Afghanistan matters, raising conflict of interest concerns and political criticism.

Attention then turns to the ADF's new space operations roles, highlighting the growing importance of satellite communications, cyber capabilities and emerging domains in future force structure.

The team also examines the US Department of Defense decision to cut ties with Harvard University from 2026–27, plus the ideological and national security concerns, alongside broader implications for civil–military academic partnerships.

Down Under, the pair revisits continuing coverage of the recent Defence Estate Audit report and concerns from the Returned & Services League Australia and Australian Army cadet organisations over the proposed sale of historic sites.

The episode concludes with an analysis of protests in Sydney following the visit of Israeli President Isaac Herzog and allegations of excessive from the NSW Police Force.

Enjoy the podcast
The Defence Connect team