In this episode of Technology & Security, Dr. Miah Hammond-Errey speaks with Carmen Medina, former CIA executive, influential voice in the U.S. intelligence community and renowned change-maker. Carmen shares insights on leadership, cognitive diversity, and what it really takes to build organisations that can adapt to change. This episode goes beyond the intelligence community—it’s a must-listen for leaders across industries where thinking, analysis, and communication are core to success.

We explore how to harness cognitive diversity, compile high-performing teams, and make intelligence work for decision-makers in real time. There’s practical inspiration, including tools for understanding external change and evolving internal cultures to keep pace. Carmen shares why representation matters and her experience as a Puerto Rican woman in a system shaped by elite norms. She talks about how her background shaped her as a systems thinker and how she eventually embraced her identity to influence change. From YouTube algorithms and competitive pickleball to the power dynamics within national security institutions, this episode unpacks what it means to disrupt from within—and why diverse perspectives are essential to the future of intelligence–and society.

Resources mentioned in the recording

· Carmen Medina, 2015, Who Needs Rebels at Work? Forbes https://www.forbes.com/sites/oreillymedia/2015/01/13/who-needs-rebels-at-work/#7506efbd20a6

· Rebels at Work: A Handbook for Leading Change from Within https://www.rebelsatwork.com/resources

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Gadigal people, and we pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging. We acknowledge their continuing connection to land, sea and community, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Music by Dr Paul Mac and production by Elliott Brennan.

In this episode of Technology & Security, Dr. Miah Hammond-Errey is joined by Professor Lyria Bennett Moses, one of Australia’s foremost experts in technology and law. We explore how government responses to AI often focus on regulating technology rather than addressing the human and social challenges these systems impact. We discuss how to centre humanity in legal responses to technology. We examine regulatory approaches, anti-discrimination laws and governance structures to better address the realities of AI-driven decision-making. As AI is increasingly embedded in daily life, much like past technological shifts, its influence may become invisible, but its impact on knowledge, democracy, and security will be significant.

Future leaders must develop systems thinking, recognising the deep interconnections between technology, law, politics, and security. Education must beyond data literacy to equip students with an understanding of how different systems function and their limitations. AI is reshaping how we access information, formulate ideas, and tell stories and it is shifting power in ways we are only beginning to grasp. In this episode, we explore the evolving role of search and AI-generated knowledge and the geopolitical tensions shaping the future of technology. This thought-provoking conversation will change the way you think about AI, law, knowledge creation and the future of regulation.

Professor Lyria Bennett Moses is the head of the School of Law, Society and Criminology and a professor at the University of New South Wales. She was previously the director of the Allens Hub for technology and has held many academic leadership and research roles related to law, data, cybersecurity and AI. She's worked on AI standards with Standards Australia and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and has published extensively on technology and law. Lyria is a member of numerous editorial boards. She is a fellow of the Australian Academy of Law and Royal Society of New South Wales, and a fellow of the Association of Social Sciences Australia.

Resources mentioned in the recording:

+ The Rest is History podcast (BBC) www.therestishistory.com

+ The Machine Stops, E.M Forster

This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Gadigal people, and we pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging. We acknowledge their continuing connection to land, sea and community, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Music by Dr Paul Mac and production by Elliott Brennan.

In this episode of the Technology & Security podcast, Dr. Miah Hammond-Errey speaks with privacy expert Anna Johnston about the evolving landscape of data privacy, AI governance, and security. With AI dominating the global conversation, this episode explores why strong data governance is the essential—yet often overlooked—foundation for innovation. Anna warns that companies rushing into AI without mature privacy practices risk legal challenges and regulatory crackdowns, including the risk of ‘algorithmic disgorgement’.

With new privacy reforms on the horizon, 2025 is set to be a defining year for digital rights and compliance. The discussion explores major legal shifts in 2025, including Australia’s new statutory privacy tort and a landmark Victorian court decision recognising a common law right to privacy. The episode explores the links between privacy, national security, and algorithmic polarisation as well as mis and disinformation and tech facilitated gender violence—and why privacy law reform is essential to safeguarding democracy. Johnston shares insights on how privacy reform could fix some of these intractable problems. Whether you're a tech leader, policymaker, or privacy-conscious citizen, this episode unpacks critical issues shaping our digital future.