Defence & Security Podcast Network

How can Australia improve veteran support while strengthening recruitment, retention and workforce pathways in the Australian Defence Force?

In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, host Steve Kuper is joined by Minister for Veterans' Affairs and Minister for Defence Personnel Matt Keogh to discuss preparations for Anzac Day, the recently released 2026 National Defence Strategy, and ongoing reforms following the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide.
Minister Keogh outlines key developments in defence capability investment, workforce growth and leadership changes across the ADF.
The discussion explores the importance of supporting veterans through transition into civilian careers and strengthening pathways into defence industry.
The conversation also addresses cultural and generational shifts within the veteran community, including engagement with younger veterans and the role of organisations like the Returned & Services League in a changing landscape.
The podcast conversation includes the following topics:
Upcoming National Defence Strategy and Integrated Investment Program priorities.
Recent ADF leadership appointments and their significance for the future force.
Progress on implementing royal commission recommendations and veteran wellbeing reforms.
Recruitment and retention trends across the ADF, including workforce growth and application improvements.
Veteran employment pathways, skills recognition and transition into civilian and defence industry roles.
Challenges and opportunities in building a representative veteran community voice.
Finally, the discussion reflects on the meaning of Anzac Day, recognising the service and sacrifice of Australian men and women.
Enjoy the podcast,
The Defence Connect team

Welcome to the world of resilient, mission-ready defence systems – welcome to open source.

In this episode of the Defence Connect Spotlight podcast, senior journalist Robert Dougherty is joined by Margaret Dawson, chief marketing officer at SUSE, to explore the evolving role of open source software in modern defence environments.
Dougherty and Dawson discuss how the open-source model is being applied across defence, from enterprise systems to tactical edge environments, where software must operate securely in disconnected, high-risk conditions. Benefits include greater transparency, rapid innovation and scalable collaboration internationally.
Dawson explains how technologies like Linux and Kubernetes support modular, lightweight architectures, allowing defence organisations to deploy and manage applications across diverse and constrained environments.
The conversation also highlights key challenges, including air-gapped systems, security requirements and software supply chain integrity, alongside the role of industry in delivering hardened, compliant solutions.
Looking ahead, the pair touch on the growing influence of artificial intelligence and autonomous systems, and how open-source principles can support faster, more adaptable capability development.
This is more than a technology discussion, it's about enabling resilient, mission-ready defence systems through modern software approaches.
Enjoy the podcast,
The Defence Connect Spotlight team

We are consistently reminded that Australia is a maritime trading nation and, as such, is exposed to all the vulnerabilities. So why haven't we prepared accordingly?
As the ceasefire in the Middle East collapses and both sides begin to once again ramp up their efforts to assert control over the Strait of Hormuz and the globally sensitive waterway, Australia is reminded of its inherent vulnerability to global maritime shocks.
To date, Australia's response to these challenges has been to default to the organs and institutions established by the post-World War II order, seeking arbitration, mediation and resolution, however, those mechanisms no longer suffice.
In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, host Steve Kuper is joined by UNSW's Professor Douglas Guilfoyle and Associate Professor Daniel Prior, authors of the World in Transition report detailing the challenges which face Australia and now thrown into public focus as a result of the conflict in the Middle East.
The trio deep dive into the legal, economic and political challenges that have emerged as a result of the conflict in the Middle East and Australia's mounting issues that will only continue to compound in the coming months.
They also discuss the ramifications of post-Cold War globalisation and the creation and vulnerability of the "just in time" supply chain ecosystems and what can be done to minimise our exposure to these challenges.
Finally, they also interrogate the phenomena of "friendshoring" and "reshoring" as solutions to bringing supply chains closer to home as a means of securing national interests and what models can be leveraged to change Australia's self-inflicted vulnerability.
Enjoy the podcast,
The Contested Ground team

Many organisations struggle with the changing nature of cyber security compliance and regulations – but it can be a powerful force for positive change, according to the head of advisory and assurance at Fujitsu, Laura O'Neill.

Join Cyber Daily's deputy editor, David Hollingworth, and Fujitsu's Laura O'Neill as they take an insightful look at the world of compliance and regulations in the age of AI adoption at scale and an expanding threat landscape.
In this essential podcast, the pair analyse the shift from "compliance" to "continuous cyber accountability" before moving onto critical infrastructure and its modern definition, the challenges of securing ever more complex supply chains and how, at the end of the day, it's all about keeping businesses and their processes ready to face the inevitable without fear.
O'Neill will be a guest at this month's Australian Cyber Summit, along with range of other exceptional speakers and panellists, so get your tickets now!

How is drone racing shaping the future of military capability? And can Australia harness these skills to strengthen its uncrewed systems and workforce?

In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, senior journalist Robert Dougherty is joined by Wing Commander Keirin Joyce, Australian Defence Force Drone Racing Association president and deputy director of disruptive experimentation in the Royal Australian Air Force, to discuss the recent Military International Drone Racing Tournament held in Sydney, where the ADF secured its sixth consecutive team victory amid growing global competition.
WGCDR Joyce holds a bachelor of aeronautical engineering (honours) from the Australian Defence Force Academy and has spent more than two decades in support of the ADF Uncrewed Aerial Systems capability, including deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.
He shares experiences from his most recent speaking engagement at the Deakin Defence Conference in Melbourne and his PhD paper: Barriers to large logistics drones.
The podcast conversation includes the following topics:
How the tournament operates across racing and tactical phases, including payload delivery and aerial interception challenges designed to replicate real-world combat scenarios.
Strong crossover between drone racing and military capability.
Drone racing and ADF drone capability's role in recruitment, STEM engagement and developing a future-ready workforce.
Finally, the discussion looks at evolving drone warfare trends, future ADF integration and opportunities to expand drone racing across services, cadets and veterans.
Enjoy the podcast,
The Defence Connect team