Defence & Security Podcast Network

814 episodes

THE PROGRESS REPORT: 10 Seconds of courage and the ripple effect of mentorship
19/02/2026 | 44 mins.
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
Defence industrial investment, Ghost Bat upgrades and Indonesia's Gaza deployment
19/02/2026 | 40 mins.
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
ADF space personnel, US Secretary of Defense cuts Harvard ties and Sydney protest fallout
12/02/2026 | 34 mins.
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
CYBER UNCUT: French cops target X, inside the 0APT hacking group, and an Epstein files discovery
09/02/2026 | 33 mins.
This week on Cyber Uncut, David Hollingworth and Daniel Croft discuss more trouble for Elon Musk's AI empire, the rise of a very active new ransomware group that may not be what it seems, and an alarming discovery while investigating the latest tranche of Jeffrey Epstein documents.
The pair kick off with news that French police have raided the offices of X, while Aussie activists call on app stores to ban the Grok AI chatbot over its sharing of sexual abuse material. Croft also looks into Moltbook, the new social media platform for AI agents.
In cyber security news, scammers are targeting property investors, with millions of dollars at stake. Other scammers are posing as Australian Federal Police officers to trick victims out of their cryptocurrency, and the brand new 0APT ransomware group has claimed a massive hack of an Australian healthcare provider – but have they really?
Finally, Hollingworth and Croft discover something truly strange about just why their names show up in – of all places – the Epstein files. Let's just say the FBI are regular readers of Cyber Daily.
Enjoy,
The Cyber Uncut team
THE PROGRESS REPORT: From Army engineering to the C-suite – breaking the glass ceiling in Defence
06/02/2026 | 1h
In this episode of The Progress Report, Tash Taylor sits down with Gabby Costigan, a powerhouse leader in the global defence sector and a pioneer for women in STEM. From her early days in the Australian Defence Force to becoming the first female CEO of BAE Systems Australia, Gabby's journey is a masterclass in resilience, career pivoting and leading with purpose.
Beyond the boardroom, Gabby discusses the vital role of mentorship and her deep-rooted passion for advocating for defence families, offering invaluable advice for anyone looking to lead with resilience and purpose.
The Progress Report. New voices. Real stories. Big shifts.
Enjoy the podcast,
The Progress Report team

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About Defence & Security Podcast Network

The Defence & Security Podcast Network hosts a unique series of podcasts, featuring discussions with key enablers from across the Australian defence and security industry. The podcasts provide the perfect blend of business intelligence and insights from a range of guests, which include government officials, ADF personnel, industry stakeholders, and members of the academic community. By aligning ourselves with the ADF and the Commonwealth government, we are uniquely placed to deliver a dynamic 360° platform that bridges the gap between the customer (Defence) and industry. We split our focus not just into the traditional sectors of Land (Army), Air (Air Force) and Sea (Navy), but into the six new Capability Streams: - Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, Electronic Warfare and Cyber - Key Enablers - Air and Sea Lift - Maritime and Anti-Submarine Warfare - Strike and Air Combat - Land Combat and Amphibious Warfare As Defence moves to ensure the Force Structure Review and the First Principles Review: Creating One Defence plans are met, Australian industry involvement is critical for mission success. The Defence & Security Podcast Network will provide you and your business with valuable lessons, tips and insights into the industry, putting your company in the best position to take part in the increased Defence spending. We'll cover every aspect of doing business in the defence industry, from the tender process to recruitment, success stories, access points to Defence, smart business strategies, and geopolitical insights. Subscribe to the Defence & Security Podcast Network and be part of this exciting and innovative industry.

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