The National Security Podcast

In this episode of the National Security Podcast, Kate Clayton and Dom Dwyer join Will Stoltz to discuss how young Australians are seeking to influence policymakers and what can be expected of the next generation of leaders.Young Australians in International Affairs (YAIA) and the Youth National Security Strategy (YNSS) are two organisations seeking to equip the next generation of security and foreign affairs decision-makers to lead in an uncertain world. Through distinctly different approaches they are also supporting amplifying the perspectives and concerns of young Australians in the policy discourses. Kate Clayton from Young Australians in International Affairs and Dom Dwyer from the Youth National Security Strategy join Will Stoltz to discuss how young Australians are seeking to influence policymakers and what can be expected of the next generation of leaders. Kate Clayton is a Research Officer at La Trobe Asia and Chief Operations Officer at Young Australians in International Affairs. Her research

In this episode of the National Security Podcast, Samuel Bashfield and Anthony Bergin join William Stoltz to discuss the importance and vulnerabilities of submarine cables.In the Indo-Pacific, submarine cables carry over 95 per cent of international data traffic, including telephone and data communications. But they are vulnerable to a variety of environmental, accidental and malicious threats. Samuel Bashfield and Dr Anthony Bergin, join Dr William Stoltz, to analyse the current challenges facing undersea cable infrastructure in the Indo-Pacific, and policy recommendations that could increase their resilience. Samuel Bashfield is a PhD candidate and Research Officer at the ANU National Security College. His research engages with Indian Ocean security issues, with a focus on the past, present and future of the Chagos Archipelago (British Indian Ocean Territory).  Dr Anthony Bergin is a Senior Fellow with the Australian Strategic Policy Institute. For 20 years Dr Bergin served as an academic at the

In this episode of the National Security Podcast, Bridi Rice from the Development Intelligence Lab and Erol Yayboke from the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Will Stoltz to discuss the intersection of security and development issues in the Pacific region.Recent events in the Pacific, including the signing of the new Solomon Islands-China security agreement and the regional tour of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, have placed development assistance at the forefront of strategic competition for the region’s future and raised questions about Australia’s current policy settings. With the United States trialing a new approach in Papua New Guinea through its Global Fragility Act, what lessons could Australia learn? What development challenges should Australia focus on in the Pacific? And is geostrategic competition sucking the oxygen from other, more pressing, challenges? Founder and CEO of the Development Intelligence Lab Bridi Rice and Senior Fellow in the International Security Program at the

In this episode of the National Security Podcast, Emily Hitchman and Dr William Stoltz join Professor Rory Medcalf to unpack what ‘secret statecraft’ means in the Australian context and why it should be studied more.Call it intelligence, spying, or covert action, a whole realm of ‘secret’ statecraft operates out of the public eye in Australia, hidden by layers of classification, deniability, and secrecy. Yet — as the recent public address, celebrating the 70th anniversary of the Australian Secret Intelligence Service, from Director-General Paul Symon highlighted — it’s becoming somewhat more transparent in the contemporary era. In this episode of the National Security Podcast, PhD scholar at ANU Strategic and Defence Studies Centre Emily Hitchman and Manager of Policy Engagement at ANU National Security College Dr William Stoltz join Professor Rory Medcalf to unpack what ‘secret statecraft’ means in the Australian context and why it deserves more attention from scholars and policymakers. They explore whe

In this episode of the National Security Podcast, Major General (retd) Duncan Lewis and Professor Caitlin Byrne join Professor Rory Medcalf to discuss the potential policy implications of Australia’s change in government.The 2022 federal election has brought a significant change to Australia’s political landscape. The election of a progressive Labor government led by Anthony Albanese ends nine years of conservative Coalition rule. But what does this mean for Australia’s foreign and security policy settings? To make sense of this shift, Major General Duncan Lewis, former Director-General of the Australian Security Intelligence Origination (ASIO), and Professor Caitlin Byrne, Director of the Griffith Asia Institute, join Professor Rory Medcalf in discussion.Major General (retd) Duncan Lewis AO DSC CSC is Professor in the Practice of National Security at ANU National Security College. Prior to this appointment he served as Director-General of Security and Head of ASIO.Professor Caitlin Byrne is Director, Griffit

In this episode of the National Security Podcast, we bring you the fourth instalment of the Women in National Security mini-series, produced in collaboration with Accenture. In her first-ever public interview in the role, Deputy Director-General of Capability and Corporate Management for the Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS) Catherine Burn joins Gai Brodtmann, National Security College Futures Council member, and Meg Tapia, Principal Director for Defence and National Security at Accenture for the fourth episode in the Women in National Security mini-series. They talk about the reality of Australian spies, the diverse range of recruits that ASIS are looking for, and Catherine’s unique career influences.Catherine Burn was appointed ASIS's Deputy Director-General Capability and Corporate Management in April 2018. Prior to this, Catherine had a distinguished career with the New South Wales Police Force reaching the rank of Deputy Commissioner. In 2011, Catherine was announced as the Telstra Austr

In this episode of the National Security Podcast, Policy Adviser at ANU National Security College Felicity Millar investigates several national security policy issues with expert commentators in the lead up to the 2022 federal election.With the 2022 federal election fast approaching, it’s time to assess the range of national security policies on offer to the electorate. In this episode, Felicity Millar is joined by four experts – Senior Lecturer at ANU Strategic and Defence Studies Centre Andrew Carr, Senior Policy Fellow at the Perth USAsia Centre Hayley Channer, Associate Professor in the Faculty of Law at Bond University Danielle Ireland-Piper, and Director of Ethical Intelligence and former Director-General of Emergency Management Australia Mark Croswell – to explore the policies on offer in 2022 in four key areas: defence, domestic security, international partnerships, and disaster resilience. They identify areas of bipartisanship, note policy differences where they exist, and highlight areas of potentia

In this episode of the National Security Podcast, Anna Powles and Henry Ivarature join Rory Medcalf to discuss the controversial Solomon Islands-China security deal and the major challenges it presents for Australia and its neighbours in the Pacific. The recently-signed Solomon Islands-China security deal raises many questions about sovereignty and the national interest – of Solomon Islands, Australia, and their neighbours in the region – as well as claims it could lead to a Chinese military base in the Pacific. In this episode of the National Security Podcast, Senior Lecturer at the Centre for Defence and Security Studies, Massey University Dr Anna Powles and Pacific Fellow at ANU Australia Pacific Security College Dr Henry Ivarature join Head of ANU National Security College Professor Rory Medcalf to unpack these issues and more.Dr Anna Powles is a Senior Lecturer at the Centre for Defence and Security Studies, Massey University. Her research in the Pacific is focused on how state and non-state ac

In this episode of the National Security Podcast, we bring you the third instalment of the Women in National Security mini-series, produced in collaboration with Accenture.In this episode of the National Security Podcast, hosts Gai Brodtmann, National Security College Futures Council member, and Meg Tapia, Principal Director for Defence and National Security at Accenture, are joined by Head of the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) and Deputy Director-General of the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) Abigail Bradshaw CSC. Abigail explains the steps the ACSC has taken to achieve gender balance in their workforce and how they support working families. They also discuss her love of leadership and approach to helping others become amazing leaders themselves.Abigail Bradshaw CSC is the Head of the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) and Deputy Director-General of the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD). She worked in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, most recently as the Deputy Coordina

In this episode of the National Security Podcast, the European Union and French ambassadors to Australia join Professor Rory Medcalf to discuss the EU Strategy for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific ahead of the EU Indo-Pacific Forum, which will be hosted by ANU National Security College on 25 May 2022.Why does the Indo-Pacific matter to the European Union? What is the significance of the European Union’s Indo-Pacific strategy? And how does the European Union see itself engaging in the Indo-Pacific in the future? The European Union’s Ambassador to Australia, His Excellency Dr Michael Pulch, and France’s Ambassador to Australia, His Excellency Jean-Pierre Thébault — representing the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union — join Head of ANU National Security College Professor Rory Medcalf to explore how the European Union is engaging with the strategic challenges and opportunities in the Indo-Pacific.This conversation precedes the upcoming EU Indo-Pacific Forum – hosted by ANU National Securit

In this episode of the National Security Podcast, James Mortensen and Anastasia Kapetas join Will Stoltz to explore the increasing threat of natural disasters in Australia and the role of the Australian Defence Force in responding to them.In recent years, Australia has faced a series of devastating natural disasters – on the back of intense bushfires and cyclones, thousands of Australians are currently grappling with the impact of historic flooding. With these events happening more frequently, what threat does climate change pose to Australia’s national security? And is the Australian Defence Force properly prepared to deliver the disaster support it keeps being asked to provide? On this National Security Podcast, Lecturer at ANU National Security College Dr James Mortensen and National Security Editor at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute Anastasia Kapetas join Dr Will Stoltz to explore these issues. Dr James Mortensen is a Lecturer at ANU National Security College where he currently teaches sev

In this episode of the National Security Podcast, Tanvi Madan and Ben Herscovitch join Rory Medcalf in conversation to look at what impact the war on Ukraine might have on diplomacy in the Indo-Pacific.How should India’s response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine be interpreted? What has China learned from Russia’s strategic miscalculations? And how will the war shift the diplomatic landscape in the Indo-Pacific? In this episode of the National Security Podcast, Tanvi Madan, Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution, and Ben Herscovitch, Research Fellow at ANU National Security College, join Professor Rory Medcalf to analyse the impact Russia’s invasion of Ukraine may have on diplomacy in the Indo-Pacific. This discussion was recorded on Tuesday 29 March, before the reports emerged of atrocities committed by Russian troops in Bucha, Ukraine.Tanvi Madan is a Senior Fellow in the Project on International Order and Strategy in the Foreign Policy program, and Director of The India Project at the Brookings

In this episode of the National Security Podcast, we bring you the second instalment of the Women in National Security mini-series, produced in collaboration with Accenture. In this episode of the National Security Podcast, hosts Gai Brodtmann, National Security College Futures Council member, and Meg Tapia, Principal Director for Defence and National Security at Accenture, are joined by Air Vice-Marshal Catherine Roberts, the inaugural head of the Australian Defence Force’s new Space Command. They delve into what it means for Australia to have a Space Command, the importance of gender diversity in STEM, and Catherine’s advice for taking control of your own career. Air Vice-Marshal Catherine Roberts AO CSC is the inaugural Defence Space Commander. AVM Roberts joined the Royal Australian Air Force in 1983 as a specialist in aerospace engineering at the Aircraft Research and Development Unit and has held more than 20 roles throughout her Air Force career.Gai Brodtmann is a member of the ANU National S

In this episode of the National Security Podcast, His Excellency the Hon George Brandis QC, Australia’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, joins Will Stoltz to discuss Australia’s relationship with the United Kingdom and the ongoing war in Ukraine.The UK-Australia relationship is at a high-water mark of trust and collaboration, cemented by the AUKUS Pact, the UK-Australia free trade agreement, and a united response to Russia’s war on Ukraine. But can the United Kingdom keep one eye on the Indo-Pacific while a crisis unfolds in Europe? And what comes next for cooperation between the two countries? In this episode of the National Security Podcast, Dr Will Stoltz speaks with His Excellency the Hon George Brandis QC at Australia House in London to discuss the High Commissioner’s assessment of Australia’s response to the invasion of Ukraine, his priorities as head of mission, and his passion for world affairs.His Excellency the Hon George Brandis QC is Australia’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom. A b

In this episode of the National Security Podcast, investigative journalist Sean Rubinsztein-Dunlop joins Will Stoltz to discuss his time reporting from the war in Ukraine and the importance of public interest journalism.Has the role of war correspondents changed following one of the most broadcast conflicts in history? How do reporters avoid enabling disinformation campaigns? And are citizen journalists helping or hindering public understanding of the conflict in Ukraine? Sean Rubinsztein-Dunlop has been reporting on Russia’s war on Ukraine for Australia’s national broadcaster. In this episode of the National Security Podcast, he joins Will Stoltz to discuss his recent experiences in Europe and the importance of public interest journalism. Sean Rubinsztein-Dunlop is a reporter with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)’s Investigations Unit. A former investigative reporter for the 7.30 program and police reporter for ABC News, Sean’s assignments have taken him to the Middle East, Africa, Asia and

In this episode of the National Security Podcast, Helen Mitchell and Dirk van der Kley join Will Stoltz to examine the so-called unprecedented regime of economic sanctions targeting Russia following its invasion of Ukraine.What are sanctions, and how do they work in practice? Which, if any, of the sanctions imposed on Russia are unprecedented, and will they have the desired impact? And how might economic statecraft be irrevocably changed following the conflict in Ukraine? Sir Roland Wilson Scholar Helen Mitchell and Research Fellow at ANU School of Regulation and Global Governance Dr Dirk van der Kley join Senior Fellow for Public Policy at ANU National Security College Dr Will Stoltz to examine the economic statecraft at play, discuss the prominence of sanctions in the crisis response, and evaluate how they fit into the long-term strategic planning of liberal-democratic countries, especially in relation to China’s objectives in Taiwan.Helen Mitchell is a Sir Roland Wilson PhD Scholar at The Australian N

In this episode of the National Security Podcast, Sir Lawrence Freedman joins Professor Rory Medcalf in conversation to discuss Russia’s war on Ukraine.How could Russia’s war on Ukraine war end? Is there a credible path to lasting peace? How concerned should the international community be about the nuclear dimension of this war? On this episode of the National Security Podcast, Professor Sir Lawrence Freedom from King’s College London joins Head of ANU National Security College Professor Rory Medcalf in conversation.Professor Sir Lawrence Freedman is Emeritus Professor of War Studies, King's College London. He was Professor of War Studies from 1982 to 2014 and Vice-Principal from 2003 to 2013. Before joining King's he held research appointments at Nuffield College Oxford, the International Institute for Strategic Studies and the Royal Institute of International Affairs.Professor Rory Medcalf is Head of the ANU National Security College. His professional experience spans more than two decades across diplomacy,

In this episode of the National Security Podcast, we are joined by Nina Davidson, Deputy Director-General Intelligence at the Office of National Intelligence, to bring you the first instalment of the Women in National Security mini-series, produced in collaboration with Accenture.In this episode of the National Security Podcast, hosts Gai Brodtmann, National Security College Futures Council member, and Meg Tapia, Principal Director for Defence and National Security at Accenture, are joined by Nina Davidson, Deputy Director-General Intelligence at the Office of National Intelligence. In this candid conversation they explore the myths surrounding national security, reveal the national intelligence issues on Nina’s radar, and reflect on her career journey so far. Nina Davidson is Deputy Director-General Intelligence at the Office of National Intelligence (ONI). She joined ONI in October 2021 following six years as Head of Office at the Australian Government’s Productivity Commission.Gai Brodtmann is a membe

In this episode of the National Security Podcast, Mick Ryan, Katherine Mansted, Rory Medcalf and Will Stoltz discuss their initial reactions to the unfolding conflict in Ukraine.Whether Kyiv endures Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion, or is overwhelmed, the lessons of this conflict will redefine global security for decades. In this episode of the National Security Podcast, former Commander of the Australian Defence College Major General (Rtd) Mick Ryan, Director of Cyber Intelligence at Cyber CX Katherine Mansted, Head of ANU National Security College Professor Rory Medcalf and Senior Adviser for Public Policy at ANU National Security College Dr Will Stoltz discuss their initial reactions to the unfolding conflict in Ukraine, foreshadow the work to come, and evaluate the potential consequences of this war in Europe. This episode is the first instalment in a series of conversations on the National Security Podcast which will explore the enduring ramifications of the war in Ukraine. Future episode

In this episode of the National Security Podcast, we’re sharing something special – a taste of the new Women in National Security (WiNS) mini-series, produced in collaboration with Accenture.Join hosts Gai Brodtmann and Meg Tapia in lively conversations with Australia’s female national security leaders and rising stars. Each month, Gai and Meg give listeners an exclusive peek behind the national security curtain, exploring the careers, perspectives and leadership lessons of the women playing vital roles tackling our biggest national security challenges. Showcasing the influential women forging the future of our intelligence, defence and national security sectors, WiNS gives you an insider’s view into Australia’s national security community. Gai Brodtmann is a member of the ANU National Security College (NSC)'s Futures Council, having previously served as a diplomat, defence consultant, Member of Parliament, Shadow Assistant Minister for Cyber Security and Defence and Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for De