Explore every episode of the podcast The National Security Podcast
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| AI, rights and rules: who’s accountable in an automated world? | 05 Jun 2025 | 00:43:14 | |
Can differing global approaches to AI regulation and investment work together, or are we headed toward fragmented, siloed systems? How can AI governance in developing nations be supported as part of regional aid and security agendas? What challenges does Australia face in regulating AI without a national bill of rights or federal human rights charter? Should governments mandate the inclusion of human oversight in all AI-powered decisions? In this episode, Sarah Vallee and Maria O’Sullivan join David Andrews to talk about how AI is impacting national security, with a focus on AI governance models and mass-surveillance. Maria O’Sullivan is an Associate Professor at Deakin Law School. She's a member of the Deakin Cyber Research and Innovation Centre. Sarah Vallee is a specialist in AI Policy and Governance. She's a Fellow at the UTS Human Technology Institute, sponsored by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. David Andrews is Senior Manager, Policy & Engagement at the ANU National Security College.
Show notes
We'd love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to NatSecPod@anu.edu.au. You can tweet us @NSC_ANU and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Australia decides 2025: national security priorities | 29 May 2025 | 00:46:25 | |
How is the re-elected Labor Government expected to approach national security and foreign policy in its new term of office? Can Australia strike a sustainable balance between its alliance with the United States and its complex relationship with China? Is the future of the AUKUS agreement secure? What more can the government do to strengthen Australia’s national security through improved preparedness and resilience? In this episode, David Andrews, Will Leben and Bec Strating join Sally Bulkeley to discuss the outcomes of the 2025 Australian Federal Election, what’s in store of the re-elected Albanese Government and the implications for our national security agenda. William Leben is Senior Analyst at The Development Lab and an Expert Associate at the ANU National Security College (NSC). Professor Bec Strating is the Director of La Trobe Asia and a Professor of International Relations at La Trobe University. She is also an Expert Associate at NSC. David Andrews is Senior Manager, Policy & Engagement at NSC. Sally Bulkeley is Deputy Head of College at NSC, on secondment from the Department of Defence. Show notes
We'd love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to NatSecPod@anu.edu.au.You can contact us on X (formerly Twitter) @NSC_ANU and Bluesky @nscanu.bsky.social, and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Russia, the US, and the (uncertain) future of “the West” | 20 Mar 2025 | 00:49:37 | |
What parallels can be drawn between Russia’s democratic decline and challenges facing the US and other Western democracies? What are the prospects for genuine peace after Putin's invasion of Ukraine? With the US’ shifting priorities, how does Europe’s response to Russian aggression inform Australia’s own security outlook? In this episode, Peter Tesch and Mikhail Zygar join Rory Medcalf for a discussion on the evolving role and influence of Russia in the global order, the impending challenges of the war in Ukraine, and the role that the US and Europe will play in this equation. Mikhail Zygar is a leading journalist, writer, commentator, filmmaker and expert on Russian affairs. He was also the founding editor-in-chief of Russian news channel TV Rain. Peter Tesch is a Distinguished Advisor with the ANU National Security College (NSC) and a leading Australian diplomat and policy official. Professor Rory Medcalf AM is Head of NSC. His professional experience spans more than three decades across diplomacy, intelligence analysis, think tanks, journalism and academia.
Show notes
We'd love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to NatSecPod@anu.edu.au. You can tweet us @NSC_ANU and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Guardians of this land: a First Nations perspective on security | 04 May 2023 | 00:51:01 | |
What can we learn from First Nations Australians about our obligation to country? And is enough being done to protect native title owners from foreign interference? In this episode of the National Security Podcast, Lieutenant Colonel Eileen Hall and Dr Danielle Ireland-Piper discuss what security means from an Indigenous Australian perspective, and how cultural knowledge and cultural safety can directly impact domestic and regional security. Lieutenant Colonel Eileen Hall is the Australian Army's first Command Cultural Advisor to the Regional Force Surveillance Group. Dr Danielle Ireland-Piper is an Associate Professor and Academic Convenor at the ANU National Security College. Show notes:
We’d love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to NatSecPod@anu.edu.au. You can tweet us @NSC_ANU and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes. The National Security Podcast is available on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Climate science as intelligence: Antarctica’s strategic value | 27 Apr 2023 | 00:34:10 | |
What are Australia’s strategic interests in Antarctica? What role does the continent play in climate science? And what does Australia stand to gain from investment in the region? In this episode of the National Security Podcast, Dr James Mortensen and Isabelle Bond, authors of recent NSC Policy Options Paper Cold logic: getting intelligent about Antarctica, join William Leben to discuss the geopolitics of Antarctica.
James Mortensen is a Lecturer at the ANU National Security College. Isabelle Bond is a Research Assistant at the ANU National Security College. William Leben is a Senior Research Officer at the ANU National Security College. Show notes:
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Bots, trolls and geopolitics: examining the dark side of social media | 20 Apr 2023 | 00:46:05 | |
While social media has many benefits, there are a growing number of users – both human and machine – spreading harmful disinformation and misinformation on these networks. What is the difference between disinformation and misinformation? How do different actors – both state and non-state – affect society and geopolitics using social media? And what steps can be taken to overcome these challenges? In this episode of the National Security Podcast, Associate Professor Darren Linvill from Clemson University and Associate Professor Will Grant from ANU, join David Andrews in conversation to discuss the state of disinformation and misinformation on social media. Darren Linvill is an Associate Professor and Co-director of the Clemson University Media Forensics Hub. He studies state-affiliated social media information operations. Will J Grant is Associate Professor at The Australian National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science at ANU, where he researches the interaction of science and politics. He podcasts on science at The Wholesome Show. David Andrews is the acting Policy Manager at the ANU National Security College. Show notes:
We’d love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to NatSecPod@anu.edu.au. You can tweet us @NSC_ANU and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes. The National Security Podcast is available on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| An integral part of governing: Women, Peace and Security | 13 Apr 2023 | 00:44:27 | |
What is the Women, Peace and Security framework and how did it come about? What was this agenda designed to do, and has it achieved the original ambition? In this episode of the National Security Podcast, Professor Jacqui True from Monash University, and Lisa Sharland from the Stimson Centre, join Gai Brodtmann in conversation to unpack the Women Peace and Security agenda 23 years on from its creation. Jacqui True is a Professor of international relations and Director of the Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence for The Elimination of Violence Against Women. Lisa Sharland is a Senior Fellow and Director of the Protecting Civilians & Human Security Program at the Stimson Centre in Washington DC. Gai Brodtmann is a Distinguished Advisor to the ANU National Security College, having previously served as a diplomat, defence consultant, Member of Parliament, Shadow Assistant Minister for Cyber Security and Defence and Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Defence. Show notes:
We’d love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to NatSecPod@anu.edu.au. You can tweet us @NSC_ANU and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes. The National Security Podcast is available on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Beyond the ‘comfort zone’: Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy | 06 Apr 2023 | 00:58:20 | |
How will Canada engage with partners in the Indo-Pacific? What does its new Indo-Pacific Strategy outline for the years ahead? And how does this document shed light on the nation’s strategic outlook? In this episode of the National Security Podcast, Jonathan Berkshire Miller and Paul Chamberlain join David Andrews in conversation to examine Canada’s recent Indo-Pacific Strategy, its interests in the region and what it aims to achieve. Jonathan Berkshire Miller is Senior Fellow and Director of the Foreign Affairs, National Security and Defence Program at the Ottawa-based Macdonald Laurier Institute. He also holds concurrent roles as Senior Fellow at the Tokyo-based Japan Institute of International Affairs, and the Asian Forum Japan. Paul Chamberlain is a PhD candidate at the Strategic and Defence Studies Centre at The Australian National University. His research is on the role of navies in statecraft in the Indo-Pacific. David Andrews is the acting Policy Manager at the ANU National Security College. Show notes:
We’d love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to NatSecPod@anu.edu.au. You can tweet us @NSC_ANU and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes. The National Security Podcast is available on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Why big tech is now in the geopolitical driver’s seat | 30 Mar 2023 | 00:47:26 | |
Technological innovation is now one of the most consequential realms of geopolitical contestation. And in the era of big tech, the private sector has assumed power that once resided with governments. In response, we’ve seen a reassertion of industry policy, with governments trying to re-establish control.
What happens to Australia’s national security when private companies, such as TikTok, are in the geopolitical driver’s seat? And how can policymakers keep up with this ever-changing industry? In this episode of the National Security Podcast, Bec Shrimpton from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, joins Katherine Mansted in conversation to explore the rapidly changing landscape of big tech. Bec Shrimpton is a Director at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, responsible for convening The Sydney Dialogue. Katherine Mansted is a Senior Fellow at the ANU National Security College, and the Director of Cyber Intelligence and Public Policy at CyberCX. Show notes:
We’d love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to NatSecPod@anu.edu.au. You can tweet us @NSC_ANU and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes. The National Security Podcast is available on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Gaining strategic advantage through cultural and linguistic diversity | 23 Mar 2023 | 00:25:20 | |
Australia’s culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) population is under-represented in the national security community. In the latest National Security Podcast mini-series, Olivia Shen and Meg Tapia explore this gap — its causes, effects and potential solutions — and analyse the role of CALD in promoting strategic advantage.
Coinciding with Harmony Week, in the first episode of the mini-series, Carl Chang from the Office of National Intelligence joins Olivia and Meg. They unpack what CALD is and its value in a security context, sharing stories of how they each ended up in the national security community.
Carl Chang is co-leader of the Mission Management Division at the Office of National Intelligence (ONI) and is ONI's Cultural and Linguistic Diversity Champion.
Olivia Shen is a Director in the Executive and Professional Development team at the ANU National Security College.
Meg Tapia is Principal Director of Defence and National Security at Accenture Australia. Show notes:
We’d love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to NatSecPod@anu.edu.au. You can tweet us @NSC_ANU and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes. The National Security Podcast is available on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Australia’s population 'reality check' | 16 Mar 2023 | 00:44:41 | |
Australia’s most recent Population Statement details the early impacts of the COVID‑19 pandemic and projects where the nation’s population is heading over the next decade. How can this information be used to inform policy and decision-making in pursuit of a secure Australian future? In this episode of the National Security Podcast, Dr Liz Allen, demographer and Senior Lecturer at the ANU Center for Social Research and Methods, joins Dr Will Stoltz to discuss the state of Australia's population and what needs to be done to prepare for an increasingly complex strategic environment. Dr Liz Allen is a demographer and Senior Lecturer at the ANU Centre for Social Research and Methods. Dr William A Stoltz is the former Policy Director at the ANU National Security College. Show notes:
We’d love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to NatSecPod@anu.edu.au. You can tweet us @NSC_ANU and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes. The National Security Podcast is available on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| ANZUS, AUKUS and everything in between: Australians’ views of the US Alliance | 09 Mar 2023 | 00:46:52 | |
The Alliance with the United States is historically one of the most important aspects of Australia’s strategic policy — including in relation to Australia’s response to the changing strategic environment in the Indo-Pacific. Recent qualitative research on Australian public opinion on the US Alliance, conducted by the United States Studies Centre, sheds new light on how the relationship is viewed, and what future cooperation could look like. In this episode of the National Security Podcast, Professor Rory Medcalf is joined by Professor Caitlin Byrne and Professor Stephan Frühling, two authors of the recently published report, 'An incomplete project': Australians' views of the US alliance, to discuss their findings. Caitlin Byrne is a Professor and Pro Vice Chancellor (Business) at Griffith University. Stephan Frühling is a Professor at the Strategic and Defence Studies Centre at The Australian National University. Professor Rory Medcalf AM is Head of the ANU National Security College. His professional experience spans more than three decades across diplomacy, intelligence analysis, think tanks, journalism and academia. Show notes:
We’d love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to NatSecPod@anu.edu.au. You can tweet us @NSC_ANU and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes. The National Security Podcast is available on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| In conversation with Minister Clare O’Neil | 02 Mar 2023 | 00:48:10 | |
In this episode of the National Security Podcast, the Hon Clare O’Neil, Minister for Home Affairs and Cyber Security, joins Professor Rory Medcalf in conversation. They discuss Australia’s current and future geopolitical environment, national resilience and maintaining integrity in Australia’s democracy. The conversation frames some significant developments in Australian government policy on foreign interference and cyber security. The Minister also shares insights on the new role of the Department of Home Affairs in national preparedness for future international conflicts.
The Hon Clare O’Neil MP is the Federal Member for Hotham and the Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Cyber Security. Professor Rory Medcalf AM is Head of ANU National Security College. His professional experience spans more than three decades across diplomacy, intelligence analysis, think tanks, journalism and academia. Show notes:
We’d love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to NatSecPod@anu.edu.au. You can tweet us @NSC_ANU and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes. The National Security Podcast is available on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Security in transition: Trump’s America, alliances, and global stability | 13 Mar 2025 | 00:43:09 | |
How is the shift in foreign policy under Donald Trump reshaping US alliances, and what does this mean for global security? To what extent is the US still a force for global stability? Could the new direction in US foreign policy under Donald Trump succeed in pulling Russia away from its partnership with China? In this episode, Beth Sanner joins Rory Medcalf to explore the Trump administration's approach to global issues – particularly in Europe and the Indo-Pacific, the evolving dynamics of US alliances, and the broader threat environment.
Beth Sanner is a Distinguished Advisor at the ANU National Security College (NSC). She is a former US Deputy Director of National Intelligence for Mission Integration and was Director of the President's Daily Brief during Donald Trump’s first stint as President. Professor Rory Medcalf AM is Head of NSC. His professional experience spans more than three decades across diplomacy, intelligence analysis, think tanks, journalism and academia. Show notes · NSC academic programs – find out more · Australia confronts the new world disorder We'd love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to NatSecPod@anu.edu.au. You can tweet us @NSC_ANU and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes. The National Security Podcast is available on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| One year of war in Ukraine: is the end in sight? | 23 Feb 2023 | 00:55:17 | |
How has civilian life been impacted by the war? What more can be done to end the conflict? Will President Zelenskyy’s 10-point peace plan lead to a treaty? 24 February 2023 marks one year since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In this episode of the National Security Podcast, Dr Sonia Mycak and Dr Anton Moiseienko join David Andrews to reflect on the last 12 months and discuss how the war might end. Dr Sonia Mycak is a Research Fellow at the ANU Centre for European Studies. She is a regular commentator on Russia’s war against Ukraine, both in Australia and abroad. Dr Anton Moiseienko is a Lecturer at the ANU College of Law. His work focuses on transnational crime, economic crime and cybercrime, as well as legal and policy aspects of targeted sanctions. David Andrews is the Policy Manager at the ANU National Security College. Show notes: ANU National Security College academic programs: find out more We’d love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to NatSecPod@anu.edu.au. You can tweet us @NSC_ANU and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes. The National Security Podcast is available on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| The future of space security | 16 Feb 2023 | 00:34:34 | |
Why should policy practitioners and law makers focus their attention on space? What does space security look like from a gendered perspective? Is commercialisation disrupting the way that space is used for warfare? And why is space diplomacy important for Australia – regionally and internationally? In this episode of the National Security Podcast, Dr Cassandra Steer joins Dr Danielle Ireland-Piper to discuss the security dimensions of space and the consequences of it being a dual-use environment.
Dr Cassandra Steer is the Deputy Director – Mission Specialist with the ANU Institute of Space (InSpace). Dr Danielle Ireland-Piper is Associate Professor and Academic Convenor at the ANU National Security College.
Show notes:
We’d love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to NatSecPod@anu.edu.au. You can tweet us @NSC_ANU and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes. The National Security Podcast is available on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| The lesser-known – and poorly understood – part of AUKUS | 09 Feb 2023 | 00:43:38 | |
Despite what you’d infer from the news articles, nuclear-powered submarines form just one part of the AUKUS Agreement. There is a whole other portion of the pact focused on other technological capabilities. What is AUKUS pillar two? What kind of projects are underway under the auspices of this pillar? Are current export control regimes of AUKUS nations fit for purpose? And is expanding pillar two to bring in other countries a realistic goal? In this episode of the National Security Podcast, Dr Miah Hammond-Errey and Ashley Townshend join David Andrews to discuss pillar two of the AUKUS partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Dr Miah Hammond-Errey is the Director of the Emerging Technology Program at the United States Studies Centre at the University of Sydney. Ashley Townshend is Senior Fellow for Indo-Pacific Security at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and a Non-Resident Senior Fellow at the United States Studies Centre. David Andrews is Senior Policy Advisor at the ANU National Security College.
Show notes:
We’d love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to NatSecPod@anu.edu.au. You can tweet us @NSC_ANU and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes. The National Security Podcast is available on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| National resilience in a changing world: lessons from Europe | 02 Feb 2023 | 00:44:39 | |
In this episode of the National Security Podcast, Sweden’s Ambassador to Australia His Excellency Mr Pontus Melander and Latvia’s Ambassador to Australia His Excellency Mr Marģers Krams join Dr Will Stoltz in conversation. They discuss how their countries approach building national resilience in response to a range of complex conventional and hybrid threats. His Excellency Mr Pontus Melander is the Ambassador of Sweden to Australia His Excellency Mr Marģers Krams is the Ambassador of Latvia to Australia Dr William A Stoltz is the Policy Director at the ANU National Security College Show notes: ANU National Security College academic programs: find out more We’d love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to NatSecPod@anu.edu.au. You can tweet us @NSC_ANU and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes. The National Security Podcast is available on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Stranger than fiction: imagination as an instrument of national security | 26 Jan 2023 | 00:45:49 | |
How can fiction influence national security policy and its development? What is the role of fiction in future scenario planning? How does reading fiction assist with developing empathy, and why is this important to the national security community? In this episode of the National Security Podcast, Danielle Ireland-Piper, Chris Uhlmann and John Birmingham join Dayle Stanley in conversation to discuss the role of fiction in national security and policy making. Dr Danielle Ireland-Piper is Associate Professor at the ANU National Security College and an Honorary Adjunct Associate Professor in the Faculty of Law at Bond University. Chris Uhlmann is an author and former journalist and broadcaster who was political editor for both the ABC and Nine News. John Birmingham is a former Defence researcher turned author and journalist. His work spans across genres including science fiction, alternative history and non-fiction. Dayle Stanley is the Director of Strategy and Engagement at the Futures Hub at the ANU National Security College. Show notes:
We’d love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to NatSecPod@anu.edu.au. You can tweet us @NSC_ANU and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes. The National Security Podcast is available on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| What 2022 can tell us about the year ahead | 29 Dec 2022 | 00:47:53 | |
In the final National Security Podcast episode of the year, some of the team from the ANU National Security College take stock of Australia’s security landscape in 2022. Dayle Stanley, Elise Stephenson, Rory Medcalf and Will Stoltz also discuss what they’ll be keeping an eye on in 2023, and the years to come. Dayle Stanley is the Director of Strategy & Engagement at the ANU National Security College Futures Hub. Dr Elise Stephenson is a Fellow at the ANU National Security College and the incoming Deputy Director at the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership. Professor Rory Medcalf AM is Head of the ANU National Security College. His professional experience spans more than three decades across diplomacy, intelligence analysis, think tanks, journalism and academia. Dr William A Stoltz is the Policy Director at the ANU National Security College. We’d love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to NatSecPod@anu.edu.au. You can tweet us @NSC_ANU and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes. The National Security Podcast is available on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Procuring nuclear propulsion, while preventing proliferation | 22 Dec 2022 | 00:45:18 | |
Under the AUKUS agreement, Australia will be the first non-nuclear state to acquire nuclear propulsion technology. What impact could this have on the nation’s nuclear security standards? And how could it affect Australia’s standing as a non-proliferation player? In this episode of the National Security Podcast, Scott Roecker and Jessica Bufford from the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) join Professor Rory Medcalf in conversation. They discuss global nuclear non-proliferation and arms control efforts, the increasingly challenging strategic environment this work is carried out within, and the current outlook for nuclear disarmament. Scott Roecker is the Vice President for NTI’s Nuclear Materials Security Program. He previously served as the Director of the Office of Nuclear Material Removal at the National Nuclear Security Administration in the United States. Jessica Bufford is a Program Officer for NTI’s Nuclear Material Security team. She previously worked in the Division of Nuclear Security at the International Atomic Energy Agency. Professor Rory Medcalf AM is Head of the ANU National Security College. His professional experience spans more than three decades across diplomacy, intelligence analysis, think tanks, journalism and academia. We’d love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to NatSecPod@anu.edu.au. You can tweet us @NSC_ANU and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes. The National Security Podcast is available on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| The United Kingdom’s tilt towards the Indo-Pacific | 15 Dec 2022 | 00:45:24 | |
In this episode of the National Security Podcast, the Rt Hon Anne-Marie Trevelyan MP, the United Kingdom's Minister of State for the Indo-Pacific, joins Professor Rory Medcalf in conversation. How will the United Kingdom’s Integrated Review refresh affect Britain’s Indo-Pacific policy? What does AUKUS mean for the United Kingdom? And what’s the future of Australia-UK cooperation? In this episode of the National Security Podcast, the Rt Hon Anne-Marie Trevelyan MP — who was recently appointed as Britain’s first Minister of State for the Indo-Pacific — joins Professor Rory Medcalf in conversation. They discuss the United Kingdom’s Integrated Review refresh and the country's subsequent tilt towards the Indo-Pacific, AUKUS, and Australia-UK relations. The Rt Hon Anne-Marie Trevelyan MP is the United Kingdom’s Minister of State for the Indo-Pacific. She has previously served as Secretary of State for International Trade and International Development. Professor Rory Medcalf AM is Head of ANU National Security College. His professional experience spans more than three decades across diplomacy, intelligence analysis, think tanks, journalism and academia. We’d love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to NatSecPod@anu.edu.au. You can tweet us @NSC_ANU and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes. The National Security Podcast is available on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Russia, China and the Indo-Pacific: a Japanese perspective | 08 Dec 2022 | 00:38:26 | |
In this episode of the National Security Podcast, eminent Russian foreign policy scholar Professor Akihiro Iwashita joins Professor Rory Medcalf in conversation. How does the history of conflict between Japan and Russia affect relations today? How has the Russian invasion of Ukraine impacted their relationship? And what strategic challenges does the China-Russia relationship present for Japan and the Indo-Pacific? In this episode of the National Security Podcast, Professor Akihiro Iwashita – an expert in Russian foreign policy towards China and Japan – joins Professor Rory Medcalf in conversation. They discuss Japan’s relationship with China and Russia and broader strategic challenges in the Indo-Pacific.
Akihiro Iwashita is a Professor at the Slavic-Eurasian Research Center at Hokkaido University. Professor Rory Medcalf AM is Head of ANU National Security College. His professional experience spans more than three decades across diplomacy, intelligence analysis, think tanks, journalism and academia. We’d love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to NatSecPod@anu.edu.au. You can tweet us @NSC_ANU and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes. The National Security Podcast is available on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Gareth Evans on repositioning Australia for a new age of geopolitics | 01 Dec 2022 | 00:48:10 | |
In this episode of the National Security Podcast, Professor the Hon Gareth Evans, former Australian Foreign Minister and former Chancellor of The Australian National University, joins Professor Rory Medcalf to discuss repositioning Australia in a new geopolitical environment. In this episode of the National Security Podcast, Professor the Hon Gareth Evans – a longstanding and influential voice in Australian foreign and public policy – joins Professor Rory Medcalf in conversation. They discuss navigating the Australia-China and Australia-US relationships in an era of strategic competition, strengthening relations with Australia’s Indo-Pacific neighbours, the country’s credibility as a good international citizen, and the importance of diplomacy.
The Hon Gareth Evans AC KC FASSA FAIIA is a Distinguished Honorary Professor at The Australian National University (ANU), where he was Chancellor from 2010–19. He was a Cabinet Minister in the Hawke and Keating Labor Governments from 1983–96, in the posts of Attorney General, Minister for Resources and Energy, Minister for Transport and Communications and – from 1988–96 – Foreign Minister.
Professor Rory Medcalf AM is Head of ANU National Security College. His professional experience spans more than three decades across diplomacy, intelligence analysis, think tanks, journalism and academia. We’d love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to NatSecPod@anu.edu.au. You can tweet us @NSC_ANU and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes. The National Security Podcast is available on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Who decides? Courts, citizenship, and national security | 06 Mar 2025 | 00:43:09 | |
How does the exercise of judicial power shape national security law and policymaking in Australia? What legal safeguards exist to balance civil liberties and national security? Why do the principles of citizenship matter in Australia’s legal system and national security decisions? In this episode, Rebecca Ananian-Welsh and Sangeetha Pillai join Danielle Ireland-Piper to explore the separation of powers in national security law in Australia, the role of courts, and the challenges surrounding citizenship laws.
Associate Professor Rebecca Ananian-Welsh is a constitutional law scholar and Editor of the University of Queensland Law Journal at the TC Beirne School of Law, The University of Queensland. Dr Sangeetha Pillai is a constitutional lawyer and writer, and an expert on Australian citizenship, migration and refugee law. Associate Professor Danielle-Ireland Piper is Academic Director at the ANU National Security College (NSC).
Show notes · NSC academic programs – find out more · Reassessing national security law for modern threats · Why national security law is “more than the sum of its parts” We'd love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to NatSecPod@anu.edu.au. You can tweet us @NSC_ANU and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes. The National Security Podcast is available on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Women in National Security LIVE with Nina Davidson, Catherine Burn and Abigail Bradshaw | 24 Nov 2022 | 01:04:04 | |
In this episode of the National Security Podcast, we bring you the final instalment of the Women in National Security mini-series, produced in collaboration with Accenture. To celebrate the final episode of the Women in National Security mini-series, the ANU National Security College hosted a networking event and live podcast recording with more than 250 women at the National Gallery of Australia. Our hosts Gai Brodtmann, National Security College Futures Council member, and Meg Tapia, Principal Director for Defence and National Security at Accenture, were joined by Deputy Director-General at the Office of National Intelligence Nina Davidson, Deputy-Director General of the Australian Secret Intelligence Service Catherine Burn, and Head of the Australian Cyber Security Centre Abigail Bradshaw. The panel answer audience questions, addressing issues of gender equality, leadership, and authenticity. Drawing on live opinion polling results at the event, Gai and Meg discuss personal heroes and the use of gender targets, among other topics. Nina Davidson is Deputy Director-General Intelligence at the Office of National Intelligence (ONI).
Catherine Burn was appointed as the Australian Secret Intelligence Service's Deputy-Director General Capability & Corporate Management in April 2018. Abigail Bradshaw CSC is the Head of the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) and Deputy Director-General of the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD).
Gai Brodtmann is a member of the ANU National Security College'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 Defence. Meg Tapia has 16 years of experience in national security and foreign policy. She served as a diplomat in Papua New Guinea, Afghanistan, and Vanuatu. Currently, Meg is Principal Director for Defence and National Security at Accenture. All episodes of the Women in National Security mini-series are available here. The Dr Margot McCarthy Scholarship for women in national security will be offered for the first time in 2023. This scholarship will provide women with financial aid in order to complete a Master of National Security Policy at The Australian National University. For more information, reach out to crawford.degrees@anu.edu.au. We’d love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to NatSecPod@anu.edu.au. You can tweet us @NSC_ANU and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes. The National Security Podcast is available on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Understanding the United States’ National Security Strategy | 17 Nov 2022 | 00:46:06 | |
In this episode, Lisa Curtis — Senior Fellow at the Center for a New American Security — joins Will Stoltz and David Andrews from the ANU National Security College to discuss the Biden Administration’s new National Security Strategy. A new national security strategy from Australia’s most important ally deserves close attention. What is a national security strategy in the American context? What are the key areas of continuity and change between this strategy and the document produced by the Trump Administration? How does the new strategy approach non-traditional security challenges such as climate change and COVID-19? In this episode, Lisa Curtis — Senior Fellow and Director of the Indo-Pacific Security Program at the Center for a New American Security — joins Will Stoltz and David Andrews from the ANU National Security College to discuss the Biden Administration’s National Security Strategy. Lisa Curtis is a Senior Fellow and Director of the Indo-Pacific Security Program at the Center for a New American Security. She is a foreign policy and national security expert with over 20 years of service in the US government.
Dr William A Stoltz is the Policy Director at the ANU National Security College.
David Andrews is the Senior Policy Advisor at the ANU National Security College. We’d love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to NatSecPod@anu.edu.au. You can tweet us @NSC_ANU and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes. The National Security Podcast is available on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Clare O'Neil MP and Professor Ciaran Martin on cyber security | 10 Nov 2022 | 01:04:57 | |
In this episode of the National Security Podcast, Australia’s Minister for Cyber Security Clare O’Neil MP and the former head of Britain’s National Cyber Security Centre Ciaran Martin join Katherine Mansted in conversation. The recent data breaches at Optus and Medibank remind us how valuable, yet vulnerable, Australians’ personal data is. The hacks — which are two of the worst in the country’s history — highlight the need for a rethink of the nation’s approach to cyber security. In this episode of the National Security Podcast, Australia’s Minster for Cyber Security the Hon Clare O'Neil MP and former head of the United Kingdom’s National Cyber Security Centre Professor Ciaran Martin join Katherine Mansted in conversation. This episode was recorded at an event hosted by ANU National Security College, in partnership with CyberCX, on 9 November 2022. The Hon Clare O’Neil MP is Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Cyber Security in the Australian Government. She Labor member for the federal seat of Hotham in Victoria.
Professor Ciaran Martin is the former Chief Executive of the United Kingdom’s National Cyber Security Centre and is a Professor of Practice in the Management of Public Organisations at the University of Oxford.
Katherine Mansted is a Senior Fellow in the Practice of National Security at ANU National Security College. She is also the Director of Cyber Intelligence at CyberCX.
Major General Duncan Lewis AO DSC CSC (Retd) is a Professor in the Practice of National Security at ANU National Security College. He concluded his 47-year career in the Australian Government as Director-General of the Australian Secret Intelligence Organisation. We’d love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to NatSecPod@anu.edu.au. You can tweet us @NSC_ANU and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes. The National Security Podcast is available on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| ASIS Director-General Paul Symon AO in conversation | 03 Nov 2022 | 01:10:42 | |
In this episode of the National Security Podcast, outgoing Director-General of the Australian Secret Intelligence Service, Major General Paul Symon AO (Retd), joins Professor Rory Medcalf AM to reflect on his long career in the national security community. The head of the Australian intelligence agency tasked with collecting human intelligence from around the world is preparing to retire. In a rare appearance, Major General Paul Symon AO (Retd) joins Professor Rory Medcalf AM in conversation. They discuss the increasing need for transparency from intelligence agencies, the evolving mission and capability needs of the Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS), Australia’s complex strategic circumstances, and whether the nation is adequately prepared in the event of a conflict.
Major General Paul Symon AO (Retd) is the Director-General of ASIS. Before leading the organisation, he had a highly successful military career, spanning 35 years and culminating in the rank of Major General. Professor Rory Medcalf is Head of ANU National Security College. His professional experience spans more than two decades across diplomacy, intelligence analysis, think tanks, and journalism.
We’d love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to NatSecPod@anu.edu.au. You can tweet us @NSC_ANU and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes. The National Security Podcast is available on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Women in National Security: Dr Danielle Ireland-Piper, Associate Professor at ANU National Security College | 27 Oct 2022 | 00:52:50 | |
In this episode of the National Security Podcast, we bring you the ninth 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 Dr Danielle Ireland-Piper, Associate Professor at ANU National Security College and Honorary Adjunct Associate Professor at Bond University. They explore whether legislation is keeping up with contemporary human rights issues arising from the exploration of space. Danielle also provides a legal perspective on a range of national security issues, including the delicate balance between national security secrecy and the need for transparency. Dr Danielle Ireland-Piper is Associate Professor at ANU National Security College. Her teaching and research expertise includes constitutional, comparative, and international law, as well as the intersection between these areas of law and matters of national security law and policy. 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 Defence. Meg Tapia has 16 years of experience in national security and foreign policy. She served as a diplomat in Papua New Guinea, Afghanistan, and Vanuatu. Currently, Meg is Principal Director for Defence and National Security at Accenture. All episodes of the Women in National Security mini-series are available here. For full show notes, visit policyforum.net. We’d love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to NatSecPod@anu.edu.au. You can tweet us @NSC_ANU and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes. The National Security Podcast is available on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| India’s strategic direction with Dr C Raja Mohan | 20 Oct 2022 | 00:55:03 | |
In this episode of the National Security Podcast, Senior Fellow at the Asia Society Policy Institute in Delhi Dr C Raja Mohan joins Professor Rory Medcalf to discuss India’s strategic direction. In this episode of the National Security Podcast, Dr C Raja Mohan, a longstanding and highly-repsected analyst, joins Professor Rory Medcalf to discuss India’s strategic direction. They discuss the future of India, its evolving relationship with the United States, China, Russia and Australia, and a South-Asian view of AUKUS. Dr Mohan’s visit to Australia has been made possible by the Asia Society Australia. Dr C Raja Mohan is a Senior Fellow with the Asia Society Policy Institute in Delhi. He is a Visiting Research Professor at the Institute of South Asian Studies (ISAS), National University of Singapore. Professor Rory Medcalf is Head of ANU National Security College. His professional experience spans more than two decades across diplomacy, intelligence analysis, think tanks, and journalism. We’d love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to NatSecPod@anu.edu.au. You can tweet us @NSC_ANU and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes. The National Security Podcast is available on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Peter Khalil MP on the competition between authoritarianism and democracy | 12 Oct 2022 | 00:49:34 | |
In this episode of the National Security Podcast, Peter Khalil MP, Chair of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security, joins Rory Medcalf in conversation. What are the big strategic issues that will shape Australia’s future? How should Australia respond to more frequent challenges from authoritarian regimes? And what role should politics play in Australian national security policy-making? In this episode of the National Security Podcast, Head of ANU National Security College Professor Rory Medcalf is joined by Peter Khalil MP, a prominent voice on national security in the new parliament. They discuss his new role as Chair of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security, his personal journey into politics and the national security community, and the growing complexity of Australia’s security landscape. Peter Khalil MP is Chair of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security and Australian Co-Chair of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China. He is the Labor member of parliament for the federal seat of Wills. Professor Rory Medcalf is Head of ANU National Security College. His professional experience spans more than two decades across diplomacy, intelligence analysis, think tanks, and journalism. We’d love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to NatSecPod@anu.edu.au. You can tweet us @NSC_ANU and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes. The National Security Podcast is available on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Women in National Security: Lindy Cameron, CEO of the UK National Cyber Security Centre | 29 Sep 2022 | 00:45:03 | |
In this episode of the National Security Podcast, we bring you the eighth 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 Lindy Cameron, Chief Executive Officer of the UK National Cyber Security Centre. As the first international guest on the WiNS mini-series, Lindy explains the need for the United Kingdom and Australia to share their experiences in dealing with cyber threats, and increase both nations’ capabilities. Lindy discusses her approach to partnering across government and industry, in an effort to enable citizens to participate confidently in the online world. Lindy Cameron is Chief Executive Officer of the United Kingdom’s National Cyber Security Centre. She commenced in the role in 2020, following more than two decades of national security policy and crisis management experience. Gai Brodtmann is a member of ANU National Security College'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 Defence. Meg Tapia has 16 years of experience in national security and foreign policy. She served as a diplomat in Papua New Guinea, Afghanistan, and Vanuatu. Currently, Meg is Principal Director for Defence and National Security at Accenture. This episode was recorded before the Optus data breach of September 2022. We’re giving away several free tickets to the WiNS Live event, taking place on the 10 November in Canberra! If you’re a woman who is new to — or interested in joining — the national security community, enter now. All episodes of the Women in National Security mini-series are available here. We’d love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to NatSecPod@anu.edu.au. You can tweet us @NSC_ANU and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes. The National Security Podcast is available on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Former Navy chief Michael Noonan on AUKUS, nuclear submarines, and Australian sea power | 22 Sep 2022 | 00:45:23 | |
In this special episode of the National Security Podcast, we kick off a mini-series exploring the AUKUS technology-sharing arrangement, a year on from its announcement. The AUKUS technology-sharing arrangement – between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia – is set to, among other things, fundamentally change the nature of Australian sea power and introduce nuclear-powered submarines to the Royal Australian Navy. ANU National Security College has produced a podcast mini-series, a year on from the AUKUS announcement, exploring its background, implications, and the implementation challenges ahead – for Australia in particular. In the first episode of this series, recently retired Vice Admiral Michael Noonan – former Chief of the Royal Australian Navy – joins Professor Rory Medcalf. They discuss the strategic challenges that led to AUKUS, nuclear submarines, the role of sea power for Australia and more. Vice Admiral Michael Noonan AO RAN (Retd) assumed command of the Royal Australian Navy in 2018 and retired in 2022.
Professor Rory Medcalf is Head of ANU National Security College. His professional experience spans more than two decades across diplomacy, intelligence analysis, think tanks, and journalism. We’d love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to NatSecPod@anu.edu.au. You can tweet us @NSC_ANU and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes. The National Security Podcast is available on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| The future of artificial intelligence: understanding strategic implications | 15 Sep 2022 | 00:48:40 | |
In this episode of the National Security Podcast, Director of the CSIRO National Artificial Intelligence Centre Stela Solar joins Olivia Shen and Dr Will Stoltz from ANU National Security College to discuss ethical artificial intelligence and the strategic implications of rising global competition in artificial intelligence development. Stela Solar – prominent Australian expert on artificial intelligence (AI) – joins Olivia Shen and Dr Will Stoltz from ANU National Security College to discuss the strategic implications of AI technology. From AI ‘data deserts’ to Chinese facial recognition technology, they reflect on the ethical questions raised by the global pursuit of the technology’s development. They discuss Australia’s position in the race to develop AI capabilities, the responsibilities of government in regulating the technology, and the opportunities AI presents for the future. Olivia Shen is a Director in the Executive and Professional Development Program at ANU National Security College. With a decade of experience in national security and foreign policy roles in the Australian Government, in 2019 she was a Fulbright Scholar at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington where her research focused on the ethics of artificial intelligence in national security. Stela Solar is the Director of the CSIRO National Artificial Intelligence Centre and former Global Director of Artificial Intelligence Solution Sales and Strategy at Microsoft. She is well-versed in artificial intelligence technology and is helping to bridge the chasm between innovation and commercialisation to create new opportunities for Australia. Dr William A Stoltz is the Policy Director at ANU National Security College. He is responsible for mobilising the College’s research and resident expertise to influence and inform current public policy debates. We’d love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to NatSecPod@anu.edu.au. You can tweet us @NSC_ANU and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes. The National Security Podcast is available on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Contest for the High North: Greenland and Arctic security | 27 Feb 2025 | 00:46:18 | |
Why is everyone suddenly talking about Greenland? How will Arctic security be impacted by rising great power competition? How have US neighbours and allies responded?
In this episode, Iselin Németh Winther and Heather Exner-Pirot join David Andrews to explore the evolving significance of Arctic security, the uncertainties for Greenland under Donald Trump, and the potential impact of Arctic power dynamics on global governance.
Iselin Németh Winther is a researcher at the Fridtjof Nansen Institute in Oslo. She specialises in the geopolitics and security dynamics of the Arctic. Dr Heather Exner-Pirot is a Senior Fellow and Director of Energy, Natural Resources and Environment at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute in Ottawa and Managing Editor of The Arctic Yearbook. David Andrews is a Senior Policy Advisor at the ANU National Security College (NSC).
Show notes · NSC academic programs – find out more · We Went to Greenland to Ask About a Trump Takeover · Why Donald Trump wants Greenland · The long struggle for Greenland
We'd love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to NatSecPod@anu.edu.au. You can tweet us @NSC_ANU and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes. The National Security Podcast is available on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| How terrorism has changed since 9/11 | 08 Sep 2022 | 00:52:09 | |
In this episode of the National Security Podcast, Nick Rasmussen, inaugural Executive Director of the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism, and Kristy Campion, Lecturer of Terrorism Studies at Charles Sturt University, join Will Stoltz to unpack they ways terrorism and violent extremism have evolved since the 9/11 attacks, and how Australia and the United States are combatting these threats. More than two decades on from the devastating attacks of September 11, how has terrorism changed? And with the rise of right-wing extremism, is the current practice of counterterrorism still fit for purpose? Nick Rasmussen, former head of the United States National Counterterrorism Center, and Dr Kristy Campion, terrorism studies lecturer, reflect on the impacts of historical terrorist attacks such as 9/11 and the Bali Bombings, discuss the ongoing evolution of terrorism and violent extremism, and explore how Australia and the United States are finding new ways to combat these threats.
Nick Rasmussen is the inaugural Executive Director of the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism (GIFCT), and former Director of the United States National Counterterrorism Center. Dr Kristy Campion is a Lecturer of Terrorism Studies with the Australian Graduate School of Policing and Security at Charles Sturt University. Dr William A Stoltz is the Policy Director at ANU National Security College.
We’d love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to NatSecPod@anu.edu.au. You can tweet us @NSC_ANU and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes. The National Security Podcast is available on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Germany’s reality check on China: a Green perspective | 01 Sep 2022 | 00:47:03 | |
In this episode of the National Security Podcast, chair of the European Parliament’s China delegation Reinhard Bütikofer joins Professor Rory Medcalf to discuss how Europe, Germany, and Australia are approaching the China challenge. In a fascinating conversation, Reinhard Bütikofer — a leading voice on Europe's national security stance — reflects on the China challenge. He outlines how European and German views of China are shifting, and lessons for the Indo-Pacific from the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Bütikofer also describes the vital role Green Party voices have played in the shaping of German and European strategic policy. Reinhard Bütikofer is one of the Co-Chairs of the European Green Party, and a Member of the European Parliament for the German Green Party (Bündnis 90/Die Grünen). He serves as the Chair of the European Parliament Delegation for Relations with China and sits on the Committee on Foreign Affairs. Professor Rory Medcalf is Head of ANU National Security College. His professional experience spans more than two decades across diplomacy, intelligence analysis, think tanks, and journalism. We’d love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to NatSecPod@anu.edu.au. You can tweet us @NSC_ANU and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes. The National Security Podcast is available on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Women in National Security: Sophia Hamblin Wang, Chief Operating Officer for Mineral Carbonation International | 25 Aug 2022 | 00:39:44 | |
In this episode of the National Security Podcast, we bring you the seventh 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 Sophia Hamblin Wang, Chief Operating Officer for Mineral Carbonation International. Sophia provides a realistic and hopeful outlook for the state of Australia’s climate change issues, and shares how her upbringing in tropical Queensland and exposure to a range of natural disasters shaped her interest in carbon capture technology. Sophia Hamblin Wang is a carbon technologist, circular economy expert, university lecturer and diversity advocate. She is the Chief Operating Officer of Mineral Carbonation International, a technology platform that transforms CO2 into building materials and other valuable industrial products. 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 Defence. Meg Tapia has 16 years of experience in national security and foreign policy. She served as a diplomat in Papua New Guinea, Afghanistan, and Vanuatu. Currently, Meg is Principal Director for Defence and National Security at Accenture. Full show notes at policyforum.net. We’d love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to NatSecPod@anu.edu.au. You can tweet us @NSC_ANU and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes. The National Security Podcast is available on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Development and geopolitics in Southeast Asia | 18 Aug 2022 | 00:50:33 | |
In this episode of the National Security Podcast, Dr Huong Le Thu and Gatra Priyandita join Dr Will Stoltz to discuss how Southeast Asia’s technology and development needs intersect with geopolitics and great power competition in the region. How do nations in the region balance the conflict between immediate needs and those that are more long-term and strategic? Is regional leadership in South-East Asia changing? And if so, what is the role of ASEAN into the future? Principal Policy Fellow at the Perth USAsia Centre Dr Huong Le Thu and Gatra Priyandita from ANU Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs join ANU National Security College Policy Director Dr Will Stoltz to discuss how Southeast Asia’s technology and development needs are intersecting with geopolitics and great power competition in the region. Gatra Priyandita is a PhD candidate at ANU Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs and an Analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute. He recently co-authored China Inc. and Indonesia’s Technology Future, a Policy Options Paper published by the ANU National Security College.
Dr Huong Le Thu is Principal Policy Fellow at the Perth USAsia Centre and Non-Resident Fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Southeast Asia Program. She speaks five languages and has published in four of them.
Dr William A Stoltz is the Policy Director at the ANU National Security College. He is responsible for mobilising the College’s research and resident expertise to influence and inform current public policy debates. Find full show notes at policyforum.net. We’d love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to NatSecPod@anu.edu.au. You can tweet us @NSC_ANU and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes. The National Security Podcast is available on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| The future of Australian diplomacy in the Pacific | 11 Aug 2022 | 00:43:17 | |
In this episode of the National Security Podcast, Professor Joanne Wallis and Adjunct Professor Ian Kemish AM join Nicola Rosenblum to discuss the future of Australian diplomacy in the Pacific. It’s been a busy year for diplomacy in the Pacific, with visits to multiple countries by China’s Foreign Minster Wang Yi and Australia’s newly-minted Foreign Minister Penny Wong. Attention for the region heightened at the Pacific Islands Forum when the United States pledged to scale up its engagement in the region, including the establishment of new embassies. Given these recent events why has there been such intense diplomatic interest in the Pacific? Is the Pacific “family” metaphor useful when talking about and with the region? And what role does Australia have in strengthening regional unity? In this episode of the National Security Podcast, Professor of International Security at the University of Adelaide Joanne Wallis and former Australian High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea Ian Kemish AM join Deputy Head of the ANU National Security College Nicola Rosenblum to discuss the future of diplomacy in the Pacific. Joanne Wallis is Professor of International Security in the Department of Politics and International Relations at the University of Adelaide. She is the author or editor of seven books, including Constitution making during State building and Pacific Power? Australia’s Strategy in the Pacific Islands. Ian Kemish AM is an Adjunct Research Professor in History at The University of Queensland and author of The Consul: An insider account from Australia's diplomatic frontline. He was formerly Australia’s High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea, Ambassador to Germany, Head of the Prime Minister’s International Division and DFAT’s Southeast Asia Division. Nicola Rosenblum is Deputy Head of the National Security College, on secondment from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). She has served as Australia’s High Commissioner to Brunei Darussalam, as well as other diplomatic postings to Australia’s High Commission in Pakistan and Australia’s mission to the United Nations in Vienna. We’d love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to NatSecPod@anu.edu.au. You can tweet us @NSC_ANU and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes. The National Security Podcast is available on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Cold winds - How Finland sees national security | 04 Aug 2022 | 00:42:33 | |
In this episode of the National Security Podcast, Dr Mika Aaltola, Director of the Finnish Institute of International Affairs, joins Rory Medcalf to shine a light on the distinctly Finnish way of safeguarding a small democracy’s national security in an unforgiving strategic environment. A major consequence of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is the historic decision by Finland and Sweden to join NATO. But Finland is no stranger to countering military aggression from Moscow. In this episode of the National Security Podcast, Dr Mika Aaltola, Director of the Finnish Institute of International Affairs (FIIA), joins Professor Rory Medcalf, Head of the National Security College, who recently visited Helsinki in his capacity as a member of the FIIA advisory council, to shine a light on the distinctly Finnish way of safeguarding a small democracy’s national security in an unforgiving strategic environment. Dr Mika Aaltola is the Director of the Finnish Institute of International Affairs and has been a Visiting Fellow at Cambridge University, Le Centre de recherches internationals at Sciences Po, and Johns Hopkins University. His areas of expertise include the global role of the United States, dynamics of major power politics, democratic vulnerability, pandemic security, and Finnish foreign policy.
Professor Rory Medcalf is Head of ANU National Security College. His professional experience spans more than two decades across diplomacy, intelligence analysis, think tanks, and journalism. We’d love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to NatSecPod@anu.edu.au. You can tweet us @NSC_ANU and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes. The National Security Podcast is available on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Women in National Security: Elise Stephenson, gender researcher and Fulbright Scholar | 28 Jul 2022 | 00:42:34 | |
In this episode of the National Security Podcast, we bring you the sixth 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 Dr Elise Stephenson, ANU National Security College Fellow and Research Fellow at the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership. Drawing on recent data, Elise discusses the barriers for women entering and progressing within the national security domain, and outlines the systemic issues that stand in the way of gender equality.
Dr Elise Stephenson is an ANU National Security College Fellow and Research Fellow at the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership. Elise seeks to find critical junctures across industries and portfolios – all for the sake of research, practice, or policy interventions that can help to ensure equality in various aspects of international affairs. 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 Defence. Meg Tapia has 16 years of experience in national security and foreign policy. She served as a diplomat in Papua New Guinea, Afghanistan, and Vanuatu. Currently, Meg is Principal Director for Defence and National Security at Accenture. We’re giving away several free tickets to the WiNS Live event, taking place on the 10 November in Canberra! If you’re a woman who is new to — or interested in joining — the national security community, enter now: https://forms.office.com/r/U0fashVrLE All episodes of the Women in National Security mini-series are available here. Find full show notes at policyforum.net. We’d love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to NatSecPod@anu.edu.au. You can tweet us @NSC_ANU and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes. The National Security Podcast is available on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| How the global economy is reshaping international security | 21 Jul 2022 | 00:58:58 | |
In this episode of the National Security Podcast, Sir Roland Wilson Scholar and economist Helen Mitchell and Director of Research and Economics at the Australian Industry Group Jeffrey Wilson join National Security College Policy Director Will Stoltz to discuss how the global economy is reshaping international security. It’s a turbulent time for the global economy, with food and fuel crises, straining global supply chains, bounding inflation, and — especially in Australia — acute workforce and population obstacles. To explore these trends, and how they’re affecting international security, Will Stolz is joined by Helen Mitchell and Jeffrey Wilson. Helen Mitchell is a Sir Roland Wilson PhD Scholar at The Australian National University (ANU) Centre for Applied Macroeconomic Analysis. She is also an economist and former diplomat. Dr Jeffrey Wilson is the Director of Research and Economics at the Australian Industry Group. Dr William A Stoltz is the Policy Director at ANU National Security College. We’d love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to NatSecPod@anu.edu.au. You can tweet us @NSC_ANU and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes. The National Security Podcast is available on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Working with India: understanding the limits and potential | 14 Jul 2022 | 00:32:52 | |
In this episode of the National Security Podcast, Lisa Singh, CEO of the Australia India Institute, and Dr David Brewster, Senior Fellow at ANU National Security College, join Will Stoltz to discuss the challenges and opportunities for greater cooperation with India on international security issues. India will play a pivotal role in shaping international security in the decades to come. There are challenges and opportunities for greater cooperation between India and other democratic states like Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. As the world adapts to the invasion of Ukraine and looks to potential conflicts that may arise elsewhere, we ask what practical steps Australia and other countries can do to ensure India fulfils its potential to secure and stabilise an uncertain world. For more, see the College’s recent Policy Options Paper, 'New options for trilateral cooperation in the Indo-Pacific: Australia-India-United Kingdom'. Lisa Singh is CEO of the Australia India Institute and a former Senator for Tasmania.
Dr David Brewster is a Senior Fellow at the ANU National Security College. Dr William A Stoltz is the Policy Director at the ANU National Security College. We’d love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to NatSecPod@anu.edu.au. You can tweet us @NSC_ANU and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes. The National Security Podcast is available on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Women in National Security: Julie-Ann Guivarra of the National Indigenous Australians Agency | 30 Jun 2022 | 00:42:25 | |
In this episode of the National Security Podcast, we bring you the fifth 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 Julie-Ann Guivarra, Group Manager of the Strategic Policy Group in the National Indigenous Australians Agency. Julie-Ann talks us through her experience in rising to the challenges and expectations that come with being the first in many things, and shares with us her personal views on the recent changes to Indigenous policy. Julie-Ann Guivarra is the Group Manager of the Strategic Policy Group in the National Indigenous Australians Agency. Julie-Ann was previously with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade where she served most recently as Australia’s Ambassador for Gender Equality and prior to this as Australia’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Spain, Andorra, and Equatorial Guinea. Gai Brodtmann is a member of the National Security College 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 Defence. Meg Tapia has 16 years of experience in national security and foreign policy. She served as a diplomat in Papua New Guinea, Afghanistan, and Vanuatu. Currently, Meg is Principal Director for Defence and National Security at Accenture. All episodes of the Women in National Security mini-series are available here. Find full show notes at policyforum.net. We’d love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to NatSecPod@anu.edu.au. You can tweet us @NSC_ANU and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes. The National Security Podcast is available on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| BRICS and the global order: shifting tides or a club of convenience? | 20 Feb 2025 | 00:46:44 | |
Is BRICS primarily a challenge to Western-led institutions, or does it serve a broader purpose in global governance? How effective has BRICS been at pursuing its objectives? Does BRICS membership provide newer states with greater strategic influence through engagement with major economies like China, India, and Russia?
In this episode, Flavia Zimmermann and Fitriani join David Andrews to explore the evolving role of BRICS, its effectiveness, and its potential influence on global governance and power dynamics.
Dr Flavia Bellieni Zimmermann is a Lecturer in Public Policy in the school of Social and Political Sciences at the University of Melbourne and an international political analyst. Dr Fitriani is a senior analyst with the Australian Strategic Policy Institute's Cyber, Technology and Security program, specialising in hybrid threats in the Indo-Pacific, as well as foreign policy and non-traditional security issues. David Andrews is a Senior Policy Advisor at the ANU National Security College (NSC).
Show notes
We'd love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to NatSecPod@anu.edu.au. You can tweet us @NSC_ANU and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes. The National Security Podcast is available on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Young Australians in national security and foreign affairs | 23 Jun 2022 | 00:31:53 | |
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 looks at climate change, security, and geopolitics in the Indo-Pacific region.
Dom Dwyer is Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Youth National Security Strategy. He is currently completing honours research at The Australian National University.
Dr William A Stoltz is the Policy Director at the ANU National Security College.
Show notes | The following were mentioned during this episode:
State of the Service Report, Australian Public Service Commission, (2021) Young Australians in International Affairs publications and events Youth National Security Strategy’s work and latest strategy We’d love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to NatSecPod@anu.edu.au. You can tweet us @NSC_ANU and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes. The National Security Podcast is available on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Critical submarine cables: a deep dive into undersea infrastructure | 16 Jun 2022 | 00:35:50 | |
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 Australian Defence Force Academy. From 1991-2003 he was the Director of the Australian Defence Studies Centre.
Dr William A. Stoltz is Policy Director at the ANU National Security College. He is a Visiting Fellow at the Robert Menzies Institute at the University of Melbourne, and an Associate Member of the Centre for the Study of Subversion, Unconventional Interventions and Terrorism (SUIT) at the University of Nottingham. Show notes Options for safeguarding undersea critical infrastructure: Australia and Indo-Pacific submarine cables, Samuel Bashfield and Anthony Bergin, (2022) The Deep-Sea Cables, Rudyard Kipling, (1893) We’d love to hear from you! Send your questions, comments, and suggestions to NatSecPod@anu.edu.au. Tweet us @NSC_ANU and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes. The National Security Podcast is available on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Development, conflict mitigation, and security for the Pacific | 10 Jun 2022 | 00:43:24 | |
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 Center for Strategic and International Studies Erol Yayboke join Policy Director at ANU National Security College Dr Will Stoltz to explore these questions and examine the intersection of development, conflict mitigation, and security for the Pacific. Bridi Rice is CEO of the Development Intelligence Lab and currently a Fulbright Visiting Fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). At the Lab, Bridi manages agenda-setting research and high-level policy dialogue on critical issues shaping the future of Australian development engagement in the Indo-Pacific. Erol Yayboke is a Senior Fellow with the International Security Program and director of the Project on Fragility and Mobility at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Dr William A Stoltz is Policy Director at ANU National Security College. He is a Visiting Fellow at the Robert Menzies Institute at the University of Melbourne, and an Associate Member of the Centre for the Study of Subversion, Unconventional Interventions and Terrorism (SUIT) at the University of Nottingham. More information about the Global Fragility Act is available here and here. We’d love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to NatSecPod@anu.edu.au. You can tweet us @NSC_ANU and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes. The National Security Podcast is available on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||