The National Security Podcast

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. &n

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: National Intelligence C

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 no

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: 2022 Population Statement, Centre for Population 2021 Intergenerational Report, Department of the Treasury ANU National Security College academic programs: find out more  We’d love to hear from you! Send in your ques

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 Nat

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: ANU National Security College academic programs: find out m

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.

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: ANU National Security College academic programs: find out more ANU National Security College Policy Options Paper: Australia as a Space Power: Combining Civil, Defence and Diplomatic Efforts We’d love to hear from you! Send in your questions, commen

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 i

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 AustraliaHis Excellency Mr Marģers Krams is the Ambassador of Latvia to AustraliaDr William A Stoltz is the Policy Director at the ANU National Security CollegeShow notes:ANU National Security College academic programs: find out moreWe’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 mo

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

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 mi

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 Internati

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.

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 lo

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 Attorne

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 targ

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 Securit

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

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 Medcal