The National Security Podcast

How can Australia prepare for a future it cannot predict? What can emerging trends and weak signals tell us about tomorrow's national security challenges?And what should Australians be asking themselves when thinking about the future they want the country to have?In this episode, Sharryn Parker is joined by Dr Ryan Young and Laura Stewart to discuss how strategic foresight can help governments and policymakers challenge their assumptions and make more resilient decisions in an uncertain world.Sharryn Parker is a Senior Policy Advisor at the ANU National Security College (NSC), on secondment from the Department of Defence.Dr Ryan Young is the Director of Research and Methods at the NSC Futures Hub.Laura Stewart is a Senior Advisor at the NSC Futures Hub.TRANSCRIPTShow notes:Futures Hub strengthens foresight capability across the region NSC Futures Hub – upcoming programsNSC academic programs – find out moreNo worries? Australian attitudes to national security, risk and resilienceWe'd love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to [email protected]. Follow us on LinkedIn or Instagram @nsc.anu. Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How has AI fundamentally changed Australia’s cyber security landscape, and are our traditional ways of managing cyber risk still fit-for-purpose? What does sovereignty mean for Australia when the most powerful AI companies, infrastructure and models are largely based overseas? As AI agents become more autonomous, who should be responsible when they cause harm? In this episode, Rory Medcalf is joined by Alastair MacGibbon to examine how AI is reshaping cyber security – and what that means for Australia’s national security.Alastair MacGibbon is one of Australia's most experienced cyber security leaders, a former Special Adviser to the Prime Minister on cyber security and founder of CyberCX.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.TRANSCRIPTShow notes:The National Security Podcast - How thirsty is AI? Competing for Australia's most strategic resourceNSC academic programs – find out moreNo worries? Australian attitudes to national security, risk and resilienceAI, digital literacy and the future of democracyWe'd love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to [email protected]. Follow us on LinkedIn or Instagram @nsc.anu. Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How concerned should Australia be about the UK’s ability to deliver its side of AUKUS?What role can middle powers play as the international order becomes more fragmented?How should Australia and its partners balance alliances with their own national interests in a more contested world? In part two of our geopolitical update, Sharryn Parker is joined by Charles Edel, Dilnoza Ubaydullaeva and Euan Graham to discuss AUKUS, the role of middle powers in a changing world and how Australian can build greater strategic agency while still deepening the US alliance.Dr Charles Edel is Senior Adviser and Australia Chair at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies and an expert on statecraft and great power competition.Dr Dilnoza Ubaydullaeva is a Lecturer at the ANU National Security College (NSC) and an expert on Central Asia and the positioning of the Global South in world power.Dr Euan Graham is an Expert Associate at NSC whose research spans military strategy and deterrence in the Indo-Pacific.Sharryn Parker is Senior Policy Advisor at NSC, on secondment from the Department of Defence.TRANSCRIPTShow notes:Listen to part 1 of this geopolitical update hereNSC academic programs – find out moreNavigating Australia’s Future in an Uncertain World - Address to the National Press Club of Australia by Dr Kevin RuddJohn Howard on 9/11, geopolitics and Australia’s securityWe'd love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to [email protected]. Follow us on LinkedIn or Instagram @nsc.anu. Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on future episodes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How much strategic bandwidth does the United States have as it manages the Iran war, Ukraine and its wider global commitments? How are conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East changing the nature and cost of modern warfare? What does China’s growing military power and activity in the Indo-Pacific mean for Australian security?  In this episode, Sharryn Parker is joined by Charles Edel, Dilnoza Ubaydullaeva and Euan Graham to discuss the wars in Iran and Ukraine – and what they are revealing about the United States’ capacity, weapons stockpiles, and the changing character of warfare. Dr Charles Edel is Senior Adviser and Australia Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and an expert on statecraft and great power competition.Dr Dilnoza Ubaydullaeva is a Lecturer at the ANU National Security College (NSC) and an expert on Central Asia and the positioning of the Global South in world power.Dr Euan Graham is an Expert Associate at NSC whose research spans military strategy and deterrence in the Indo-Pacific.Sharryn Parker is Senior Policy Advisor at NSC, on secondment from the Department of Defence. TRANSCRIPT Show notes:NSC academic programs – find out moreNavigating Australia’s Future in an Uncertain World - Address to the National Press Club of Australia by Dr Kevin RuddJohn Howard on 9/11, geopolitics and Australia’s securityCommunity Consultations reportUS National Security Strategy We'd love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to [email protected]. 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.

How do we balance effective national security laws with protecting individual rights and democratic freedoms? Where is the line between legitimate foreign influence and foreign interference? How well do Australia’s espionage laws protect journalism and political discourse? How should Australia’s terrorism laws respond to a threat environment increasingly involving children and different forms of violent extremism?  In this episode, Sharryn Parker speaks with Jake Blight – Australia’s Independent National Security Legislation Monitor –about whether Australia’s national security laws are keeping pace with the changing nature of espionage, foreign interference and terrorism. Jake Blight is Australia’s Independent National Security Legislation Monitor (INSLM).Sharryn Parker is Senior Policy Advisor at NSC, on secondment from the Department of Defence. TRANSCRIPT Show notes:·      NSC academic programs – find out more·      Launching the review of the definition of a ‘terrorist act’·      The monitor's lens: the Secrecy Review and insights from the INSLM·      Espionage, Foreign Interference and Related Offences Report·      Issues Paper – Review of the definition of a ‘terrorist act’ We'd love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to [email protected]. 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.