Originally published 12 March 2021 In this episode, Karin talks to RUSI Trustee, Alison Levitt QC. Alison discusses her career as one of the leading criminal barristers in the UK, including several of her high profile cases. She also talks about gender, inclusivity and diversity, and even shares her favourite lockdown recipe!
Originally published 12 February 2021 In this episode, Jan Hall talks to Karin about her career as one of the UK's top headhunters, identifying and matching the appropriate people for some of the most demanding executive positions in FTSE's major companies. Hers is the story of not only enterprise, but also of the challenges of driving diversity on corporation boards, and on combining a life in the commercial sector with a dedication to non-for-profit activities.
Originally published 8 January 2021 In this episode, Karin talks to the new Chair of the Institute, the Rt. Hon Sir David Lidington, KCB, CBE. Sir David discusses his career from the early days as a special adviser to eventually becoming Prime Minister Theresa May's de facto deputy, as Minister for the Cabinet Office and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. Sir David also reflects on the difficult choice of leaving government and on the poetry that best reflects the mood of 2020.
Originally published 11 December 2020 Welcome back to Season Two of our 'In Context' podcast. In this episode, Karin talks to RUSI Distinguished Fellow Sir Mark Rowley QPM. Sir Mark discusses his incredible career in the police force and the changes he has seen in the culture and practice of policing. His last position was National Police Lead for Counter Terrorism and Assistant Commissioner in the Metropolitan Police Service, from 2014 to 2018.
Originally published 22 September 2020 What can other countries learn from Estonia's defence against greyzone aggression? How to best involve youth in national security? And what was it like to do more than three years' military service in the Soviet Navy? In the season finale, Elisabeth Braw speaks with General Riho Terras, until 2018 Estonia's chief of defence and now a member of the European Parliament.
Originally published 8 September 2020. Globalisation is the new frontline of great-power competition. What does it mean China has cornered the market for rare earth processing (think smartphones and electric car batteries)? What about global choke points that can be exploited by countries wishing to harm each other? Elisabeth Braw discusses with professors Henry Farrell and Abraham Newman.
Originally published 27 August 2020. Even with competitive national service, motivating soldiers is important. Elisabeth Braw discusses what motivates conscripts during their service with Nina Hellum, a social anthropologist at the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment. Hellum specialises in soldier behaviour and has just completed a report on conscript motivation.
Originally published 11 August 2020. Ever heard the term SIM-jacking? If not, you should familiarise yourself with this growing form of cyber aggression. Victims include Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey. In this episode of On the Cusp, Elisabeth Braw discusses new forms of cyber aggression directed at individuals with Dr Markus Jakobsson, a leading cryptologist and former principal scientist at PayPal. Listen to the end for an interesting trail leading to a government.
Originally published 21 July 2020 Elisabeth Braw speaks with Stewart McDonald MP, the SNP's defence spokesman, who has followed up on Elisabeth's proposal for teenager resilience training and initiated a Resilience Scotland proposal. In McDonald's Resilience Scotland plan, people from all parts of society will be able to attend resilience training and as a result help themselves and their communities in crises.
Originally published 7 July 2020. Elisabeth Braw speaks with Senator Angus King of Maine, one of two independent members of the US Senate and the co-chairman of the US Cyberspace Solarium Commission, about how to deter cyber attacks. Plus, how to keep the economy going in case of severe cyber attacks? How to incentivise companies and citizens to play a larger role in cyber preparedness? And how will the Commission get its excellent proposals through Congress?
Originally published 7 July 2020 Elisabeth Braw speaks with British member of parliament and disinformation expert Damian Collins about why disinformation and misinformation keep spreading and whether parliaments should legislate to fix the problem. Plus: should other countries' parliaments be able to subpoena US social media executives, and what happens when growing parts of society only access news that's not vetted?
Originally published 25 June 2020 Elisabeth Braw speaks with Rear Admiral Ewa Skoog Haslum, the Swedish Navy's new commander, about the challenges of defending a country with an enormous coastline, about greyzone aggression, citizens' trust in authorities, involving youth in national security and what it's like to command a submarine-hunting flotilla.
Originally published 26 May 2020 Despite massive efforts to improve cyber defence, cyber attacks are growing. Even hospitals are attacked. A central but little-discussed aspect are the legal implications for cyber victims. Listen to Elisabeth Braw's discussion with Jonathan Kewley, who as co-head of Clifford Chance's Tech Group leads more than 400 lawyers.
Originally published 12 May 2020 Elisabeth Braw speaks with Giedrimas Jeglinskas, NATO's Assistant Secretary-General for Executive Management, about what his job running NATO's headquarters entails, about NATO's efforts to help fight coronavirus and whether NATO should even do humanitarian work. Plus, is the alliance capable of innovating?
Originally released 29 April 2020 Cyber aggressors are not taking a break simply because countries are busy battling coronavirus – quite the opposite. In this episode Elisabeth Braw talks with Dr Samantha Ravich of the US Cyberspace Solarium Commission, which has just published a major report with proposals for better cyber defence and deterrence.
Originally released 3 April 2020. Elisabeth Braw talks with Dan Eliasson, Director General of the Swedish Social Insurance Agency. They discuss how countries can help their populations prepare for a national crisis without knowing what exactly the contingencies will be. On the Cusp is a monthly podcast from the Modern Deterrence Project at RUSI. Hosted by Elisabeth Braw, each month Elisabeth interviews an innovative leader combating new national security threats. Thanks to Willis Towers Watson.
Originally published 3 April 2020. Elisabeth Braw explores how insurance gaps impact major disasters with James Vickers, and finds there are enormous gaps. On the Cusp is a monthly podcast from the Modern Deterrence Project at RUSI. Hosted by Elisabeth Braw, each month Elisabeth interviews an innovative leader combating new national security threats. Thanks to Willis Towers Watson.
Originally published on 3 April 2020. We need to get used to the idea that our convenient societies can't be convenient every single day. Could teenagers play a larger role in helping countries respond to threats? Elisabeth Braw and Per Brekke discuss.
Tensions in the Gulf region have soared following a drone and missile attack on Saudi oil facilities, and the Kingdom is faced with a plethora of security challenges. These come at a time of extensive social and economic reforms inside the Kingdom. Prince Khalid discussed all these questions and offered his views on the Kingdom's security and prosperity in the years to come. The conversation was on the record. Prince Khalid was appointed Ambassador to the UK in April this year. He was educated at Oxford University, where he obtained a degree in Oriental Studies, and then commissioned from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. Previously, Prince Khalid has served in Berlin, New York and Washington.
Originally published 29 August 2019 In this episode Karin talks to Sir John Scarlett about his career in the British Secret Intelligence Service, including his time as Chief. They discuss the collapse of the Soviet Union, 9/11 and even green ink, among other issues!