In this episode of the Defence Connect Spotlight podcast, senior journalist Robert Dougherty is joined by Rian Whitby, deputy chief operating officer at DEWC Services and former naval officer aerospace engineer.

The pair discuss the Australian defence ecosystem and electronic warfare in the lead-up to Whitby's appearance at the Electronic Warfare Australia-New Zealand 2026 conference.

As part of this in-depth conversation, the pair discuss a range of subjects, including the following:

• The Australian defence ecosystem as well as small-to-medium enterprises and international primes supply chains.
• Support for the Royal Australian Navy and the evolving regional threat environment in the Indo-Pacific.
• Spectrum congestion and increasingly sophisticated electronic attack capabilities in modern warfare.
• The Royal Australian Navy's new platforms, such as future Mogami Class frigates, uncrewed underwater vessels and uncrewed surface vessels.
• Integration of embedded electronic warfare upgrades into legacy naval platforms.
• Electromagnetic warfare challenges, capability gaps and Australia's evolving sovereign electronic warfare capability.

Enjoy the podcast,
The Defence Connect Spotlight team

In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, host Steve Kuper speaks with financial intelligence expert and author, Keith Bulfin as they unpack the intricacies of the global financial systems and the weaponisation of the institutions by organised crime, terrorist and state-backed networks.

The pair discuss a range of subjects including the ramifications of lax regulation and enforcement, that has resulted in significant funding, resources and technology making its way to organised crime and rogue regimes, especially Iran.

• Mr Bulfin's experience working for the US Department of Justice and consulting with law enforcement and intelligence communities on the financial networks of organised crime organisations like the Mexican cartels and their overlap with terror organisations.
• The interconnected ecosystems linking organised criminal enterprises, paramilitary and terror groups through hubs in the Middle East, particularly via hubs in Iran, the UAE, Asia and Africa.
• The diverse areas of growth focus for these organisations as they seek to collaborate and circumvent traditional law and intelligence countermeasures to expand their operational impact and revenue streams.
• The challenges presented by the growing symbiotic relationship between traditionally isolated organisations, that now share common objectives and means for furthering their business, or political reach.
• The continuing flow of "black money" from nations like China and India, that continue to flow into Australia, exposing our economy to major vulnerabilities across areas like real estate, consumer goods and services.

Enjoy the podcast,
The Contested Ground Team

In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast miniseries following the outbreak of the latest conflict in the Middle East, hosts Steve Kuper and Major General (Ret'd) Dr Marcus Thompson are joined by Air Vice-Marshal (Ret'd) John Blackburn AO to discuss the implications of the Iran conflict on Australia's energy system.

The trio begin by discussing the Australian government's rhetoric around the nation's liquid fuel supplies, its access to the global energy markets and the immediate ramifications of the ongoing throttling of oil flows out of the Middle East.

As part of this, they unpack the state of Australia's liquid fuel stockpiles, the challenges governments face in moving to "calm" the Australian public and prevent a run on the nation's limited crude oil reserves.

They also discuss the decline in the nation's refining capacity, our dependence on foreign refined fuel imports from south-east Asia and the implications for national security and resilience.

Finally, they unpack the policy and regulatory challenges and opportunities that face Australia's policymakers and the immediate steps we can take to build national resilience.

Enjoy the podcast,
The Contested Ground team