A chance meeting with an astronaut changed Riley Havila's life, diverting her path from medicine straight into the world of aerospace engineering. In this episode of Defence Connect's The Progress Report, host Tash Taylor sits down with Riley Havela, founder of Riley the Aero Girl.

She reveals how simply "shooting your shot" opens doors to valuable connections and emphasises that networking and passion are the ultimate fuels for success. The discussion dives into overcoming imposter syndrome, the necessity of personal branding, and how women are shaping the future of aviation by advocating for essential values like work-life balance.

The Progress Report. New voices. Real stories. Big shifts.

Enjoy the podcast,
The Progress Report team

In this episode of the Defence Connect Spotlight podcast, host Steve Kuper is joined by Peter Dean, professor of strategic studies at The Australian National University and within the Strategic and Defence Studies Centre and one of the lead authors of the 2023 Defence Strategic Review, and Hans Tench, senior executive and global AUKUS lead from Leidos Australia, to unpack the rapidly evolving strategic, political and industrial landscape surrounding AUKUS, with a particular focus on the often-overlooked Pillar 2.

The conversation follows the first face-to-face meeting between US President Donald Trump and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, where President Trump signalled strong support for AUKUS and committed to accelerating the delivery of nuclear-powered submarines under Pillar 1.

The trio discuss a wide range of topics, including:

• The strategic significance of President Trump's reaffirmation of AUKUS and what it means for the Virginia Class submarine deal with Australia.
• Why Pillar 2 has been lagging and how political cycles in all three nations have slowed momentum.
• The challenge of balancing defence budgets while pursuing big-ticket capabilities like nuclear-powered submarines alongside emerging technologies.
• The shift from a "balanced force" to a focused and integrated force, and whether Australia risks drifting back towards old models.
• The potential of hypersonics, integrated air and missile defence, artificial intelligence, autonomy and the US "Golden Dome" initiative.

Enjoy the podcast,
The Defence Connect team

In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, hosts Phil Tarrant and Major General (Ret'd) Dr Marcus Thompson are joined by special guest Dr Ross Babbage, chief executive officer of Strategic Forum and Non-Resident Senior Fellow at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments in Washington DC.

Together, the trio dive into Australia's rapidly shifting strategic landscape, the pressures shaping the US–Australia relationship, and the risks emerging across the Indo-Pacific as 2026 approaches.

The team also tackles the return of a Trump administration in the US government amid rising uncertainty surrounding the People's Republic of China's internal trajectory.

A central theme of the discussion is Australia's struggle to prioritise national security in line with allied expectations.

The conversation then shifts to the composition of Australia's political leadership and its effect on national preparedness.

Finally, the podcast ends with a discussion on military deterrence and insight into needed improvements in national resilience, industrial mobilisation and defence capability in Australia.

Enjoy the podcast,
The Contested Ground team