It is no secret that Australia finds itself in an increasingly contested regional and global environment; rising powers and non-state, asymmetric actors are serving as major factors in the nation’s strategic calculus. In this podcast, former Chief of the Royal Canadian Navy, Vice Admiral (Ret’d) Paul Maddison, CMM, MSM, CD, turned inaugural director of the UNSW Defence Research Institute, joins host Phil Tarrant to discuss the commonalities between Australia and Canada, growing interoperability, defence innovation and the future direction of both countries.
As part of the conversation, Vice Admiral (Ret'd) Paul Maddison joins host Phil Tarrant to discuss the commonalities between Australia and Canada and the role both nations will play in navigating an increasingly contested Indo-Pacific.
Maddison explains how his experience as the Canadian high commissioner to Australia during the lead up to the 2016 Australian Defence White Paper and how it has not only shaped Australia's long-term defence capability development, but also the government’s focus on developing and sustaining a competitive, long-term defence industrial base.
As part of this, Maddison will speak to the inherent links between the Australian Defence Force and Defence organisation and the Canadian Armed Forces and their respective Defence organisation. Building on this, Maddison will highlight the growing levels of interoperability between the two nations as a result of the Type 26 Global Combat Ship selection and the role both nations play within the broader US-led global order and the Five Eyes.
Shifting towards his new role as the inaugural head of the University of New South Wales Defence Research Institute, Maddison will discuss one of the primary focuses of the freshly minted UNSW Defence Research Institute, which is to nurture and strengthen international relationships, particularly within the Five Eyes network, mainly the US, UK, New Zealand and Canada.
Finally, Maddison will speak to the role of defence innovation in the Australian industry and defence ecosystems, and the role the nation’s entrepreneurial spirit will play in providing capability enhancements for the ADF and broader alliance network – as part of this, Maddison will discuss the collaborative nature of contemporary research and development within Australia and UNSW in particular, and the role it plays in supporting Australia’s defence industry.
Enjoy the podcast,
The Defence Connect team
Listen to previous episodes of the Defence Connect podcast:
Episode 521: CONTESTED GROUND: Regaining the qualitative advantage
Episode 520: CONTESTED GROUND: What’s in store for 2025? Part 2
Episode 519: PODCAST: Boosting women’s involvement in defence industry, with Rachel Falzon, Women in Defence Association
Episode 518: SPOTLIGHT: Delivering a sovereign small arms and load carriage capability, with Aquaterro’s Graeme Bulte
Episode 517: PODCAST: Royal Australian Navy minehunters’ new purpose after service, with Frank van der Linde
Episode 516: CONTESTED GROUND: What’s in store for 2025?
Episode 515: PODCAST: Building a robust, fit for purpose ADF, with Minister for Defence Personnel and Veterans’ Affairs Matt Keogh MP
Episode 514: CONTESTED GROUND: What Trump’s Panama Canal comments mean for maritime law
Episode 513: SPOTLIGHT: How AIR 6500 will defend Australia’s shores, with Lockheed Martin Australia’s Liam Catterson
Episode 512: SPOTLIGHT: Engaging with Australia’s next-generation Defence STEM workforce, with DSTG’s Dr Carolyn Patteson and Dr Mike Wilson