We are consistently reminded that Australia is a maritime trading nation and, as such, is exposed to all the vulnerabilities. So why haven't we prepared accordingly?

As the ceasefire in the Middle East collapses and both sides begin to once again ramp up their efforts to assert control over the Strait of Hormuz and the globally sensitive waterway, Australia is reminded of its inherent vulnerability to global maritime shocks.

To date, Australia's response to these challenges has been to default to the organs and institutions established by the post-World War II order, seeking arbitration, mediation and resolution, however, those mechanisms no longer suffice.

In this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, host Steve Kuper is joined by UNSW's Professor Douglas Guilfoyle and Associate Professor Daniel Prior, authors of the World in Transition report detailing the challenges which face Australia and now thrown into public focus as a result of the conflict in the Middle East.

The trio deep dive into the legal, economic and political challenges that have emerged as a result of the conflict in the Middle East and Australia's mounting issues that will only continue to compound in the coming months.

They also discuss the ramifications of post-Cold War globalisation and the creation and vulnerability of the "just in time" supply chain ecosystems and what can be done to minimise our exposure to these challenges.

Finally, they also interrogate the phenomena of "friendshoring" and "reshoring" as solutions to bringing supply chains closer to home as a means of securing national interests and what models can be leveraged to change Australia's self-inflicted vulnerability.

Enjoy the podcast,
The Contested Ground team

Many organisations struggle with the changing nature of cyber security compliance and regulations – but it can be a powerful force for positive change, according to the head of advisory and assurance at Fujitsu, Laura O'Neill.

Join Cyber Daily's deputy editor, David Hollingworth, and Fujitsu's Laura O'Neill as they take an insightful look at the world of compliance and regulations in the age of AI adoption at scale and an expanding threat landscape.

In this essential podcast, the pair analyse the shift from "compliance" to "continuous cyber accountability" before moving onto critical infrastructure and its modern definition, the challenges of securing ever more complex supply chains and how, at the end of the day, it's all about keeping businesses and their processes ready to face the inevitable without fear.

O'Neill will be a guest at this month's Australian Cyber Summit, along with range of other exceptional speakers and panellists, so get your tickets now!

Cyber security leadership matters now more than ever, and the role of CISO is the most important piece of the puzzle. Join Cyber Daily's David Hollingworth and PEXA's cyber lead, Graham Fairley, to discover how security can become a business enabler, not an afterthought.

With the Australian Cyber Summit 2026 coming up later this month, David Hollingworth, deputy editor of Cyber Daily, is joined by the CISO of property settlement platform PEXA to deep dive into how the role of CISO can be a key part of any business's growth story.

From enabling business growth via secure business practices, to treating cyber security as a whole-of-business necessity rather than just something that's "nice to have" – all while navigating the advancement of AI – this essential discussion will expand your idea of what a CISO can be.

Don't forget – tickets are now on sale for the Australian Cyber Summit, coming up on 30 April in Sydney. BUY YOURS NOW!