The final episode of the Counterpoint Conversations podcast series will focus on the challenges ahead in reshaping the cultural settings of the defence force, particularly in relation to the augmented reality and virtual reality technologies being adopted for learning and development.

As the demands of the AUKUS program evolve, engaging the widest range of people with the right mix of problem-solving skills is going to be essential. Diversity of thinking – including addressing gender balance and managing awareness of bias – will be a central plank for success.  

With the defence sector’s increasing move to gamification and augmented reality to innovate and adapt to the changing nature of warfare, this podcast will explore the importance of inclusivity at the design stage of technology to ensure diversity in thought, assessment, life experience and world view, to help address complexity in decision making.  

This discussion will explore transformative projects within the public sector. Public sector projects progress at a different speed to those in the private sector, and scrutiny of government project management extends far beyond a government agency’s internal stakeholders - there are multiple goals and milestones to report on, many teams of people to manage and access to an incredible wealth of resources.

In this episode, Public Service Medal recipient Patricia Kelly (formerly with the SKA and IP Australia), and Principal of Buildcorp, Josephine Sukkar, explore the projects that have been created in the public sector environment and become transformative by way of multiple applications across the economy. What are the projects that have been created within certain confines of government, that have gone on to be the foundation for significant national policies and outputs – and who are the people working behind the scenes to deliver them?

Those who make up the senior cohort of cyber in gov are mainly women, and we’re interested to discuss the reasons for this and how it benefits cyber as a portfolio. How much of an executive-level role in the cyber industry is about the technology, and how much is about people skills and an ability to convey the message? This episode will discuss ‘counterpoints’ of how gender and diversity more generally equips business and government to be more cyber resilient.

The Australian Government’s goal to be a global leader in artificial intelligence (AI) must be a diverse and inclusive effort if we’re to better benefit from varied approaches to problem solving. This not only refers to the importance of supporting the next generation of women in STEM, but also including the voices of First Peoples as we negotiate the complexity around AI and machine learning. This discussion will focus on what the creation of ethical AI looks like from an indigenous perspective and how responsible AI and science is being combined with Indigenous knowledge to solve complex problems, both in Australia and abroad.

Members of the academic field of science will play a vital role in building the 21st century enterprises that will create solutions and jobs critical to solving complex societal problems. However, we can only ever be successful with our scientific endeavours if we can get them out of the lab and into the business landscape. Dharmica Mistry, co-founder and former chief scientist for BCAL Diagnostics and head of medtech and biotech for Cicada Innovations, and Alistair Gordon, CEO of HFL Leadership, discuss business as a counterpoint to science, the importance of business acumen to effectively communicate its applications, and the barriers encountered by women undertaking management and leadership activity in technical fields.