Saltwater Strategists

S5 Special Episode 1 - Unpacking the Maritime Elements of the NDS 26 Webinar

Unpacking the Maritime Elements of the 2026 National Defence Strategy The Australian Naval Institute hosted a discussion on 6 May 26 examining the maritime elements of the recently released 2026 National Defence Strategy. The panel explored what the Strategy says about Australia at sea, where capability and investment priorities are heading, and whether current settings align with Australia’s strategic circumstances and maritime requirements. The discussion examined themes including: • Australia’s maritime strategy and strategic outlook • Sea denial and sea control • Autonomy and emerging technologies • Strike and Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) • Capability priorities and delivery challenges • Australia’s ability to operate with allies and partners Panellists • VADM (Retd) Peter Jones AO DSC AM • Troy Duggan, CEO, C2 Robotics • Brigadier (Retd) Will Taylor OBE Moderator • Jennifer Parker, Adjunct Professor, Defence and Security Institute (UWA); ANI Councillor The Australian Naval Institute is Australia’s independent forum for the exchange of ideas on naval and maritime matters. For more information or to become a member, visit: www.navalinstitute.com.au

5.4 'The Big Fix: Rebuilding Australia's National Security' by Albert Palazzo

Inaugurated in 2021, The Australian Naval Institute’s Commodore Sam Bateman Book Prize is awarded annually by the ANI to recognise excellence in books making a major contribution to the study and understanding of naval and maritime matters. The Prize is sponsored by the National Shipbuilding College and is named after Commodore Sam Bateman AM RAN (1938-2020), a former ANI Councillor and strategic thinker in recognition of his efforts to raise greater awareness of naval and/or maritime matters and progressing the understanding and value of navies in society. The winner of the 2025 SBBP is Albert Palazzo and his book, ‘The Big Fix’: Rebuilding Australia’s National Security. The Big Fix is a bold and frequently scathing critique of recent Australian defence policy, framed heavily by the 2024 National Defence Strategy and AUKUS agreement. In an unashamed challenge to the status quo, Albert offers a bold and unique alternative policy perspective for Australia’s defence and in this episode of Saltwater Strategists, host Duncan MacRae sits down with Albert to unpack the book’s many controversial themes.

5.3 Maritime Domain Awareness – Contemporary Perspectives with Mark Douglas, Starboard Maritime Intelligence

Key to success in naval and maritime security operations is situational awareness. Collection and collation of battlespace data represents a significant component of operations, often long before the commencement of the main action. The concept and use of a recognised maritime picture is increasingly expanding beyond the naval and military realm with technology increasingly empowering civil security and safety organisations manage the various maritime threat vectors affecting areas such as immigration, illegal fishing, and energy and communications infrastructure under the banner of activity more broadly referred to as maritime domain awareness. In this short but insightful episode of Saltwater Strategists, Mark Douglas, former New Zealand naval officer and now maritime domain analyst with Starboard Maritime Intelligence, gives a detailed insight into how Starboard’s AI-driven platform transforms complex open- and multi-source data into a unified operational picture and delivers actionable maritime domain awareness, helping governments and industry anticipate risk, strengthen resilience, and protect global maritime interests.

5.2 A Sailor's Perspective of the Royal Australian Navy with Warrant Officer Cheryl Collins

Host Duncan MacRae is joined by the Royal Australian Navy’s Warrant Officer Cheryl Collins, OAM CSM, currently Warrant Officer Joint Operations and the Command Senior Enlisted Leader to the Chief of Joint Operations Australia. Having joined the RAN 30 years ago as a young woman from Cootamundra in New South Wales, Cheryl’s career has seen her undertake numerous key leadership positions across training, personnel and operations, including operational service in joint, combined and multinational environments. Over the course of their discussion, Cheryl provides her perspectives as a female and as a sailor, from her initial sea postings as a Seaman Combat Systems Operator, through multiple stints as a senior sailor aboard operationally deployed warships, in operational headquarters, and to the highest echelons of enlisted leadership in the ADF. From her most recent posting as Warrant Officer Joint Operations, Cheryl offers insights to the value of the senior enlisted leader in the ADF and among our international allies and partners. Through her reflections on this vast experience, Cheryl reveals a modern sailor who is enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and innovative, and concludes with some considered advice for sailors and the officers charged with leading them. John Seymour and Hugh White - National Library Event: https://www.library.gov.au/whats-on/events/australias-naval-alliances-john-seymour-and-hugh-white

5.1 'Australia's Naval Alliances: Lessons of History' with John Seymour

In this first episode for 2026, host Duncan MacRae sits down with John Seymour to discuss ‘Australia’s Naval Alliances: Lessons of History’, his new book exploring the development of Australian seapower and naval forces predominantly in the context of Australia’s relationship with Great Britain; from the latter years of the 19th century, through early Federation and World War I, culminating in the fall of Singapore in World War II and Australia’s subsequent turn to the United States as naval protector. Reflecting the chronological structure of the book’s analysis, Duncan and John explore critical phases of early Australian political and social debate on naval power and the country’s status as a maritime nation before turning to the book’s topical conclusion, a measured yet provocative comparison to the current AUKUS partnership. Considering the historical themes of imperialism, alliance fragility and reliability, technological advancements, cost, and national strategic interest, Australia’s Naval Alliances poses many questions such as when might the US have their ‘Singapore moment’ and how much “blind faith” are Australian policy makers and defence planners placing in the reliability and strategic intent of our allies?