Saltwater Strategists

In an increasingly competitive maritime environment, the Saltwater Strategists provide insightful and considered discussion on maritime issues in the Indo-Pacific. Well respected strategists, academics, international relations and maritime professionals from across the region provide their thoughts on the maritime challenges and opportunities within the region. If you want to understand current maritime issues within the Indo-Pacific region, the Saltwater Strategists: The Pacific Series is the podcast for you.The Saltwater Strategists is a product of the Australian Naval Institute (ANI). The ANI is a non-profit self-supporting organisation that encouraging the promotion and advancement of knowledge related to the maritime profession. The ANI Provides an exchange of ideas concerning issues related to the maritime profession.

Saltwater Strategists is a society podcast hosted by Australian Naval Institute, with 45 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Australian Naval Institute hosts Saltwater Strategists, a society show with 45 episodes published.

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  Saltwater Strategists

  S5 Special Episode 2 - 2026 Vernon Parker Oration- VADM Mark Hammond

  Jul 27, 202628 min

  Named after Commodore Vernon Parker, a founder and inaugural President of the Australian Naval Institute, the annual Vernon Parker Oration is one of the Australian Naval Institute’s flagship events. On the 19th of May this year, the Institute was extremely honoured for the oration to be given by then-Chief of Navy and ANI Patron, Vice Admiral Mark Hammond, AO RAN. By serendipitous circumstance, VADM Hammond had just four weeks earlier been appointed as the future Chief of the Australian Defence Force, lending this oration special poignancy. With a narrative rich in history and a deep knowledge instilled from a lengthy professional career, VADM Hammond, among broader reflections, provided a passionate and informative account of the historical and future importance of submarines to Australian seapower, and subsequently to Australian critical interests.

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  Saltwater Strategists

  5.5 'Application of Naval History and Strategy' with Sean Andrews and Knox Peden

  Jul 6, 202652 min

  Application of Naval History and Strategy Dr Sean Andrews, CSC, PhD, Senior Research Fellow at the Changing Character of War Centre, University of Oxford, and Dr Knox Peden, Academic Research Officer in the Sea Power Centre - Australia and a Visiting Fellow in the Strategic and Defence Studies Centre at the Australian National University Synopsis: Through the amalgam of their own 125-year anniversary celebrations, and a deteriorating global security environment with critical local and regional implications, 2026 sees the Royal Australian Navy dedicating significant consideration to matters of both history and strategy. In this episode of Saltwater Strategists, host Duncan MacRae sits down with Dr Sean Andrews, CSC and Dr Knox Peden to discuss the importance of both historical and strategic study, and the practical utility of their combined consideration. Drawing on their respective bodies of research and professional experience, Sean and Knox provide observations and evaluations of historical case studies, reflections on the works of key strategic and historical thinkers, and recommendations on how historical and strategy study can be employed by the modern naval practitioner. A preview of Sean’s forthcoming endeavours, ‘The Goldrick Project’ and ‘The History of Australian Sailors’, and general discussion on the work of the Seapower Centre – Australia, round out this conversation.

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  Saltwater Strategists

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

  May 16, 20261h 16mS0

  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 partner...

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  Saltwater Strategists

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

  May 1, 202632 minS0

  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...

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  Saltwater Strategists

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

  Apr 12, 202632 minS0

  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...

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