PODCAST: Australian Defence Industry Awards’ Rising Star of the Year, Gitarth Vaishnav

Joint-capabilities
|
By: Robyn Tongol
Photo: Camera Creations

In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, senior journalist Robert Dougherty is joined by the Australian Defence Industry Awards’ Rising Star of the Year, Gitarth Vaishnav, to discuss the inspiring award and his efforts as a software engineer in the sensor fusion team at DroneShield headquarters in Sydney.

In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, senior journalist Robert Dougherty is joined by the Australian Defence Industry Awards’ Rising Star of the Year, Gitarth Vaishnav, to discuss the inspiring award and his efforts as a software engineer in the sensor fusion team at DroneShield headquarters in Sydney.

The University of Technology Sydney graduate, who was recognised as the AI Rising Star of the Year at the Australian AI Awards in 2024, has completed a bachelor of computing science (honours) and holds a major in artificial intelligence and data analytics.

The pair discuss a range of topics regarding the defence industry and engineering, including:

  • Vaishnav’s experience winning the Rising Star of the Year award and the acknowledgement of the entire defence industry at ADIA in Canberra.
  • His thoughts regarding the evolution of drone and counter-drone technology internationally and domestically.
  • His keen interest in programming and microcontrollers during high school and a chance meeting with DroneShield leadership while he was studying at UTS in Sydney.
  • Vaishnav’s mentors and the people who have inspired and helped along the way at DroneShield.

The pair wrap up the podcast discussing personal challenges and plans for the future.

Enjoy the podcast,
The Defence Connect team

Want to see more stories from trusted news sources?
Make Defence Connect a preferred news source on Google.
Click here to add Defence Connect as a preferred news source.

Tags:

Listen to previous episodes of the Defence Connect podcast:

Episode 11: CONTESTED GROUND: Australia and the West must ask themselves new questions in the face of the modern world, with Robbin Laird
Episode 10: PODCAST: Black Hawk capability, B-21 bomber debate, and upcoming budget
Episode 9: PODCAST: Supermarine Spitfire, warbird aviation and modern aerial innovation, with Keith Russell
Episode 8: PODCAST: Bushmaster PMV funding, long-range strike expansion and cyber defence
Episode 7: PODCAST: Space Command workforce expansion and operationalising the domain, with Major General Gregory Novak AM
Episode 6: CONTESTED GROUND: The Defence budget, inflationary pressures and domestic information warfare
Episode 5: SPOTLIGHT: Maritime sustainment, mission-ready maintenance and resilient fleet capability, with Serco’s David Astbury
Episode 4: PODCAST: Anzac Day reflections, veteran support reform and ADF workforce trends, with Minister Matt Keogh
Episode 3: SPOTLIGHT: Open-source growth across defence and national security, with SUSE CMO Margaret Dawson
Episode 2: CONTESTED GROUND: Shipping, supply chains and Australia’s exposure to a volatile system, with UNSW’s Professor Douglas Guilfoyle and Associate Professor Daniel Prior