Advertise on podcast: Veteran Business Community Podcast

🏆 Veteran-led capability recognised at the highest level. E130 | Andrew Bridge – Informatech: Defence Connect Veteran Business of the Year 2026 Andrew Bridge joined the Australian Army at 17, graduating from ADFA before serving as an Artillery officer. His career included deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, work in the Solomon Islands and a posting as an instructor at RMC. When a medical condition ended his full-time service, Andrew moved into business—eventually joining Informatech, where he is now CEO. Founded by Navy veterans Nathan and Scott, Informatech provides integration and assurance services across Defence, national security and the Australian Government. Its capabilities include ICT testing and evaluation, cyber assurance and helping new technologies integrate safely and effectively into complex environments. Andrew also shares how the company grew from around 50 employees to more than 250 at its peak while adapting to major changes across the Defence market. In this episode, Andrew discusses Informatech being named Veteran Business of the Year at the 2026 Defence Connect Australian Defence Industry Awards, the challenges SMEs face within Defence supply chains and why veteran-owned businesses deserve greater procurement opportunities. A wide-ranging conversation about transition, entrepreneurship, AI, sovereign capability and the value veterans bring to Australian industry. 🌐 Learn more:👉 https://www.informatech.com.au/ 🌐 Join the VBC Community:👉 https://veteranbc.com/join-the-community #VBC #VBCPodcast #VeteranBusinessCommunity #VeteranBusiness #Informatech #DefenceIndustry #VeteranOwned #CyberAssurance #ICTTesting #AustralianDefenceIndustryAwards #SovereignCapability #StillServing

🏠 From turning spanners to building property portfolios. E129 | Kane Dury – Kane Dury – Discover Buyers Agency: From Army Mechanic to Helping Veterans Build Wealth Through Property Kane Dury joined the Australian Army at 18 and served as a RAEME Vehicle Mechanic, later reaching the rank of Sergeant. While posted to Townsville, he purchased his first property at 22 and became fascinated with property investing. By 24, he owned three properties, setting him on a path that eventually led him to leave Defence and pursue a career in property and finance. In this Land Forces Spotlight episode, Kane explains how Discover Buyers Agency helps owner-occupiers and investors develop a clear property strategy, research suitable markets, conduct thorough due diligence and negotiate with the buyer’s interests in mind. He also discusses why current and former ADF members must consider their individual postings, rent assistance and Defence housing entitlements when planning their property journey. Kane openly shares the costly lessons from his first purchase, including limited growth and its later exposure to flooding. A practical conversation about seeking the right advice, understanding fair market value and avoiding emotional or poorly researched decisions when making one of life’s largest investments. 🌐 Learn more:👉 https://www.discoverbuyersagency.com.au/ 🌐 Join the VBC Community:👉 https://veteranbc.com/join-the-community #VBC #VBCPodcast #VeteranBusinessCommunity #VeteranBusiness #DiscoverBuyersAgency #PropertyInvestment #BuyersAgent #PropertyStrategy #AustralianArmy #RAEME #LandForces2026 #StillServing

🕊️ Turning unimaginable loss into a reason to keep helping others. E128 | Greg Jenkins - a courageous story of never giving up the search and fight for his mum who was killed as a victim of crime in Malaysia. (p.s. Veteran business owner as well) Greg Jenkins served in the Royal Australian Air Force for 26 years, beginning as an Airfield Defence Guard before moving into human intelligence and reaching the rank of Flight Sergeant. His career included deployments to Timor-Leste, Qatar, Afghanistan and Iraq, but his most difficult fight began while he was still serving. In December 2017, Greg’s mum, Anna, disappeared during a visit to Malaysia. Faced with delays, unanswered questions and a lack of support, Greg made nearly 80 trips to Malaysia to search for her and pursue justice. He now uses that experience to support other Australian families affected by crimes overseas while advocating for stronger recognition and assistance through the Victims of Crime framework. Greg also shares how purpose shaped his two veteran-owned businesses. Outpost Advocacy provides ethical, capped-fee advocacy and ongoing support for veterans, while Frannkly Roasted—named after his parents, Frank and Anna—helps fund support for veterans, first responders and victims of crime. A deeply personal conversation about service, persistence and creating something positive from unimaginable loss. 🌐 Learn more:👉 https://outpostadvocacy.com/👉 https://frannklyroasted.com.au/ 🌐 Join the VBC Community:👉 https://veteranbc.com/join-our-community #VBC #VBCPodcast #VeteranBusinessCommunity #VeteranBusiness #OutpostAdvocacy #FrannklyRoasted #VeteranAdvocacy #VictimsOfCrime #RAAFVeteran #Persistence #CommunitySupport #StillServing

🎯 Training that holds up when the pressure is on. E127 | Mick Lee – Nucleus Evolution: What Do the Army and Federal Police Have in Common? Training at the Core of Their Values. How Mick Took This Experience to Create a Specialist Training Company in WA. Mick Lee is an Australian Army veteran who served in the Royal Australian Regiment before spending 10 years in federal law enforcement. Working within the Australian Federal Police’s School of Law Enforcement Intelligence, he helped design and deliver specialist training in Australia and overseas before moving into learning and development consultancy. In this episode, Mick explains how Nucleus Evolution helps organisations build practical training that delivers lasting results. Its neuroscience-informed Calm, Safe, Excellence framework draws on the muscle memory developed through military and law-enforcement training, helping people remain capable when pressure rises instead of forgetting what they learned months earlier. Mick also shares lessons from performing stand-up comedy at veteran events and why holding an audience’s attention is just as important in a training room. He encourages veteran business owners not to limit themselves to the Defence sector, but to take their skills into industries facing the same challenges. A practical conversation about workplace learning, performance under pressure and building a business around measurable outcomes. 🌐 Learn more:👉 https://www.nucleusevolution.com.au 🌐 Meet Mick at the Veteran-Owned Pavilion:👉 Land Forces 2026 | 6–8 October | Perth 🌐 Join the VBC Community:👉 https://veteranbc.com/join-our-community #VBC #VBCPodcast #VeteranBusinessCommunity #VeteranBusiness #NucleusEvolution #LearningAndDevelopment #WorkplaceTraining #PerformanceUnderPressure #AustralianArmy #LawEnforcement #LandForces2026 #StillServing

💡 Simplifying technology to solve real business problems. E126 | Rick Van Driel - GNR8 & Symphony - veteran founded software solutions to empower content creation and support complex sales solutions. Rick van Driel joined the Australian Army at 17, beginning in the Survey Corps before transferring to RAEME as technology entered the workplace. After leaving Defence, he built a 27-year career across IT, consulting and sales—working on major projects, running businesses and selling complex, multimillion-dollar solutions. After leaving the corporate world, Rick founded Team Solutions Group and developed Symphony, a platform designed to help organisations navigate complex sales involving multiple stakeholders, long decision cycles and tenders. It helps sales teams better understand their customers, build decision confidence and spend more time having meaningful conversations. Rick also created GNR8, a marketing automation platform that helps small and medium businesses research audiences, find leads and create branded content for LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. A practical conversation about using technology to reduce repetitive work, simplify complexity and give business owners more time to focus on their customers, families and the outcomes that matter. 🌐 Learn more:👉 https://teamsolutionsgroup.com.au 🌐 Join the VBC Community:👉 https://veteranbc.com/join-our-community #VBC #VBCPodcast #VeteranBusinessCommunity #VeteranBusiness #TeamSolutionsGroup #GNR8 #Symphony #SalesTechnology #MarketingAutomation #ComplexSales #ArtificialIntelligence #RAEME #StillServing

⚓ From the Navy to financial planning with purpose. E125 | Wayne Bemet – National Service Financial: How Does a Navy Lad Deploy in a Wedgetail and End Up Starting a Leading Veteran-Focused Financial Planning Business? It’s a Top Yarn. Wayne Bemet served in the ADF for 20 years, building a Navy career that eventually took him into fighter control and an unusual joint-service role aboard the RAAF’s E-7A Wedgetail. After five operational deployments, Wayne’s career ended through medical discharge—forcing him to consider what life, work and financial security would look like for him and his family beyond service. Drawing on that personal experience, Wayne founded National Service Financial to help veterans navigate the financial side of transition, including DVA compensation, military superannuation, insurance and long-term planning. His team has now supported more than 2,000 veterans and pioneered a dedicated Financial Transition Program designed to help ADF members prepare before they walk out the gate for the final time. Wayne also shares how a serious health scare prompted him to reconsider his workload and redefine his role within the business. Today, he is expanding his impact through the Military Money YouTube channel, media advocacy and mentoring athletes—drawing on the strong similarities he sees between elite sport and military service. A top yarn about service, transition, purpose and building a business from lived experience. 🌐 Learn more:👉 https://www.nationalservicefinancial.com.au/ 🌐 Join the VBC Community:👉 https://veteranbc.com/join-our-community #VBC #VBCPodcast #VeteranBusinessCommunity #VeteranBusiness #NationalServiceFinancial #MilitaryMoney #FinancialPlanning #FinancialTransition #ADFTransition #RoyalAustralianNavy #VeteranSupport #StillServing

🏗️ Building a business—and a legacy that lasts. E124 | Stuart Organ – Total Fit Outs Perth: Building a Business Focused on Life and Legacy Stuart Organ left school at 12 and experienced an unstable childhood before joining the Royal Corps of Transport at 17. The British Army gave him the structure, accountability and discipline that changed the direction of his life—qualities he has carried into business, family and everything he has built since. After leaving the Army for love, Stuart moved from driving and labouring into carpentry, contract management and commercial construction. He later relocated to Perth with his wife and three children, eventually establishing his own building business and joining Total Fit Outs. Today, he leads a growing team delivering commercial fit-outs across retail, hospitality, health, wellness and office spaces, supported by design, estimating and joinery capabilities. In this episode, Stuart shares the value of choosing the right franchise, surrounding yourself with good people and building complementary services around a core business. He also explains why success is no longer about chasing the highest revenue—it is about selecting the right clients, protecting time with family and creating an asset that can support his wife, children and five granddaughters. An honest conversation about hard work, calculated growth and building a life and legacy beyond the income. 🌐 Learn more:👉 https://www.totalfitouts.com.au/ 🌐 Join the VBC Community:👉 https://veteranbc.com/join-our-community #VBC #VBCPodcast #VeteranBusinessCommunity #VeteranBusiness #TotalFitOuts #CommercialFitOuts #Construction #Franchising #BusinessGrowth #FamilyBusiness #Legacy #BritishArmy #StillServing

🎯 Turning clicks into customers! E123 | Paul Medina – ClickSquad: From the Marine Corps to Meta Ads and PPC Specialist—an American’s Journey to Melbourne Paul Medina is a United States Marine Corps veteran who enlisted shortly after 9/11 and served two deployments in Iraq. As an infantryman, he took part in the initial 2003 invasion and the Battle of Najaf in 2004, where he was wounded and awarded the Purple Heart. After completing his service, Paul began the challenging transition from military life into sales and business. His digital marketing journey began while helping his father’s event-hire business replace hundreds of daily outbound faxes with Google Ads. After seeing the immediate impact of inbound leads, Paul developed his skills across paid advertising, affiliate marketing and Meta before moving to Melbourne and establishing ClickSquad. In this episode, Paul explains how businesses can better understand their true return on advertising, avoid misleading platform data and track conversions that genuinely matter. A practical conversation about Google Ads, Meta Ads, SEO and why generating leads is only the beginning—the right follow-up and sales process are what turn them into customers. 🌐 Learn more:👉 https://clicksquad.com.au 🌐 Join the VBC Community:👉 https://veteranbc.com/join-our-community #VBC #VBCPodcast #VeteranBusinessCommunity #VeteranBusiness #ClickSquad #DigitalMarketing #GoogleAds #MetaAds #PPC #SEO #LeadGeneration #USMC #StillServing

🎖️ From big ambition comes lasting legacy. E122 | Rod Henderson - Australian Peacekeepers - A soldier's career and a national monument to military personnel killed in training. From big ambition comes big legacy. Rod Henderson served in the Australian Army for 22 years, beginning as a paratrooper with 3 RAR before becoming a Black Hawk and Chinook helicopter crewman. His service included deployments to East Timor, Papua New Guinea, Pakistan and Afghanistan, along with domestic counter-terrorism and disaster-response operations. In this episode, Rod shares his journey from medical separation to finding renewed purpose through the Australian War Memorial, writing his memoir Stop Screaming, I’m Scared Too, and becoming CEO of the Australian Peacekeepers and Peacemakers Veterans’ Association. He discusses the importance of recognising every form of service and ensuring Australia’s peacekeepers receive the advocacy and recognition they deserve. Rod also introduces the ambitious Australian Military Training Memorial—a proposed national monument on Anzac Parade honouring ADF personnel who lost their lives during training. A powerful conversation about service, purpose and creating a lasting place of recognition for those who left for training but never came home. 🌐 Learn more and support the association:👉 https://www.peacekeepers.asn.au 📖 Get a signed copy of Rod’s memoir:👉 https://www.rodhendersonauthor.com.au 🌐 Join the VBC Community:👉 https://veteranbc.com/join-our-community #VBC #VBCPodcast #VeteranBusinessCommunity #AustralianVeterans #AustralianPeacekeepers #APPVA #MilitaryService #VeteranAdvocacy #AustralianMilitaryTrainingMemorial #StillServing

📊 Commercial strength is a capability too. E121 | Dan Exeter – ERA Group: Driving Commercial Success into Defence Industry. How a Lifetime of Corporate and Military Experience Gives Dan the Insights into Defence Industry Success. Dan Exeter is a British Army Afghanistan veteran and Fellow Chartered Accountant who deployed on Operation Herrick 7 with the Household Cavalry Regiment. After moving to Australia, he held senior finance roles across organisations including realestate.com.au, Jetstar Airways, Cleanaway, G4S, Healthscope and the Department of Defence before joining ERA Group. In this episode, Dan explores why technical capability alone is not enough to succeed in Defence industry. Businesses must also navigate long procurement cycles, compliance requirements and mounting overheads while remaining profitable, resilient and ready to invest in future capability. Drawing on his experience as both a reconnaissance soldier and finance leader, Dan explains why businesses must carefully examine where value is being created—and where it may be leaking away. A practical conversation about improving profit and cash flow, reducing management burden and building a commercially stronger Defence business. 🌐 Learn more:👉 eragroup.com  🌐 Join the VBC Community:👉 https://veteranbc.com/join-our-community #VBC #VBCPodcast #VeteranBusinessCommunity #VeteranBusiness #DefenceIndustry #CommercialReadiness #BusinessProfitability #CashFlow #ERAGROUP #VeteranEntrepreneurship #StillServing

🥽 Step inside the future of learning! E120 | Dr Sandra Gallagher – Eureka Learning Network: How VR and gamification are changing the way we learn Dr Sandra Gallagher is an Army Reserve veteran, educator and Founder of Eureka Learning Network and ELN Game Studio. After leaving school in Year 10, Sandra went on to build a career across TAFE, university, correctional education and learning design, eventually completing her doctorate. She is also the winner of the 2026 VBC Technology, Software and Innovation Award. In this episode, Sandra explains how virtual reality and gamification can make education more practical, interactive and engaging. Through TradyCraft, her virtual engineering workshop, students can practise workplace safety, use simulated tools and complete hands-on tasks in a safe environment where mistakes become part of the learning process. Sandra also discusses why learning should focus on practical application rather than simply reading textbooks or earning qualifications. A fascinating conversation about immersive training, building confidence through simulation and how technology is creating new ways for people to develop real-world skills. 🌐 Learn more:👉elngamestudio.com.au 🌐 Join the VBC Community:👉 https://veteranbc.com/join-our-community #VBC #VBCPodcast #VeteranBusinessCommunity #VeteranBusiness #EurekaLearningNetwork #VirtualReality #Gamification #ImmersiveLearning #EducationTechnology #Innovation #ArmyReserve #StillServing

🫡 A tribute to Australia’s reservists S03E45 | Peter Liston – My Tribute to the Reserves: Why Your Service Matters and Your Business Is Important to VBC In Part 3 of Building Australia’s Veteran Business Ecosystem, VBC Co-Founder Peter Liston recognises the people who have served across the Army, Navy or Air Force in a reserve capacity. Whether you served briefly, never deployed or don’t identify strongly with the word “veteran”, your service still matters—and you are an important part of the Veteran Business Community. Pete explores the valuable combination of military service and civilian experience that reservists bring to business. From engineering and construction to finance, logistics, technology and professional services, reservists contribute skills and capabilities developed across both their military and civilian careers. Pete also speaks to current ADF members considering transition, sharing how Reserve service can help them maintain their connection, contribute to the nation and provide stability while establishing a business. Above all, this episode carries a clear message: if you served, you belong—and VBC is here to support your business journey. 🌐 Join the VBC Community:👉 https://veteranbc.com/join-our-community #VBC #VBCPodcast #VeteranBusinessCommunity #VeteranBusiness #ADFReserves #ArmyReserve #NavyReserve #AirForceReserve #MilitaryTransition #VeteranEntrepreneurship #StillServing

💳 From the high seas to helping businesses get paid! S03E43 | Lorne Thurgar – Loot Pay: Tired of paying high fees for electronic payments or need a new way to do POS on the run? Former Navy and Australian Federal copper Lorne explains how. Lorne Thurgar joined the Royal Australian Navy at 16, serving as a meteorologist and navigator’s yeoman aboard HMAS Canberra and HMAS Success. He later spent almost 20 years with the Australian Federal Police, with roles and deployments spanning fraud, intelligence, undercover operations, Cyprus, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. In this episode, Lorne shares how he moved into business and built Loot Pay, helping businesses manage electronic payments, EFTPOS, ATMs and point-of-sale solutions. He explains how mobile operators and tradies can turn a compatible phone into a payment terminal, send secure payment links and take deposits while meeting customers on the road. Lorne also discusses the fees hidden within electronic transactions, the importance of reliable support and how a simple payment health check can identify potential savings. A practical conversation for any business accepting electronic payments and looking to improve costs, cash flow and the way customers pay. 🌐 Learn more:👉 https://lootpay.com.au 🌐 Join the VBC Community:👉 https://veteranbc.com/join-our-community #VBC #VBCPodcast #VeteranBusinessCommunity #VeteranBusiness #LootPay #PaymentSolutions #EFTPOS #MobilePayments #CashFlow #RoyalAustralianNavy #StillServing

🇦🇺 Why veteran enterprise matters to Australia S03E43 | Building Australia’s Veteran Business Ecosystem – Part 2: The Big Picture. Why Veteran Enterprise Matters – Peter Liston In Part 2 of the series, VBC Co-Founder Peter Liston looks at the long history of veteran entrepreneurship in Australia and how skills developed through service have helped veterans build businesses, create jobs and contribute to the national economy. Pete explains why veteran enterprise is about more than Defence industry. Veteran-owned businesses operate across almost every sector, and their success can create further employment and opportunities for other veterans. He also discusses the need for veteran businesses to be recognised for their capability, quality and commercial value—not as recipients of a handout. The episode explores VBC’s work to increase demand through government and corporate procurement, verification and the Buy Veteran movement. Pete also shares VBC’s goal of creating $1 billion in recurring revenue opportunities for Australia’s veteran business community by 2029—and challenges veteran business owners to support the movement by buying from one another. 🌐 Find and support veteran-owned businesses:👉 https://business.veteranbc.com 🌐 Join the VBC Community:👉 https://veteranbc.com/join-our-community #VBC #VBCPodcast #VeteranBusinessCommunity #VeteranBusiness #VeteranEnterprise #BuyVeteran #VeteranOwned #Procurement #AustralianBusiness #StillServing

🚀 Where defence innovation meets investment! S03E42 | Steve Baxter – TAK HACK 26 and Reveille 26: Two key events for investors and innovators run by Beaten Zone Venture Capital Steve Baxter is an Australian Army veteran, entrepreneur, investor and the Founder of Beaten Zone Venture Capital—an early-stage investment firm supporting Australian companies building sovereign defence capability and helping them enter the US market. In this episode, Steve introduces two upcoming events designed to strengthen Australia’s defence innovation and investment ecosystem. 💡 TAK HACK 26 is a three-day hackathon bringing together technical specialists, operators and people interested in defence technology. Participants form teams, develop ideas and build practical solutions using the Tactical Awareness Kit platform. It’s an opportunity to collaborate, test ideas and meet potential future teammates. 📅 14–16 August 2026📍 The Precinct, Fortitude Valley, Brisbane 💰 Reveille 26 is a one-day conference created to help investors and capital allocators better understand the opportunities within Australia’s defence sector. It brings together Australian and international investors, successful defence businesses and industry leaders to explore how capital can support innovation, sovereign capability and commercial growth. 📅 9 September 2026📍 Sofitel Gold Coast Steve also shares insights into entering the US defence market, why Australian defence businesses remain underrepresented among investors, and the importance of combining commercial success with a genuine commitment to Australia’s national capability. A timely conversation for innovators, founders and investors looking to better understand Australia’s growing defence technology sector. 🌐 Learn more:👉 https://beatenzone.vc👉 https://reveille2026.com 🌐 Join the VBC Community:👉 https://veteranbc.com/join-our-community #VBC #VBCPodcast #VeteranBusinessCommunity #VeteranBusiness #BeatenZoneVC #TACHack26 #Reveille26 #DefenceInnovation #DefenceIndustry #VentureCapital #SovereignCapability #AustralianInnovation