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Cold War spycraft to infamous Enigma machine: Inside an espionage expert's spy collection

Cold War spycraft to infamous Enigma machine: Inside an espionage expert's spy collection

For spy enthusiasts and collectors, World War II's infamous Enigma machine is one of the most sought-after historical artefacts — with only about 300 left worldwide.
But for Sydneysider Mike Pritchard, he happens to have three in his storage.
These cipher devices were developed and used mainly by Nazi Germany to encrypt and decrypt secret messages.
"It's actually not my favourite machine, but it's the one that everybody knows. When I take these sorts of machines out to show people, they're fascinated," Mr Pritchard said.
The work of cryptanalysts to break the Enigma code is credited with turning the tide of the war and saving a significant number of lives.
So how does an everyday Aussie like Mr Pritchard have two Swiss Enigma machines and one German Enigma machine on hand?
Mr Pritchard said he gathered the artefacts across many years from at least 20 countries and a variety of methods.
"Some [are] from public and private auctions, others from private collectors — like the cipher machines. It's a small club of people that are serious collectors."
After decades working in IT and cybersecurity in the private sector, Mr Pritchard now spends his time talking at cyber conferences and university seminars — opening the lid on his spycraft collection.
With over 1,600 artefacts to his name, it's hard to choose a favourite.
The Stasi East German camera concealed in a flower box.
The carved statue ornament that would sit on a mantelpiece for 'decoration', only to record those in the room.
Even the small Ajax cameras that were built into a variety of items — purses, belts, cigarette packets, thermos flasks, jerry cans, and more.
Nowadays concealment technology can be miniaturised down to the size of a pinhead.
"They are very interesting relics from the Cold War and nicely executed," Mr Pritchard said of his covert devices, acknowledging the prowess of this era's espionage.
"Usually this technology is developed in secret, used in secret and destroyed at the end of its life.
Mr Pritchard said tertiary students he speaks to are always intrigued by women in espionage throughout history and any associated gadgets.
The idea for a bra concealment camera came from a group of young women working in a Stasi subdivision, which designed much of the state security service's surveillance technology.
During the Cold War period, the Stasi played a key role in maintaining the authority of the East German state — heavily monitoring citizens.
"The women took a spring-powered camera, the Ajax camera, and mounted it inside a bra, and it was a success," Mr Pritchard said.
The concealments were then created under Project Meadow and used by female Stasi agents.
As for a well-known woman associated with the spy realm, Mata Hari, real name Margaretha "Gretha" MacLeod, was a Dutch exotic dancer who was suspected by the French of selling secrets to the enemy.
"She's really a tragic figure because she was not professionally trained to be an intelligence officer," Mr Pritchard said.
"She was sort of used by both sides in World War I. Mata, a courtesan, was networking between these powerful men of various countries and clumsily passing on information," Mr Pritchard said.
The original letter Mr Pritchard has from Hari is written on letterhead from Hotel Metropol in Paris, offering a peek into her life.
Another original letter in Mr Pritchard's collection is from Ian Fleming, a British writer best known for his post-war James Bond spy novel series.
Prior to his author success, Fleming served in Britain's Naval Intelligence Division during World War II.
"The letter is from his time in Berlin, and in guarded language he is writing about how someone has to meet certain 'criteria' to come and work for his organisation," Mr Pritchard said.
"It's a very nice rare item to have."
Ultimately, for Mr Pritchard, he said his dream is to open a spy museum in Sydney, given it can be "an extraordinary form of entertainment and education".
"The plan is to open an independent public museum — a home to protect these artefacts, display them in context and deliver educational programs.
"I think in the early days my kids were saying of my interest in espionage, 'Oh, Dad is going off on one', but now they've come to see me talk at conferences, and I think the penny has dropped for them.
"I want to bring this history to the world."
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Dr Boreham's Crucible: ASX newbie Tetratherix plays it slow and steady
Dr Boreham's Crucible: ASX newbie Tetratherix plays it slow and steady

News.com.au

time5 hours ago

  • News.com.au

Dr Boreham's Crucible: ASX newbie Tetratherix plays it slow and steady

By taking the 'less is more' approach to funding, the backers of the first ASX life sciences initial public offer (IPO) in seven months have been rewarded with a robust share price over the first few trading days. The developer of the world's first 'bio-stealth fluid matrix' wound management house, Tetratherix (ASX:TTX) listed on Monday after reducing the size of its raising from $35 million to $25 million. 'This IPO is not an endpoint or an exit strategy, rather a foundation upon which we will accelerate product development, expand our global clinical footprint and scale manufacturing and commercial operations,' CEO Will Knox declared. The company's Tetramatrix platform has nothing to do with stealth fighters or furtive FBI agents, but is the basis of novel tools for applications including tissue healing, bone regeneration and surgical spacing. 'Bio-stealth refers to the ability to quietly enter the body through minimally invasive means,' Knox says. 'It tricks the body, so it doesn't know it has been in there and done the things it needs to do before being reabsorbed. 'That's important because the product doesn't elicit any inflammatory or foreign body response.' Knox dubs the platform as 'medical Lego', in that the products are built from the same polymer structure. 'That means you can use the same underlying biological performance and safety data in all regulatory applications,' he says. 'Our path to market is a lot faster and simpler because the data is interchangeable across the different applications.' 'Intelligent chemistry' The technology combines four liquid monomers in ready-to-use syringes. The 'intelligent chemistry' means it sets to a chewing-gum consistency at body temperature, causing minimal damage to other tissue. The material avoids the fibrotic response associated with healing. 'The ethos is to have something everyone can use, without changing clinical workflows,' says Dr Ali Fathi, the company's co- founder. 'Even a first-year school student can use it.' The material can be easily moulded to suit the application and is not rejected by the body. Eventually, the material breaks down into water and carbon dioxide. These qualities make it suitable for day surgeries, which are increasingly common. Tetratherix currently does not have an approved product. Pending expected US Food and Drug Administration approval, the company hopes to launch products for dental applications, bone regeneration and orthopaedic uses next year. This thesis was more than theory Academic theses tend to be derided as esoteric or theoretical - or both. That's not the case with University of Sydney researcher and chemical engineer Dr Fathi, whose thesis spawned the Tetra-tech. The topic? 'Injectable Hydrogels with Tunable Physico-chemical Characteristics and Cell-interactive Behaviour for Musculo-skeletal Tissue Regeneration'. Dr Fathi and Terence Abrams formed the company, then known as Trimph Holdings, in 2025. In 2018, a dental clinical study established the technology's street cred. The company adopted its current moniker in 2020 and carried out its first private fund-raising (series A round) for $2.5 million of preference shares. This was followed by two convertible note raisings, totalling $8.45 million. The company then converted to an unlisted public company structure. Knox has extensive experience on commercializing regenerative therapies including at Cochlear. The board includes John Kelly, co-founder of the ASX-listed Atomo Diagnostics. With an initial focus on dermal repair and orthopaedic bone regeneration, Tetratherix expanded into surgical spacing and tissue healing (preventing scars forming in surgery) The company also plans to commercialise a 'spacer' to protect surrounding tissue (such as the rectum) during prostate cancer radiation therapy. Tegenix … First off the commercialisation rank is the company's dental bone regeneration tool, Tegenix. Clinicians mix the material for a bone graft. The putty is then pressed into the bone defect, providing flexibility. 'It also means general dentists can carry out some of these more complex procedures,' Knox says. Tetratherix has carried out two clinical trials that show Tegenix supports natural bone healing. The company expects to bring Tegenix to market by July 2026, following expected FDA clearance. Identical in chemistry to Tegenix, fast follower Tegeneous is intended for orthopaedic uses, enabling minimally invasive treatment of trauma and spinal injuries. Tutelix … Under a joint venture with the local Koda Health, Tetratherix is developing Tutelix for prostate spacing. The material is injected through a long needle between the prostate and the rectum, which protects the latter from radiation during prostate procedures. 'We make cancer radiation therapy safer and simpler. It provides clinicians with optionality in that they can inject it at the pace they want,' Knox says. 'It's visible under a scan and ultrasound, enabling precision.' The joint venture has ethics approval for a human trial, expected to start within weeks. On the ophthalmic front, the Tetratherix 'eyes' a product called Optelex, to maintain the volume and shape of peepers during surgery. … and Tetraderm Tetraderm prevents scar formation after procedures such as caesarean sections and breast augmentation and reductions. The product forms a gel between layers of the dermal tissue, reducing 'dead space' and providing cushioning to prevent scar formation. Carried out on the Gold Coast, a trial has passed the first safety and efficacy hurdles. The company expects a pre-submission meeting with the FDA by the end of 2026. In the fast lane Knox says Tetratherix is taking the relatively easy FDA 510(k) path to market. 'We are not a drug, so don't need phase I to III style programs,' he says. 'The average time for an FDA response is 124 calendar days, rather than months or years.' The company's regulatory team sifted through 300 510(k) applications and discovered a 95% success rate. 'It is a much lower risk profile from a market access perspective.' Take your partners Management describes a dual revenue model, by which the technology is licenced to partners in a specific field. This approach means the company does not have to set up a large marketing team: 'an expensive and arduous process'. The partners have the right to self-fund expanded indications, with Tetratherix providing the material. For Tegenix, the company has an agreement with Henry Schein, the world's biggest dental supplier. Tetratherix has teamed up New York's Bio-Optix Inc to develop and commercialise a novel ophthalmic visco-elastic device (for cataract surgery). Knox describes the partnerships as distinct and long term. 'We try to avoid the difficult two-to-three-year distribution arrangement,' he says. 'Over many years I have found that doesn't provide enough long-term stability. 'Our partnerships are more a co-development agreement over 15 to 20 years.' Made in Australia US tariffs aside – and such imposts shouldn't overly affect the company – Tetratherix is intent at keeping its manufacturing and development on local shores. 'We are setting ourselves up to be an Australian leader in advanced material manufacturing in the biological and medical device space,' Knox says. The polymers are made at the company's facility at Alexandria, near Sydney Airport. About $10 million IPO proceeds are earmarked for a new plant around the corner, with 10 times the capacity. Knox says the products are made from widely available raw materials, using 'catalogue' equipment. 'The smarts are how you combine and cook those ingredients and how the parts of the process are put in place.' Finances and performance The IPO consisted of an institutional round and limited retail offering, raising $25 million at $2.88 a pop. The shares jumped 15% after listing on Monday and now are more than 50% to the good – a lusty showing indeed. Knox says the company could have raised the $35 million but wanted to avoid 'fast money' subscribers unlikely to stick around. The company now has cash on hand of circa $30 million. This funding provides a runway to mid-2027. It factors in two FDA approvals, one further submission and 'multiple clinical trial readouts'. Knox says the company has spent about $15 million in research and development over the last decade, with little extra spending required. Currently, US reimbursement depends on the product. With bone regeneration, the patient pays out of pocket in what's a low-cost, high-volume game. But prostate spacing has a well-defined US reimbursement model. Tetratherix expects milestone licensing payments, as well as on-going annuity-style revenue from licencing and manufacturing margins. The register includes Rod Drury, who founded small to middle sized enterprise (SME) 'software as a service' (SaaS) accounting pioneer Xero. Mr Drury says he was attracted to Tetratherix because the company applies 'SaaS platform thinking' to smart medical devices. Dr Boreham's diagnosis Knox says the IPO coincides with the company maturing from research and development stage to a commercially focused entity. The company cites a combined addressable market for bone regeneration, tissue spacing and tissue healing at US$6.8 billion and forecast to grow to US$9.5 billion by 2023. 'We have five very distinct products across three franchises, built on a platform opportunity,' Knox says. Still, wound-care newbies need to prove they have the superior – or cheaper – mousetrap. That often doesn't work. This week, the struggling ASX-listed Next Science said it would sell most of its assets to an Italian acquiror for US$50 million ($75.9 million). Knox says, typically, the company won't compete with ASX peers such as Aroa Biosurgery, Avita, Orthocell and Polynovo. 'Instead, we try to disrupt markets, such as in bone regeneration in dental and orthopaedic procedures. Tetratherix management is most excited about Tutelix and Tetraderm, given their potential to displace incumbent products from sector giants like Teleflex and Boston Scientific. First thing's first, though: Tetratherix needs to win the two initial FDA approvals and start to accrue that annuity revenue. But Knox says Wound mana will take it slowly, wooing the top opinion-leading clinicians before tackling the others. 'There is a very deliberate and strategic way of launching these products,' he says. 'Going too hard, too fast can be the death knell because if used in the wrong hands, the messaging is not controlled.' At a glance ASX Code: TTX Share price: $4.35 Shares on issue: 50,331,637 (8.7 million issued in IPO) Market cap: $218 million Chief executive officer: Will Knox (co-founder) Board: Emma Cleary (chair) Ali Fathi (co-founder), Knox, Gillian Shea, David Bottomley, Atlanta Daniel, John Kelly (Atomo), Maurizio Vecchione Financials (half year to December 31, 2024): revenue nil, R&D Tax Incentive $459,000, net loss after tax $2.63 million, cash of $31 million (post IPO) Major identifiable shareholders: Ali Fathi 28%, Radar Ventures (Atlanta Daniel and Rod Drury) 13.3%, David Bottomley and Ryder Capital 11.1%, Will Knox 6.7%. Abrams family 4.95%, Marsden Pty Ltd 4.95%, Aspirate Investments 4.16%

Amazon Prime Day 2025: Best Deals & Sales in Australia
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News.com.au

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Amazon Prime Day 2025: Best Deals & Sales in Australia

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Why Generative AI is becoming part of the infrastructure of work
Why Generative AI is becoming part of the infrastructure of work

The Australian

time8 hours ago

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Why Generative AI is becoming part of the infrastructure of work

Australian workplaces are undergoing a significant transformation. Changing workforce demographics and shifting values are reshaping employee expectations, all while the nation continues to face productivity challenges. In this moment of change, generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) presents a powerful opportunity for businesses to reimagine how work gets done and boost productivity. At Deloitte Australia, this shift began a year ago with the launch of our in-house GenAI platform, MyAssist. What started as a pilot with roughly 1300 users aimed at supporting tasks including research, analysis, data handling, and code development, has evolved into a foundational tool available to about 12,000 of our people across Australia, and used by more than half our workforce in their daily roles. 'In just 12 months, MyAssist has processed over 3.65 million questions and approximately 20 billion words – boosting productivity and transforming how our teams work,' says Slav Tabachnik, national GenAI transformation leader at Deloitte Australia. 'That includes everything from answering general productivity queries, to specifically changing ways we work in certain parts of our delivery life cycle, always within the boundaries of our security, privacy, and policy frameworks.' Trusted AI that's built to work MyAssist is built to meet Deloitte's standards and Australian data governance requirements, with all data stored locally and protected by robust security and access controls. It provides a secure, compliant environment for employees to confidently explore AI at work. Building on this strong foundation of trustworthy AI, MyAssist also removes technical barriers, making AI accessible to all users regardless of coding ability. With just three simple steps, anyone can build custom AI applications. For more advanced users, tools enable the creation of sophisticated apps with minimal coding effort. This design creates a trusted, flexible and scalable platform grounded in real-world work habits and empowers people to use AI as a genuine collaborator. From general productivity to work redesign What's especially powerful is how our teams leverage MyAssist creatively to solve specific business challenges. Our Strategy, Risk & Transactions team launched a new business case developer app on MyAssist, a tool designed to bring structure and speed to early stage project planning. By providing a clear framework for proposals, it helps improve quality and accelerate decision-making from the outset. 'We created the app to fast-track the initial stages of planning,' says Tom Abbot, Deloitte Australia director and app developer. 'It allows us to shape early ideas quickly and complete the first 20–30 per cent of a business case in hours rather than weeks.' Another standout example is the statement of work (SOW) review tool, now widely adopted firm-wide. This tool helps draft SOWs in line with internal quality and risk policies, identifying potential risks early and significantly reducing review time. 'The SOW Reviewer provides immediate, specific feedback on scope, deliverables, timelines, and responsibilities,' says Sophie Andrews, Deloitte Australia director and developer behind the app. 'By reducing document review cycles and turnaround times, it allows teams to focus on tailoring details for each client – ultimately improving service quality.' AI-powered innovation driving productivity Across Deloitte, we've uncovered close to 100 high-impact MyAssist uses so far, and that number continues to grow each week. The platform-based approach taken with MyAssist enables teams to drive ongoing innovation, enhance productivity and transform the way they work. Audit teams are accelerating report analysis, completing work that once took weeks in less than a day. Meanwhile, Tax & Legal professionals have reduced the time to draft R&D Tax Incentive applications by 40–50 per cent. But the benefits go beyond efficiency. MyAssist enhances communication and collaboration. Its translation capabilities help multilingual teams work more seamlessly, while meeting summary and interview synthesis tools make it easier to distil insights from hours of audio. Looking ahead, Deloitte is set to expand MyAssist with sophisticated agentic applications, multimodal text, image and voice processing capabilities and intelligent task automation – heralding a future where human-AI collaboration is further embedded into the way that we work. The future of work is already here, reshaping business Our experience and research show productivity platforms powered by GenAI – like MyAssist – are now table stakes for organisations. Those that haven't progressed with GenAI are falling behind. GenAI is no longer a future promise, it's already reshaping Australian workplaces. By automating routine tasks, GenAI is enabling people to concentrate on more complex, strategic work. This shift is happening now, reshaping processes and raising the bar for productivity and competitiveness. As GenAI becomes deeply embedded in day-to-day operations, Australian organisations are rethinking how they use it to redefine their competitive edge and unlock new value. The question is no longer if you will embrace GenAI, but how quickly? - Disclaimer This publication contains general information only and Deloitte is not, by means of this publication, rendering accounting, business, financial, investment, legal, tax, or other professional advice or services. This publication is not a substitute for such professional advice or services, nor should it be used as a basis for any decision or action that may affect your business. Before making any decision or taking any action that may affect your business, you should consult a qualified professional adviser. Deloitte shall not be responsible for any loss sustained by any person who relies on this publication. About Deloitte Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee ('DTTL'), its network of member firms, and their related entities. DTTL and each of its member firms are legally separate and independent entities. Please see to learn more. Copyright © 2025 Deloitte Development LLC. All rights reserved. -

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