A former UK Royal Navy Vice-Admiral with decades of experience in naval strategy and submarine operations has been appointed as Babcock’s first Managing Director – AUKUS & International to lead the company’s newly established division aiming to deliver key capabilities in support of the trilateral security treaty.
Sir Nick Hine KCB joined Babcock in the UK from the Royal Navy where he was the Second Sea Lord, and brings with him a wealth of wider Government and industry facing knowledge which will be invaluable to the delivery of the AUKUS capabilities.
He will lead a team split between Australia and the UK that will seek to coordinate and promote Babcock’s capabilities and manage strategic dialogue with the Australian, US and UK Governments.
“AUKUS is the defining security partnership of our time, and I am honoured, and excited, to be playing a key role in ensuring that Babcock is well positioned to support the Australian Defence Force, and in doing so further strengthening the alliance between our great nations,” Sir Nick said.
“Babcock has a long-standing and proud heritage in nuclear safety and stewardship, supporting the Royal Navy submarine enterprise for more than 50 years. AUKUS also unlocks many more opportunities in areas such as artificial intelligence, autonomy, hypersonics, electronic warfare and cyber systems which are vital to changing the way we conduct warfare.”
Sir Nick visited Australian Babcock sites last week and is confident the organisation is well positioned to provide the basis to deliver AUKUS capabilities.
“There is a genuine excitement among our people about AUKUS and those projects that we are uniquely positioned to deliver. Our people are engaged, passionate and motivated to play a leading role in keeping the region safe.”
Babcock Australasia CEO David Ruff said the appointment of Sir Nick, who was awarded the Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in the 2023 New Year Honours, highlighted Babcock’s increasing focus in Australia and the Asia Pacific region where it is the premier warship sustainment company.
“The appointment of one of the UK’s most highly recognised strategic military minds to this position, who himself is a former submariner who served on a number of diesel and nuclear submarines, is another step forward in the growth of our company in Australasia,” Mr Ruff said.
“There is so much work to do in safety, infrastructure and the regulatory environment before we have a nuclear-powered submarine and Babcock is well placed to support the Federal Government to deliver this capability.”
Operating the UK’s only licensed facility for refitting refuelling and defueling nuclear submarines, Babcock manages two of the UK’s three naval bases (HMNB Clyde and HMNB Devonport) which undertake 100 per cent of the deep maintenance, in-service support, and through life management of the UK fleet of nuclear-powered submarines.
Contracted by the UK Ministry of Defence, Babcock provides services including fleet engineering, facilities management, waterfront services and logistics and transport.