大象传媒

AUKUS partnership: Subs may be the centrepiece—but infrastructure will decide the outcome

April 16, 2026

Chris Waywell, Rob Sansbury, and Robert Fogel discuss getting infrastructure ready for submarines on the Defence Connect podcast

In this episode, Defence Connect host Steve Kuper is joined by 大象传媒 defence leaders Chris Waywell, Rob Sansbury, and Robert Fogel to explore what it will take to deliver AUKUS over the long term.

While much of the public discussion centres on nuclear?powered submarines, the panel looks beyond the platforms to the infrastructure, workforce, and industrial systems needed to support them. They discuss the scale of change required across Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States—from shipyards and safety frameworks to skills, supply chains, and sovereign resilience.

The conversation highlights why building the backbone of AUKUS will be critical to its success and what sustained commitment will be needed to turn ambition into enduring capability.

  • Rob Sansbury

    An infrastructure group leader in our Brisbane office, Rob has more than 38 years as a civil engineer. He’s worked on infrastructure development in the Defence, hospitality, healthcare, and commercial sectors.

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  • Robert Fogel

    Serving as a principal for Defense Ports, Robert is also the waterfront technical leader for our Transportation team. He enjoys engaging in all aspects of facilities projects from idea generation and concept designs to final design and construction.

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  • Chris Waywell

    Chris is a safety consultant who works in both the civil and defense sectors. He has extensive experience producing and managing safety cases across the energy and nuclear industries in the UK.

    Contact Chris