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PODCAST: Reflecting on an extensive defence career, Rear Admiral (Ret’d) Bob Love CB, OBE

Naval
|
By:
Bob Love, Babcock

In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, host Phil Tarrant is joined by Rear Admiral (Ret’d) Bob Love, who looks back at his long and varied career with the Royal Navy.

In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, host Phil Tarrant is joined by Rear Admiral (Ret’d) Bob Love, who looks back at his long and varied career with the Royal Navy.


Love explains his pivotal role as the Royal Navy’s director general (ships) as well as potential learnings for Australia’s shipbuilding sector drawing on his experience as the officer in charge of the biggest shipbuilding program in Europe since WW2 – including taking the iconic Queen Elizabeth Class carrier program through main gate.

He also discusses his career post navy working with Babcock and BMT plus what the future holds as a senior defence executive. Additionally, he shares how the UK relationship between the services and industry differs to Australia, and why he believes Australia’s defence industry has a unique advantage compared with other countries.

Having received an Order of the British Empire from the Queen for his involvement in the recovery of HMS Nottingham off the coast of Australia, Love gives the story behind it and shares his plans to turn the experience into a book upon retirement.

Enjoy the podcast,

The Defence Connect team

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Listen to previous episodes of the Defence Connect podcast:

Episode 11: SPOTLIGHT: Cyber warfare, autonomy and the future of defence, with Palo Alto Networks’ Tom Scully and MAJGEN (Ret’d) John Davis
Episode 10: CONTESTED GROUND: Fortune favours the bold – building a national security strategy for the 21st century, with Marc Ablong
Episode 9: PODCAST: Developing Australia’s ability to take a hit and keep fighting, with the honourable Andrew Hastie MP, shadow minister for industry and sovereign capability
Episode 8: PODCAST: AUKUS expansion, artillery manufacturing and Australia’s regional defence role
Episode 7: SPOTLIGHT: Building mass, capability and trust with autonomous and uncrewed systems, with Michael Mitchell, Elysium EPL director
Episode 6: PODCAST: Defence policy, domestic manufacturing and military culture, with Senator Malcolm Roberts
Episode 5: SPOTLIGHT: LAND 156, counter-drone warfare and electronic warfare capability, with Department 13’s Ben Westgarth
Episode 4: PODCAST: Australia’s first 3D printed autonomous USV, with Josh Wigley and Harry Hubbert
Episode 3: PODCAST: Australia’s shipbuilding future, landing craft pipeline and autonomous vessels, with Austal CEO Paddy Gregg
Episode 2: CONTESTED GROUND: Assessing the fallout and implications of the latest Trump–Xi meeting for Iran, Taiwan and Australia