Serco Defence managing director Clint Thomas AM, CSC, said the firms’ respective offerings were complementary, adding that their experiences support ‘at sea’ and ‘shore-based’ training to help better prepare Navy personnel.

“Serco has been providing high-quality simulator-based maritime warfare training and training support services on behalf of the Royal Australian Navy at HMAS Watson, Sydney, since 2003,” Thomas said.

“We have a deep understanding of Navy’s training requirements, program challenges and future training developments, and our alliance with Sayres will allow us to design further improved solutions that will deliver the best possible outcomes for Navy personnel well into the future.”

Sayres Australia CEO Craig Powell said the agreement would ensure Australia’s Navy Officers and Sailors can “unlock the full spectrum of operational capabilities” that future systems offer.

“Together, Serco and Sayres aim to reimagine how, when, where, and why training is delivered and the technologies we can bring to Navy’s training requirements for optimal effectiveness, positioning Navy to remain ahead of changing technology solutions associated with the government’s continuous shipbuilding strategy,” he said.

[Related: Serco successfully secures HMAS Watson training services rebid]

Charbel Kadib

News Editor – Defence and Security, Momentum Media

Prior to joining the defence and aerospace team in 2020, Charbel was news editor of The Adviser and Mortgage Business, where he covered developments in the banking and financial services sector for three years. Charbel has a keen interest in geopolitics and international relations, graduating from the University of Notre Dame with a double major in politics and journalism. Charbel has also completed internships with The Australian Department of Communications and the Arts and public relations agency Fifty Acres.