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

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

Listen to previous episodes of the Defence Connect podcast:

Episode 449: SPOTLIGHT: Leveraging AUKUS to build a credible submarine deterrence, with VADM (Ret’d) Dave Johnson
Episode 448: PODCAST: Assessing the region’s rapidly closing risk window, with Mike Pezzullo
Episode 447: PODCAST: Becoming the world’s most cyber-secure nation, with Cyber Security Minister Clare O’Neil
Episode 446: PODCAST: Local infrastructure – key to delivering Defence capabilities, with Cr Peter Hudson
Episode 445: PODCAST: A growing chorus calls for a national security strategy, with ANU’s Professor John Blaxland
Episode 444: PODCAST: Doing the rounds – the week that was in Defence and defence industry
Episode 443: PODCAST: Unpacking the history of Australia’s defence policy and posture, with Michael Pezzullo
Episode 442: PODCAST: Moving beyond the End of History
Episode 441: SPOTLIGHT: Unlocking Defence performance through infrastructure design, with HDR’s Tim Napper
Episode 440: PODCAST: US Space Force engages with Australian SMEs at AusSpace24