In this final episode of Saltwater Strategists for 2025, host Duncan MacRae sits down with Omni Executive’s Steven Thorpe and Nick Stoker to discuss Australian engagement and partnership in the Pacific region. Omni, an Australian-owned business and sponsor of the Australian Naval Institute, focuses on delivering innovative national security and critical infrastructure solutions to develop Australia's sovereign capability and support the national interest.
As Steven prepares to step into the role of CEO of Omni in February 2026, he and Business Development Manager, Nick, draw on the company’s experience delivering services across the Pacific, and their own unique perspectives from service in the Australian Defence Force, to provide examples and recommendations on matters such as cooperation between national security institutions, Commonwealth and Australian industry collaboration in capacity building, Government policy, and even sport to address a range of challenges facing Australia in positioning itself as a dependable and supportive partner throughout the Pacific, particularly with the island nations of the South-West Pacific.
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In this final episode of Saltwater Strategists for 2025, host Duncan MacRae sits down with Omni Executive’s Steven Thorpe and Nick Stoker to discuss Australian engagement and partnership in the Pacific region. Omni, an Australian-owned business and sponsor of the Australian Naval Institute, focuses on delivering innovative national security and critical infrastructure solutions to develop Australia's sovereign capability and support the national interest.
As Steven prepares to step into the role of CEO of Omni in February 2026, he and Business Development Manager, Nick, draw on the company’s experience delivering services across the Pacific, and their own unique perspectives from service in the Australian Defence Force, to provide examples and recommendations on matters such as cooperation between national security institutions, Commonwealth and Australian industry collaboration in capacity building, Government policy, and even sport to address a range of challenges facing Australia in positioning itself as a dependable and supportive partner throughout the Pacific, particularly with the island nations of the South-West Pacific.
4.4 'Challenges to AUKUS Naval Shipbuilding' with Emma Salisbury
Saltwater Strategists
38 minutes 18 seconds
4 months ago
4.4 'Challenges to AUKUS Naval Shipbuilding' with Emma Salisbury
The trilateral AUKUS agreement has drawn significant attention to the matter of naval shipbuilding across all three participant nations. Joining host Duncan MacRae to discuss the many challenges facing naval shipbuilding programs in Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom, is Dr Emma Salisbury, Sea Power Research Fellow at the Council on Geostrategy and an Associate Fellow at the Royal Navy Strategic Studies Centre.
Emma has conducted significant research focused on the history and concept of the military-industrial complex, and she writes widely on military procurement, naval strategy, and defence innovation in the UK, Europe, and the United States. Through examples of industrial policy, defence strategy, the US Constellation-class frigate program and of course, AUKUS, Duncan and Emma explore the current challenges facing naval shipbuilding and their impact on the industry’s ability to support not only current order books but also deal with wartime attrition before considering various policy, financial and operational remedial measures currently underway.
For those interested in a deeper dive, this recent podcast episode from the Centre for Maritime Strategy provides a particularly US perspective:
https://centerformaritimestrategy.org/publications/from-keel-to-commissioning-how-to-build-more-ships/
Further interesting content can also be found at the following links:
Emma Salisbury: www.emmasalisbury.info
Council on Geostrategy: www.geostrategy.org.uk
Council on Geostrategy’s online magazine: www.thebroadside.org.uk
War On The Rocks podcast: www.warontherocks.com
Saltwater Strategists
In this final episode of Saltwater Strategists for 2025, host Duncan MacRae sits down with Omni Executive’s Steven Thorpe and Nick Stoker to discuss Australian engagement and partnership in the Pacific region. Omni, an Australian-owned business and sponsor of the Australian Naval Institute, focuses on delivering innovative national security and critical infrastructure solutions to develop Australia's sovereign capability and support the national interest.
As Steven prepares to step into the role of CEO of Omni in February 2026, he and Business Development Manager, Nick, draw on the company’s experience delivering services across the Pacific, and their own unique perspectives from service in the Australian Defence Force, to provide examples and recommendations on matters such as cooperation between national security institutions, Commonwealth and Australian industry collaboration in capacity building, Government policy, and even sport to address a range of challenges facing Australia in positioning itself as a dependable and supportive partner throughout the Pacific, particularly with the island nations of the South-West Pacific.
