SPOTLIGHT: Subs may be the centrepiece – but infrastructure, workforce and sovereign capability will decide the outcome, with Stantec's Chris Waywell, Rob Sansbury and Robert Fogel

The AUKUS partnership represents one of the most ambitious defence industrial undertakings in modern history, and in this episode, host Steve Kuper is joined by Chris Waywell (UK), Rob Sansbury and Robert Fogel (US) of Stantec to explore what it will really take to make it work. While public attention has largely focused on the acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines, our panel argues that the true measure of success lies deeper – within the complementary infrastructure and industrial ecosystems required to enable, sustain and secure these capabilities over decades. For Australia, this is nothing short of a generational shift. Building a nuclear-ready enterprise demands far more than industry standard platforms. It requires significant investment in shipyards, robust regulatory and safety frameworks, and, critically, a highly skilled workforce. From engineers and nuclear safety specialists to project managers and trades, the human element will ultimately define the pace, resilience and credibility of delivery. The discussion also turns to the broader AUKUS partnership, with the United Kingdom and the United States needing to expand and adapt their own industrial bases to support a truly trilateral model. Increasing production capacity, harmonising standards and streamlining technology transfer will be essential, as interoperability evolves from an operational concept into an industrial and functional necessity. Layered over this is the challenge of sovereign resilience. Secure, diversified supply chains and deeper collaboration across industry, academia and allied partners will be key to building enduring capability. This is a long-term endeavour. As the panel highlights, sustained commitment across political and economic cycles will be vital if AUKUS is to fulfil its potential – catalysing advanced manufacturing, boosting national productivity and underpinning a new era of strategic industry. In this episode, we examine how building the backbone of AUKUS will ultimately determine whether the partnership delivers on its promise. Enjoy the podcast, The Defence Connect Spotlight team