Ernst & Young (E&Y) has teamed with Babcock to win a contract to provide support to the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) in delivering a blueprint to 'Rebuild Navy Engineering Capability', following the Rizzo Report.
One of the key strategic actions recommended in Paul Rizzo's 'Plan to Reform Support Ship Repair and Management Practices' report, published in July 2011, was that "Navy Engineering should be rebuilt and reorganised to reduce fragmentation, increase authority, clarify accountability, and enable the Head of Navy Engineering to fulfil his role as the Technical Regulatory Authority." The report continues: "It should be led by a 2-star Navy Officer to give weight to this important technical and compliance function."
The RAN has moved quickly to appoint Rear Admiral Mick Uzzell to this important role, and the Ernst & Young-Babcock team has, in competition, won a role in supporting this vital work.
The E&Y-Babcock team has brought together dedicated specialists in the various disciplines required to deliver this project, with E&Y leading on the process and Babcock providing its wide-ranging maritime engineering expertise. The team will draw heavily on RAN subject matter experts to provide input.
Babcock is delighted to be involved in this project, Babcock Pty Ltd Deputy CEO, Rear Admiral Bob Love (ex Royal Navy Chief Naval Engineer) said, stating: "This is a great opportunity to contribute to a very important piece of work. The output must have wide stakeholder acceptance and become a blueprint for Navy Engineering of today and the future."
Mark Nixon, Ernst & Young's Federal Government and Public Sector leader, said: "The reform of Naval Engineering is a once in a generational opportunity for the Australian Navy to maintain a sustainable capability. Ernst & Young, with our alliance partner Babcock, is proud to be assisting Navy in building its future."