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Serco’s Peter Karounos to present at Submarine Institute of Australia’s 12th Biennial Conference in Canberra: Building and sustaining a workforce for Australia’s future Nuclear-Powered Submarine mission

Published: 23 Oct 2024

For more than 40 years, Serco has offered world-class engineering, acquisition, logistics, financial, program management, and executive-level strategic planning solutions and services to US Navy Acquisition and In-Service Submarine Programs. We are the largest provider of professional services to the Virginia Class Nuclear-powered Submarine Program. 

Serco’s Senior Program Manager and Submarine Acquisition Expert, Peter Karounos, will take the stage at the upcoming Submarine Institute of Australia’s 12th Biennial Conference in Canberra, where he will address the urgent need for innovative workforce solutions in the Australian submarine community.

With over 40 years of experience in both government and industry, Karounos is a distinguished authority on managing complex defence programs and is committed to shaping the future of Australia’s nuclear-powered submarine capabilities and the integrated civil-military-industry team required for generating creditable deterrence.

During his presentation, titled “Building and sustaining a workforce for Australia’s future Nuclear-Powered Submarine mission,” Karounos will highlight the unprecedented workforce mobilisation currently underway in Australia. He emphasises the critical requirement for a collaborative approach to develop a modern, agile workforce equipped with the right skills to meet the demands of the AUKUS agreement and instilling the critical institutional cultural safety mindset.

“The Australian submarine community stands at a pivotal moment, facing the challenge of delivering on our nuclear-powered submarine ambitions,” Karounos stated. “By leveraging historical lessons from US and UK nuclear submarine programs, we can create a tailored workforce framework that aligns with our unique strengths and challenges.”

Karounos, who has served as a senior advisor to high-ranking officials including the Secretary of Defense, the Vice President of the United States and Under Secretary of the Navy, will share insights on how partnering with industry leaders, such as Serco, can enhance programmatic training opportunities and develop an integrated national workforce. His presentation will also explore the use of proven workforce analysis techniques to shape Australia’s future submarine workforce.

With a strong academic background that includes a BS in Electrical Engineering, a MS in Management from George Washington University, and completion of prestigious programs at Harvard Business School and the Defense Acquisition University, Karounos combines strategic vision with practical experience. His leadership in submarine shipbuilding, logistics, and international programs like AUKUS positions him as a key contributor to Australia’s defence landscape.

The Submarine Institute of Australia Conference will take place on 4-6 November 2024 at the Hotel Realm in Barton, Canberra, bringing together industry leaders, defence experts, and policymakers to discuss the future of submarine capabilities in Australia.

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Serco in Defence

Serco has more than 40 years of experiences providing world-class engineering, acquisition, logistics, financial, program management, and executive-level strategic planning solutions, submarine industrial base expertise, and services to U.S. Navy Acquisition and In-Service Submarine Programs. Serco is the largest provider of professional services to the Virginia Class Nuclear-powered Submarine Program.

We are a global Defence business deeply embedded across the AUKUS and “Five Eyes” nations, and a critical player in the Australian and New Zealand Defence Industries.

We make an impact by delivering agile and resilient services, operating both in country and embedded within deployed forces around the world. Our services cover people and training, complex program management, engineering and infrastructure solutions.

Our highly qualified, specialist teams understand the unique and varied demands of the Defence organisations they serve, so that they are able to work hand-in-hand with service personnel wherever they are needed.

In the Asia Pacific region:

  • We employ more than 700 reservists across Australia and New Zealand
  • We have designed, built, and introduced 130 vessels into service for the RAN
  • We have partnered with the ADF for 25+ years, providing a range of critical support services, including Base and Estate Services; Fire and Rescue Services; Vessel Design, Build, Operation, and Maintenance; Acquisition and Complex Project Management; Logistics and Operational Support; Specialist Maintenance and Support; Training, Education and Professional Development; and Health Services.
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