Nicholas Hine is Managing Director for Babcock plc leading on all AUKUS relationships and future programming and the lead for new international business. He moved to Babcock after 37 years’ service in the Royal Navy ultimately serving as Second Sea Lord, Chief Executive of the organisation. Nick Hines ’s military career was wide ranging - he spent the first twenty years of his career as a submariner on classified operations in the North Atlantic, the second in Command of HMS Splendid who tested and operationally employed the first Tomahawk missiles for the Royal Navy, then in Command of the nuclear submarine HMS Talent at 33. He also Commanded surface ships HMS Blackwater in the Northern Ireland troubles and then HMS Westminster. He spent a year under US Command in Baghdad leading on the reconstruction of the Iraqi Navy during the Iraq War in 2009. His senior Naval career took him to being the sole military adviser in HM Treasury working directly to the Chancellor, then into policy and strategy development and finally delivery as Second Sea Lord. Nick has been decorated by the UK and US Governments and was knighted in 2023.