Mott MacDonald and Shoal Group sign Memorandum of Understanding in support of national defence efforts

Mott MacDonald, the global AUD$3bn civil engineering, infrastructure management and development consultancy, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Shoal Group, an Australian leader in systems engineering.

The Mott MacDonald-Shoal Group partnership brings together Mott MacDonald’s major and complex programme abilities and Shoal Group’s specialist systems thinking expertise. The combined team enables an integrated and agile approach to respond to the emerging opportunities presented by the trilateral security partnership between Australia, UK, and the USA (AUKUS) announced in September 2021.

Mott MacDonald has worked on major UK and European defence and security projects for decades and has led complex infrastructure projects globally. The company brings deep experience and capability working across the whole of the UK's submarine enterprise, supporting nuclear regulation and the ongoing development of the Nuclear Suitably Qualified and Experienced Personnel (NSQEP) workforce. In recent years Mott MacDonald’s defence and security offering in Australia has experienced significant growth and the company has been appointed to major defence panels and projects.

Shoal Group has supported the Australian defence sector for over 20 years, as a trusted systems engineering partner and has led the development of the early-stage design and development for some of Australia’s largest and most complex systems. Shoal brings unmatched expertise in the use of digital design tools and analytics that supports defence to minimise risks and maximise overall project performance.

The partnership is a natural progression of the productive working relationship the two companies have enjoyed for many years, through the joint delivery of major complex transport and infrastructure projects.

Ian Courtney, Global Lead for Defence and Security at Mott MacDonald said: “Our synergy with Shoal Group brings together our combined technical expertise and experience in complex major projects in defence and other sectors. In advance of the impending AUKUS Optimal Pathway announcement, this Memorandum of Understanding reinforces our commitment to the benefits of a collaborative approach. It provides the Australian government with a team that can rapidly build sovereign capability and respond to the developing defence and security environment, and the acquisition of the new submarine capability.”

Shaun Wilson, CEO and Founder of Shoal noted that "Our clients require deep expertise and capability in the design, analysis and assurance of complex systems in all of our markets in Australia, New Zealand and elsewhere. With over two decades of experience in complex defence projects and programs, Shoal offers expertise, capacity and leadership in development of advanced engineering techniques to deliver complex systems whilst minimising development and operational risk. The combination of our talented teams under this Memorandum of Understanding with Mott MacDonald will deliver significant benefits for our clients and our people.”