At the Australian Naval Institute’s Annual Dinner on 19 May, the Deputy Chief of Navy Rear Admiral Chris Smith announced the winner of the Australian Naval Institute’s McNeil Prize for 2022. The recipient is Mr Jim Cuthill, Operations Director, BAE Systems Australia.
The McNeil Prize is awarded to “an individual from Australian industry and academia who has made an outstanding contribution to the capabilities of the Royal Australian Navy”. The Prize is sponsored by Lockheed Martin Australia.
The McNeil Prize is named in honour of Rear Admiral Percival McNeil CB RAN (1883-1951). He was one of the great champions of Australian shipbuilding. McNeil played a pivotal role in the design and construction of the famed Bathurst class corvettes as well as helping to maintain a local warship construction capability in the post-war period.
This year’s recipient, Jim Cuthill, has dedicated almost three decades of his career to the development of national shipbuilding capability, with the last half spent specifically focused on the delivery of capability to the Royal Australian Navy. His experience spans roles in project management, engineering, supply chain, and operations including production, all of which have been applied to the continued development of a sovereign national shipbuilding capability within Australia.
Jim has played an instrumental role in a number of major Commonwealth programs tasked with the delivery of critical, warfighting capability to the Royal Australian Navy, most notably as the Acting CEO of ASC Shipbuilding responsible for the delivery of HMAS Brisbane and the launch of HMAS Sydney, the second and third Hobart class destroyers.
Jim joined ASC in 2009 as project manager for HMAS Brisbane. His professional expertise was recognised with his appointment into consecutive leadership roles including General Manager Shipbuilding, where he was accountable for overall performance of the Hobart class destroyer construction. Under his leadership, ASC Shipbuilding also commenced construction on the first two Arafura Class Offshore Patrol Vessels. His contribution to the national naval shipbuilding endeavour continues with a key role in the current Hunter Class Frigate Program.
“Jim Cuthill has made an outstanding contribution to the operational capability of the Royal Australian Navy through his tireless work in the building of first-class ships for the fleet. Seventy years on, Jim is building on the proud legacy of Rear Admiral Percival McNeil. He is an outstanding mentor tor the new generation of men and women building Australian warships” said Vice Admiral Peter Jones, President of the ANI.
