Sean Robertson

Associate Professor Sean Robertson is an Associate Professor of Nuclear Engineering in the College of Science and Engineering at Flinders University, where he leads education and curriculum development in nuclear fundamentals, nuclear safety, regulation and criticality safety. He coordinates the Nuclear postgraduate suite of courses and contributes to the development of Australia's future nuclear workforce across defence, industry and government.

Sean has over fifteen years of experience spanning military nuclear operations, engineering, safety assurance, regulation and higher education. Prior to joining Flinders University, he served as a Royal Navy Marine Engineer Officer specialising in the operation, maintenance and safety of nuclear-powered submarines, holding senior engineering and leadership appointments responsible for nuclear propulsion plant safety, operational readiness and engineering assurance.

During his service in the Royal Navy, Sean also spent three years as a Senior Lecturer in Operational Reactor Physics within the Nuclear Faculty at the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom. He designed and delivered specialist education in reactor physics and nuclear safety to both military and civilian students, teaching courses up to postgraduate level in support of the United Kingdom's Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program and contributing to the development of the nation's future nuclear engineering workforce.

Following his military career, he worked as a Senior Systems Safety Consultant, advising government and defence industry clients on system safety, risk management, regulatory compliance, safety cases and independent assurance. His experience includes supporting major defence programs across Australia and the United Kingdom, with expertise in reactor safety, systems engineering, criticality safety, hazard analysis and organisational capability.

Sean's teaching and research interests focus on nuclear safety, regulatory frameworks, nuclear propulsion, criticality safety, defence engineering and workforce development. He has a particular interest in translating international best practice into practical education for engineers, regulators and technical professionals, drawing on experience from Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States.

He works closely with government, defence and industry partners to develop contemporary education programs that address Australia's growing demand for nuclear capability under AUKUS and the broader national nuclear sector. His teaching integrates real-world case studies, contributions from industry subject matter experts and internationally recognised standards to prepare graduates for professional practice in highly regulated industries.