Íñigo de Palacio describes the company’s experience in Australia as “fantastic”: “Australians are very demanding, but they work very closely with you, and you can rely on them.”
Indra’s Global Director of Institutional Relations, Íñigo de Palacio, spoke with the Leaders about the company’s interests in Australia, where it employs more than 100 professionals and operates offices in Sydney and Adelaide. Among other projects, the Spanish multinational technology company has been responsible for modernising Sydney’s rail CCTV system, deploying an air surveillance network in the Pacific, and implementing a pioneering energy-efficiency system at Monash University.
“We are looking for new projects in Australia,” said Íñigo de Palacio. “We believe there are many opportunities in the country: tunnel management, tolling systems, and more.” The Indra executive provided the Leaders with a brief overview of the multinational’s activities. Indra conducts business operations in more than 140 countries and is Spain’s leading provider of technology solutions across a wide range of sectors, including energy, financial services, telecommunications, public administration and healthcare, defence and security, and transport and traffic management.
In the latter sector—one of the areas of greatest interest to participants in this year’s Program—Indra is a global leader. The company is recognised for its expertise in ticketing and access systems, revenue collection, control and operations systems, as well as security and signalling technologies.
The company also invests heavily in research, development and innovation (R&D&I), advancing initiatives worldwide, collaborating with universities and research centres, and participating in a variety of cutting-edge projects. Among these, Íñigo de Palacio highlighted the remote air traffic control tower project developed by Indra’s Norwegian subsidiary, Indra Navia. “These systems could help reduce costs in Australia and are highly efficient,” he noted.
Another emerging technology expected to have significant applications in Australia is electric and autonomous mobility, which de Palacio sees as inevitable. “By 2030, automation will be a reality. That is the future: electric and autonomous,” he said. Autonomous trucks are likely to be adopted in Australia, where freight transport has evolved into the well-known “road trains” — massive vehicles capable of hauling up to four trailers. “I know there will be challenges because there are thousands of drivers. But it is an unstoppable process. Jobs will not disappear; they will simply be replaced by different ones.”
Finally, the Leaders were keen to hear their host’s views on Australia, based on the company’s experience in the country. Íñigo de Palacio described his impression as “fantastic.”
“It is a very serious country. It reminds me of the way business is done in the United Kingdom: if you are the best, they do not care where you come from—they will choose you. Australians are very demanding, but they work closely with you and you can rely on them.” He also praised Australia’s “excellent universities, highly skilled professionals,” and described it as “a very safe country in which to do business.”
