Latika M. Bourke: “I didn´t realize how deeply ingrained Spanish infrastructure companies are in Australia”
We spoke with Latika M. Bourke, Writer-at-Large for The Nightly and participant in the 2025 Australian Leaders Program | Ver el Resumen del Programa en PDF
Latika M. Bourke is Writer-at-Large for The Nightly, where she provides in-depth reporting and analysis on global affairs, politics, and society. Based in London, Latika covers major international developments with a particular focus on the United Kingdom and Europe, examining how shifts abroad intersect with Australia’s strategic, political, and cultural landscape.
As an Australian who is well acquainted with the European context, what aspects do you believe define Spain in comparison with the rest of Europe and the world? How would you describe Spain's role in the major international debates?
I think Spain is a quite achiever and has not necessarily promoted what its strengths are on the global stage very well. Those, to me, as a result of this trip, I would believe are progressing on infrastructure development very well which is something I think a lot of Europe struggles with. Renewable energy is clearly their front runner and a leader, and I think people know that Spain is good at renewable energy.
I don't think they realize the depth of R&D and tech and development that is occurring rather than just the installation and being progressive on installing renewables. The other thing I think I would say that Spain differs to Europe is certainly when it comes to how it perceives national security. I think it clearly is a European citizen in terms of when it comes to Ukraine and supporting effort in Ukraine.
I'm not so sure that Spain has reached the level of understanding that I detect elsewhere in Europe about the threat picture that faces Western countries, particularly NATO and the European Union.
Many Spanish companies carry out major projects in Australia, infrastructure, transport, renewables. In Spain there is not much awareness of Australian companies. Is it the same in Australia? Do the Australians know that those companies are Spanish?
No, and I think this is the big surprise of this trip. I didn't realize how deeply ingrained Spanish infrastructure companies are in Australia. It makes great sense because Australia has a very huge capital market in our superannuation and pension funds that invest in infrastructure, exactly the type of things and projects that Spain is very good and wants to invest in and create.
So, to me it seems like a natural synergy. I'm very surprised that we haven't learnt more about this in the past and this is an area I did look closely at when I was working in Australia on politics. So, for myself it's been a shock to know that I didn't even know that Spain was behind a lot of these projects.
I think there is a very good story to tell there about how durable this relationship is and how enduring the relationship is because it's there for the long term. It's not just a quick hit. These projects are massive. These projects are meaningful.
These projects can change people's lives every day in Australia. And I think that's almost one of the hidden secrets of these partnerships is that they're just chugging along very quietly. That's successful.
And in what ways do you think Spanish companies in Australia should act to improve their image in the country?
I think the people-to-people links are probably the strength of the Spanish Australian relationship aside obviously from the material money that's put on the table. And I think Australians and Spaniards have a lot of cultural affiliations with each other. We're cultures that like a nice time.
We like, I mean look at Madrid, this city, it's beautiful. We like good food. We like to be with each other. We like our things to work. We want clean energy. We want good roads.
We want fast trains. These things are very similar, and I think our ambitions are also parallel. To me, I would, if I was a corporate in Spain wanting to talk to Australians, I would really lean into building up some Spanish profile in Australia through popular Spanish people and I would really deploy ambassadors who are high-profile to talk to Australians about these cultural similarities but also the dependability of what Spain is doing.
A lot of what struck me about these companies is that they are, they're big money but they're big projects and that means we have to be able to rely that that project is good on its word, that company is going to build those projects at time and for the cost and that's where I think Spain can really lean in as a reliable part of the EU.
Regarding this programme, which topics or sectors have interested you the most?
For sure, the government was very interesting. The meeting with Diego Martínez Belío on Monday morning was by far the most interesting discussion of the trip. They were all very interesting, but I really appreciated getting an insight into the thinking behind Spain's position.
It helped me understand a lot more about why they're thinking the way they are. I also really got a lot out of the visits to the Renewable Energy Company. The expertise and the deep understanding that they had, not just of the European and global market but also the Australian energy market, I would struggle to find that level of knowledge in Australia.
So, hearing that from a Spaniard in Madrid was just extraordinary and I thought that was a very exciting insight into just how flourishing this relationship could be if we leveraged it.
So, do you consider these types of initiatives good for strengthening the relationship between both countries?
I have lived in Europe for 10 years. In this one week, I have learned more about Spain than I have in 10 years living in Europe. This has been absolutely invaluable and the access that the team has arranged to high-quality people, the time and the professionalism of all the people we've met and the presentations they have given us on equality, I have been absolutely blown away.
It's probably one of the most impressive trips I've organized for me and I've done a lot of this.
