Aurecon named one of Australia’s Most Innovative Companies for 10 consecutive years
For 10 years, Aurecon has been named in the AFR BOSS Most Innovative Companies list, reflecting the company's sustained investment innovation.
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International design, engineering and advisory company Aurecon won two Good Design Awards for its outstanding contributions in bringing its Māori strategy, He Rautaki Māori and digital innovation into operations and decision-making processes.
Recognised by the World Design Organization (WDO) as Australia’s peak international design endorsement program, the country’s Good Design Awards is one of the longest-running international design awards in the world.
Aurecon’s strategy He Rautaki Māori is one of the top 30 recipients of the Good Design Award Best in Class for its excellence in Design Strategy. He Rautaki Māori was developed to ensure Aurecon has an authentic commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi (Treaty of Waitangi); to build knowledge of Te Ao Māori (Māori world view); to build Te Reo Māori capability; to strengthen its relationships with Māori partners and communities; and to ensure the way Aurecon carries out its work incorporates Māori perspectives.
Sarah Howard, Aurecon’s first Pou Ārahi Māori Leader, says, “As part of developing He Rautaki Māori, we wanted to clearly identify specific actions that our people and organisation can take as we push forward with our journey. One of the exciting ways we have implemented our strategy, and what we have been recognised for, is integrating Te Ao Māori into the interior design and design process of our new Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland) office, Whakakāinga.”
“By employing Māori design principles coupled with insights from cultural advisors from Ngāti Whātua o Ōrākei, we set the foundations for creating a special place of belonging for our employees, clients, and partners,” continues Sarah.
The Good Design Awards Jury commended how the strategy is centred around people, which is what makes a good business design strategy. “This project is an exemplar of how this can be achieved and the impact that can be delivered. The project team must be commended for their leadership in initiating this project and in ensuring it has been implemented across all aspects of the business. The impact of your work will be felt by many – congratulations!”
Aurecon’s Cape Lambert Jetty and Dolphin Upgrade was named a Good Design Award Winner, with client Rio Tinto, in the Product Design – Commercial and Industrial category for its digital innovation to sustain the life of critical export infrastructure in Western Australia.
Iron ore is Australia’s largest export commodity. The majority of which is exported from Western Australia, where one of Rio Tinto’s largest export facilities is Cape Lambert. Using digital solutions such as 3D modelling and digital survey datasets to verify the accuracy of a digital twin in developing the project’s design, Aurecon enabled Rio Tinto to avoid an estimated AUD 80 million in additional construction costs and approximately 2.5 years of extended construction time when upgrading its dolphin and jetty structures.
Manfred Braun, Ports, Marine & Coastal Practice Leader for Western Australia and Northern Territory at Aurecon, highlighted the team’s design innovation that helped deliver the project’s notable outcomes. “The methodology and tools used for the design of these unique dolphin structures represent a bold new concept and have achieved a significant shift away from traditional design conventions. The project is an example of exceptional industrial design and the principles can be applied to infrastructure across different industries to contribute to a better, safer, and more prosperous future for business and communities.”
The Good Design Awards Jury commended the team’s digital engineering expertise for delivering efficient results for the project. “The Cape Lambert Dolphin upgrade entails some very impressive digital modelling to ensure its engineering success. The ability of the team to design a structure that can berth large ships without transferring forces to the wharf, a significant improvement in safety, won accolades.”
As its founding sponsor, Aurecon also congratulates all the winners in the Engineering Design category.
Dr Andrew Maher, Group Managing Principal for Eminence, Digital and Innovation at Aurecon and the chair of this year’s Engineering Design category jury, lauded the winners’ design excellence and their significant economic, social and environmental contributions. “Since its launch in 2018, Aurecon has been proud to partner with Good Design Australia in rewarding exemplar engineering design projects across the country and recognising their roles in creating a better future for our people and planet.”
This year, Aurecon and Good Design Australia recognised 10 engineering designs.
Group Director, Brand, Marketing & Communications
For 10 years, Aurecon has been named in the AFR BOSS Most Innovative Companies list, reflecting the company's sustained investment innovation.
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