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International design, engineering and advisory company, Aurecon took home six awards at the 2022 Consult Australia Awards for Excellence, recognising the impactful contributions of its people and projects in innovation, sustainability, and client service.
The annual Consult Australia Awards profile and promote the outstanding achievements of firms to the business community, with Aurecon recognised in the program for eight years in a row.
William Cox , CEO of Aurecon, said: “We are extremely proud of our people behind these award wins, which affirms the deep commitment we have to bringing ideas to life with our clients and the communities we serve. These awards demonstrate our innovation mindset and unique approach to unlocking long-term value with our clients, employees, and environment, creating a better future for people and the planet.
Aurecon took the top honour for Innovation Design for Allianz Stadium. Located near Sydney’s central business district, Allianz Stadium was designed to create a vibrant atmosphere with steep seating to bring 42,500 fans closer to the action.
Through a unique design approach and digital workflows, Aurecon helped deliver the stadium in record time while achieving cost savings and sustainability outcomes. The stadium features one of Australia’s most technically complex stadium roofs that use 40 per cent less steel in construction than traditional stadia.
Tim Spies, Managing Director for Built Environment at Aurecon, said the company’s experience in designing stadia around the world has given it the edge in engineering innovation.
“Our experience in designing stadia such as CommBank Stadium in Sydney, Marvel Stadium in Melbourne, TEDA Stadium in Tianjin and Wembley Stadium in London, has enabled us to take our learnings onto other projects. For Allianz Stadium, our key considerations were buildability, cost-effectiveness, aesthetics, sightlines and sustainability, making the complex simple, and collaborating effectively with project team members and the client for successful design and delivery.”
Aurecon won Superior Sustainability for SA Water’s Zero Cost Energy Future, where it was one of the project partners with KBR, Enerven, and Clutch Consulting that played a key role in introducing renewable technologies to reduce the utility’s electricity operating costs and deliver low and stable prices for its customers.
"We’re delivering initiatives to keep our operations as efficient as possible to help keep customers’ water prices as low and stable as possible."
Nicola Murphy, SA Water General Manager Strategy, Engagement and Innovation
The program is Australia’s largest ‘behind the meter’ solar generation project, which increased SA Water’s generation capacity to 70 per cent of electricity requirements through renewable technologies.
SA Water General Manager Strategy, Engagement and Innovation Nicola Murphy said the program has helped neutralise SA Water’s electricity costs, which reached nearly AUD 83 million in 2018-19 and deliver sustainable savings to customers.
Aurecon took home the Client Service Excellence award for the Emergency Department Modular Hospitals Procurement Program, where it helped deliver three highly technical hospital emergency departments to address one of the most severe waves of COVID-19 in Melbourne in late 2021 and early 2022.
The Victorian Health Building Authority appointed Aurecon as program manager and principal consultant to address significant capacity shortages at three hospitals across Melbourne – Northern Hospital (Northern Health), Werribee Hospital (Mercy Health), and Casey Hospital (Monash Health).
Hayley Wardrop, Industry Leader, Health, Education and Research at Aurecon, said to deliver the modular facilities quickly, the project required an innovative design, procurement and construction approach, adopting an agile team culture and effective stakeholder management.
“The design phase of a typical emergency department would be around 18 months, with construction taking a further three years. With Aurecon as program manager and principal consultant, working with head contractor Erilyan, architects Team2 and design consultants, the program was delivered in five months. This was achieved through innovative procurement, adoption of modular design and construction and a focus on client objectives, and a best-for-project culture based on transparent communications, team alignment, collaboration and seamless decision-making.”
Aurecon’s 10-year Sydney Water Planning Partnership with Sydney Water and Arup was recognised with a Collaboration for Project Excellence Award.
The partnership is the largest consultant engagement in Australia by a water utility and a first for the industry in terms of its integrated nature. In addition to planning and technical engineering services, Aurecon and Arup provide project management services, environmental planning and assessment, heritage advice, geotechnical engineering, and community and stakeholder consultation.
The partnership is working with Sydney Water to plan the water infrastructure required to service its customers in the future.
Paul Plowman, General Manager of Asset Lifecycle at Sydney Water, said the partnership between Sydney Water, Aurecon and Arup, which is now in its fourth year has seen the delivery of complex planning works.
“We have been able to seamlessly bring Aurecon and Arup experts into Sydney Water to deliver rapid planning, reducing by half, the time that concept designs could be developed and taken to market. This award is certainly recognition of the success of this partnership to date and we look forward to continuing to work with Aurecon and Arup throughout our 10-year tenure.”
The Sprayed Concrete Application by Jacobs for the WestConnex M4-M5 Tunnels Project it delivers with Aurecon was highly commended for its Technological Innovation.
WestConnex is Australia’s largest road infrastructure project delivering 33 kilometres of motorway and road infrastructure through Sydney’s west. The M4-M5 Link is the third and final stage, which provides the missing link between the New M4 at Haberfield and M8 at St Peters, creating a western bypass of the CBD that will allow the full benefits of WestConnex to be realised.
A joint venture of Aurecon and Jacobs provides detailed design and construction phase services for Acciona Samsung Bouygues Joint Venture on the M4-M5 Link Tunnels project.
The sprayed concrete is one of the project’s key innovations, which forms a structural shell for rock support. The shotcrete was developed through extensive research and development process to make it higher performing even when used in smaller quantities, creating cost savings for the clients.
Pratik Shrestha, Associate for Building Structures at Aurecon, was named Future Leader for his contributions in bringing to life key built environment projects in Australia.
"I believe engineering is more than a profession; it is one of the last humanitarian professions that exists in society today."
Pratik Shrestha, Associate Building Structures, Aurecon
One of these is Murdoch University’s Boola Katitjin, the first and largest mass-engineered timber building in Western Australia, where Shrestha was the lead structural engineer. He was instrumental in introducing a world-first robotics technology trial into the construction of the building to demonstrate the productivity and health and safety gains that could be achieved, for the benefit of the entire construction industry.
Shrestha’s contributions to the industry extend beyond his engineering and research work. He volunteers for some industry organisations and activities with Engineers Australia and the Property Council of Australia’s Mentoring Program. He is also a guest lecturer at Edith Cowan University and Curtin University.
“I believe engineering is more than a profession; it is one of the last humanitarian professions that exists in society today. I am convinced that we, as engineers, have an unprecedented opportunity to leave behind a fantastic legacy through the work we do,” Shrestha said.
In addition to Shrestha, Megan Wheeldon, Hydrogen and Derivatives Advisory Leader at Aurecon, was recognised in the same category with a high commendation.
Wheeldon has been instrumental in shaping Australia’s emerging hydrogen industry with studies for clients and contribution to research thinking papers as a hydrogen expert to advance policy, standards and guidelines for development projects.
“I am proud to be leading the way to bring hydrogen to life. In the race to decarbonise economies, it’s fulfilling to work in partnership with clients and industries to enable economies to navigate beyond the bottom line and thrive in what is undoubtedly the emergence of a new approach to energy and commodities,” Wheeldon said.
Group Director, Brand, Marketing & Communications
Aurecon has been named in the AFR Boss Most Innovative Companies list for 10 consecutive years, reflecting sustained investment in innovation to solve complex problems.
Aurecon Design Academy wins Best in Class at the 2026 Australian Good Design Awards, celebrating the company's decade-long investment in developing its people.
Aurecon wins multiple honours at Engineers Australia's state and territory Excellence Awards, including Project of the Year for Adelaide Aquatic Centre.
