Ausenco
Australian global engineering, procurement, construction-management and operations-services company serving the resources, energy and infrastructure sectors.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
Ausenco is an Australian consulting engineering and project-services company headquartered in South Brisbane, Queensland. Founded in Brisbane in 1991 by Zimi Meka and Bob Thorpe, it developed from an Australian engineering practice into an international provider of services for mining, minerals processing, energy and infrastructure projects. Its work spans the project lifecycle, including concept development, feasibility studies, engineering design, procurement support, construction management, commissioning, operations support, asset optimization and environmental and sustainability consulting. The company’s early development was closely connected with the resources sector. It opened a second Australian office in Perth in 1995, received its first institutional investment in 2002, and established the Ascentis division in 2003 to provide operations services to minerals-processing businesses. International expansion followed with an office in China in 2004 and offices in North and South America in 2005. Ausenco listed on the Australian Securities Exchange in June 2006, giving it access to public capital during a period of substantial growth in global mining investment. Ausenco expanded its geographic reach and technical scope through acquisitions, joint ventures and strategic alliances. The 2008 acquisition program added capabilities in pipeline systems, ports and marine work, environment and sustainability, and transportation systems. The company also formed Ausenco Taggart to combine engineering and delivery capabilities for coal-handling and processing facilities. In 2009, a 50 percent investment in the Kramer Group created Kramer Ausenco, strengthening the business’s presence in Papua New Guinea and the South Pacific. Further diversification included the acquisition of Reaction Consulting in 2012, the formation of Ausenco Rylson for asset optimization and management, and the acquisition of PROJEX Technologies in Canada in 2013. After a strategic alliance with Spanish construction group Duro Felguera in 2015, Ausenco underwent a major ownership transition. In September 2016, a scheme of arrangement involving RCF V.I. LP and key shareholders privatized the company and resulted in its delisting from the ASX. In 2017, Ausenco organized its consulting activities into global practice areas covering mining, environment and sustainability, pipelines, transportation and logistics, integrated technology solutions, and asset management and optimization. Its acquisition of Canadian environmental consultancy Hemmera later that year strengthened the environmental practice. Ausenco has delivered or supported projects in more than 80 countries. Its referenced project portfolio includes gold, copper, iron ore, coal and mineral-sands developments in regions such as Southeast Asia, Africa, Australia, Papua New Guinea and the Americas. The company reports a global operating network of approximately 26 offices in 15 countries and around 3,000 employees as of 2024. It remains a privately held, internationally operating professional-services business focused primarily on complex resources-sector projects, while also maintaining capabilities in energy, infrastructure, environment and operations services.
History
Ausenco was established in Brisbane, Australia, in 1991 by Zimi Meka and Bob Thorpe. The company’s initial identity was that of an engineering and project-services business serving the resources industry. Its first significant domestic expansion came in 1995, when it opened an office in Perth, connecting the business with Western Australia’s mining and minerals economy. In 2002, institutional shareholders invested in Ausenco and former Queensland premier Wayne Goss became chairman. The company also began extending its offering beyond conventional engineering. In 2003 it created the Ascentis division to provide operations services to minerals-processing companies. An office in China followed in 2004, while North American and South American offices opened in 2005. This internationalization supported Ausenco’s involvement in mining developments across Asia, Africa and the Americas. Ausenco listed on the Australian Securities Exchange on 15 June 2006. The listing coincided with a period of strong international demand for mining infrastructure and project development. In 2007, the opening of a Vancouver office helped expand the company’s North American presence. That year also saw the creation of the Ausenco Foundation, intended to support communities where the company’s employees live and work. The company pursued an accelerated expansion program in 2008. Acquisitions including Vector Engineering, Pipeline Systems Incorporated and Sandwell added expertise in pipelines, ports and marine infrastructure, environmental services, sustainability and transportation systems. Ausenco’s workforce grew substantially during this period. It also formed the Ausenco Taggart joint venture, combining capabilities in the design and delivery of coal-handling and processing plants. In 2009, Ausenco acquired a 50 percent interest in the Kramer Group, creating Kramer Ausenco and broadening its reach in Papua New Guinea and the South Pacific. Further capability-building followed in 2012, when Ausenco acquired Reaction Consulting. The company also established the Ausenco Rylson joint venture to pursue asset optimization and asset-management services. In 2013, George Lloyd became chairman, and Ausenco acquired PROJEX Technologies, with operations in Calgary and Halifax, expanding its Canadian consulting platform. In 2015, Ausenco entered a strategic alliance with Spanish multinational construction company Duro Felguera to pursue and deliver engineering, procurement and construction projects internationally. A significant ownership change occurred in September 2016. Through a scheme of arrangement involving RCF V.I. LP and key shareholders, Ausenco was privatized and subsequently delisted from the ASX. In 2017, the business organized its consulting activities into global practice areas including Mining Consulting, Environment and Sustainability, Pipelines, Transportation and Logistics, Integrated Technology Solutions, and Asset Management and Optimization Consulting. Its acquisition of Hemmera in November 2017 added a Canadian environmental consultancy to the environment and sustainability platform. Ausenco’s project record includes work associated with the Chatree, North Mara, Sepon, Phu Kham, Hidden Valley, Lumwana, Martabe, Kwale, Constancia, Tonkolili, Minas-Rio and Los Bronces developments, as well as coal and infrastructure projects in Australia and elsewhere. The company has worked in more than 80 countries and, according to the referenced company description, had approximately 3,000 employees across 26 offices in 15 countries in 2024. It continues to operate as a private global engineering and project-services company serving mining, energy, infrastructure and related resources markets.
- 2017
Consulting practice structure and Hemmera acquisition
[1]Ausenco creates a global consulting practice structure and acquires Canadian environmental consultancy Hemmera.
- 2016
Privatization and ASX delisting
[1]A scheme of arrangement involving RCF V.I. LP and key shareholders privatizes Ausenco.
- 2015
Strategic alliance with Duro Felguera
[1]Ausenco forms an alliance with Spanish construction group Duro Felguera to pursue international EPC projects.
- 2013
PROJEX Technologies acquisition
[1]Ausenco acquires PROJEX Technologies in Canada and George Lloyd becomes chairman.
- 2012
Reaction Consulting acquisition
[1]Ausenco acquires Reaction Consulting and forms the Ausenco Rylson joint venture.
- 2009
Kramer Ausenco is formed
[1]Ausenco takes a 50 percent interest in the Kramer Group, creating Kramer Ausenco for work in Papua New Guinea and the South Pacific.
- 2008
Acquisition program broadens capabilities
[1]Ausenco acquires Vector Engineering, Pipeline Systems Incorporated and Sandwell, and forms the Ausenco Taggart joint venture.
- 2007
Vancouver expansion and foundation launch
[1]A Vancouver office opens, and the Ausenco Foundation is launched to support communities connected with the company.
- 2006
ASX listing
[1]Ausenco lists on the Australian Securities Exchange on 15 June.
- 2005
Expansion into North and South America
[1]Ausenco opens offices in North America and South America.
Products and positioning
An international, technically integrated engineering and project-services provider for complex resources, energy and infrastructure developments, positioned around lifecycle support, practical project delivery and sustainability capabilities.
Professional services
Mining Consulting
Ausenco provides consulting and engineering support for mining and minerals-processing developments. Services can cover early project concepts, technical studies, feasibility work, engineering design, procurement support, construction management, commissioning and operational assistance. Its referenced portfolio includes gold, copper, iron ore, coal and mineral-sands projects in multiple regions.
Environmental consulting · 2017
Environment and Sustainability
The environment and sustainability practice supports resource and infrastructure projects with environmental consulting and sustainability-related services. The practice was strengthened by Ausenco’s 2017 acquisition of Canadian consultancy Hemmera, which became part of the broader environment and sustainability offering.
Engineering consulting · 2008
Pipelines
Ausenco’s pipeline capabilities were expanded through the 2008 acquisition of Pipeline Systems Incorporated. The offering forms part of the company’s broader engineering and project-delivery work for resources and infrastructure clients.
Infrastructure consulting · 2008
Transportation and Logistics
Transportation and logistics consulting was added to Ausenco’s expanded service portfolio during the 2008 acquisition program. It supports the movement, handling and infrastructure requirements associated with resource developments and related projects.
Operations and asset services · 2012
Asset Management and Optimization
Ausenco offers services aimed at improving the performance, management and lifecycle value of operating assets. The capability was developed further through the Ausenco Rylson joint venture formed in 2012.
Operations support · 2003
Operations Services
The Ascentis division was established to provide operations services to the minerals-processing industry. This extended Ausenco’s role beyond project development and construction into operational support.
Marketing campaigns
- 2007Ausenco Foundation
International communities connected with Ausenco operations
Ausenco launched the Ausenco Foundation to support communities in locations where its employees live and work.
Outcome. The foundation became part of Ausenco’s community-support and social-impact activities.
Brand decisions
2017
Creation of global consulting practice areasStrategyBackground
Ausenco was diversifying across mining, environmental, infrastructure and asset-related services.
Action taken
The company organized its consulting business into global practices covering mining, environment and sustainability, pipelines, transportation and logistics, integrated technology solutions, and asset management and optimization.
Aftermath
The structure clarified the company’s multidisciplinary consulting platform and supported its international delivery model.
2016
Return to private ownershipM&ABackground
Ausenco’s ownership structure was reorganized through a scheme of arrangement involving RCF V.I. LP and key shareholders.
Action taken
The transaction privatized Ausenco and led to its delisting from the ASX.
Aftermath
Ausenco continued as a privately held international engineering and project-services company.
2008
Acquisition-led capability expansionM&ABackground
Ausenco sought to broaden its engineering and project-delivery offer beyond core mining consulting.
Action taken
It acquired Vector Engineering, Pipeline Systems Incorporated and Sandwell and formed the Ausenco Taggart joint venture.
Aftermath
The company added pipeline, ports and marine, environment and sustainability, transportation and coal-processing capabilities.
2006
Public-market listingStrategyBackground
Ausenco had expanded from its Australian base into international markets and was developing a broader resources-sector service platform.
Action taken
The company listed on the Australian Securities Exchange on 15 June 2006.
Aftermath
The listing preceded a period of international expansion, acquisitions and workforce growth.
Recent events
Canada Nickel retains Ausenco for Crawford project study[3]
Reported:
Canada Nickel announced that it had retained Ausenco Engineering Canada as the lead study consultant for the Preliminary Economic Assessment of its Crawford Nickel-Cobalt Sulphide Project.
Sources3 sources
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