TZL 1576 (web)

BUSINESS NEWS LOUISE ADAMS APPOINTED AS NEW GROUP CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER – LEADING AURECON INTO NEXT CHAPTER OF ASIA PACIFIC GROWTH International design, engineering and advisory company Aurecon has announced Louise Adams, the group’s current chief operating officer, as its new group chief executive, effective July 1, 2025. Adams succeeds current Group CEO, William Cox, whose six-year leadership term saw Aurecon achieve record growth helping clients solve increasingly complex problems including energy security, clean water, urbanisation and climate change. Aurecon Chair Giam Swiegers said Adams’ outstanding track record of building an engaged culture, delivering strong financial performance and excellence in client services was key to the next phase of Aurecon’s success. “Louise is a globally recognised business leader, with decades of experience across Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the Middle East,” Swiegers said. “She has honed razor-sharp insights and

strong business acumen over the last four years delivering exceptional results as the group’s current chief operating officer. This combined with Louise’s deep expertise in Asia will continue to enhance our people, trade and investment links across Asia Pacific, supporting our vision of a connected and networked Aurecon.” As Aurecon’s first female group chief executive officer, Adams will lead approximately 7,500 people in 31 locations across Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia, Macau, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and Greater China. Adams said Asia Pacific remains one of the fastest growing regions in the world, marked by economic development, technological advancements, and increasing global influence. “In today’s world, engineering is not just a means to an end – it’s a force for good. The skills and capabilities that we, as engineers, uniquely bring to the table are key to providing safe and sustainable outcomes for society,” Adams said. “Immense change is occurring across Asia Pacific and in response Aurecon has diversified our service offerings

to address our clients’ most pressing challenges including combating climate change, transitioning to renewable energy and investing in the right technologies. I look forward to using this new role to continue elevating our important work.” Adams joined Aurecon in 2000 after graduating from the University of South Australia as one of only two women in the graduating class of engineers. Since then, she has remained a strong advocate for equality in STEM, becoming the first female executive director on Aurecon’s global board and remains a global spokesperson for women in leadership through the Chief Executive Women program. Swiegers extended the board’s gratitude to Cox for his leadership at Aurecon and the contributions he has made during his 35-year distinguished career in engineering advisory services. “Under Bill’s leadership, Aurecon achieved record profits and expanded its geographical footprint with Aurecon becoming one of Asia Pacific’s largest employee-owned engineering and advisory companies,” he concluded.

■ Recruiting. Are you being aggressive recruiters – “selling” those you want to hire on joining your firm? Or are you still acting like your job is to keep bad people out? Are you upgrading your staff when the opportunity to do so presents itself, or are you only looking at candidates when you have an established vacancy? Do you call people you have heard about working in competitors’ offices and try to set up a meeting with them? Probably not. Most firms are not continuously recruiting and miss opportunities to upgrade daily. Recruiting is a critical function, equal to marketing and selling. You want an omelet? Break some eggs! Make it happen, people! Mark Zweig is Zweig Group’s chairman and founder. Contact him at mzweig@zweiggroup.com . “Change seems risky or uncertain. And too many owners of firms in this business lack perspective on how things are done outside of this industry.”

MARK ZWEIG, from page 5

will be top of mind when they have any need for what you do. ■ Ownership. Are you still stuck in the idea of having a certain ratio of owners to employees? Why? Where did that idea come from? Have you thought about opening up your ownership to everyone in the company? If not, why not? You don’t need a special class of stock. The amounts they will own will be small anyway. And no, not all owners have to be on your board of directors, and not all owners have to be managers. That is a self-imposed rule. You want to be less dependent on your bank? You want more liquidity for your own ownership stake? Sell more stock! ■ Financial reporting. Has anyone ever really looked at the firm’s financial reports? Do they make sense? Do your managers understand them? Or are they being overwhelmed with too much information such that it obscures what is really crucial? I see this situation almost daily. Fix the reports! Is cash flow an issue? If so, are you sending daily cash reports of what came in and went out to everyone who can impact the cashflow? If not, why not? Put the spotlight on what is important for you to accomplish! Won’t happen with a once a month financial report emailed out.

THE ZWEIG LETTER MARCH 10, 2025, ISSUE 1576

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