WSP completes e2m acquisition to boost Queensland arm

WSP has completed its acquisition of Queensland environmental consultancy e2m, adding more than 60 specialists to its Australian business.

Founded in 2015, e2m advises on ecology, environmental approvals and related compliance work across major resources, renewables and infrastructure projects in Queensland. Its team includes ecologists, approvals specialists and geospatial scientists.

The acquisition strengthens WSP's environmental and approvals capabilities in Australia, particularly in infrastructure, energy, mining and resources. WSP operates in more than 50 countries and employs about 83,000 people.

The addition of e2m expands WSP's local capabilities in terrestrial ecology, environmental approvals and compliance, offsets, environmental analytics and spatial services. Those areas are becoming increasingly important for project developers and operators as regulatory scrutiny, land-use pressures and approval timelines shape major industrial and infrastructure schemes.

For WSP, the deal deepens its presence in Queensland while broadening the environmental advisory services it can offer nationally. e2m has built its business around supporting projects through different stages of development, from early ecological assessment to approvals processes and ongoing compliance requirements.

Sector focus

The sectors highlighted by both firms indicate where demand is strongest in Australia's environmental consulting market. Resources and mining projects continue to require extensive baseline studies and approval work, while renewable energy developments and related network infrastructure have also lifted demand for ecological assessment and permitting advice.

Infrastructure remains another major source of work, particularly where transport, utilities and regional development projects intersect with protected habitats, biodiversity offset rules and community concerns. Environmental advisers have become more embedded in project planning as clients seek to reduce delays linked to approvals and compliance issues.

The acquisition also reflects continued consolidation in professional services, with larger engineering groups seeking specialist environmental teams to complement design, planning and project management work. Buying niche consultancies can give bigger firms access to local relationships, technical depth and established staff in areas where hiring remains competitive.

Greg Kane, President and Managing Director, WSP in Australia, said after the transaction completed: "Coming together with e2m is an important step in strengthening our environmental and sustainability offering.

"e2m has built a strong reputation for technical excellence, innovation and client care. By bringing our teams together, we are well positioned to create new opportunities for our people and deliver even greater value for our clients and the communities we serve."

Queensland roots

e2m has focused much of its work on Queensland, where large resources developments, transmission projects and renewable energy proposals have supported demand for specialist ecological and approvals advice. Its growth to more than 60 staff since its founding points to sustained demand for those services in the state and beyond.

Its work includes environmental analytics and spatial services alongside ecology and approvals. That combination is increasingly relevant for clients that need technical survey work and mapping support to progress project applications and manage compliance obligations over time.

For staff and clients, the combination brings a local specialist business into a much larger engineering and advisory network. The transaction forms part of WSP's growth strategy in Australia, where competition among engineering and consulting firms remains focused on energy transition work, transport infrastructure and resources investment.

Scott Baker, Chief Executive Officer of e2m, said: "e2m has always been about our people and our clients. Joining WSP is an exciting next chapter for our people to realise national and global opportunities, where we can continue to develop our technical excellence and scale the value that our combined team offers to clients and the community."