Global infrastructure leader AECOM has reaffirmed its long-term commitment to the Great Barrier Reef Foundation. The company announced a renewed four-year partnership focused on advancing restoration and resilience initiatives for the world’s largest coral reef system.
The extension builds on AECOM’s collaboration with the Foundation that began in 2018 and formalized in 2022, during which the company contributed more than AUD $1 million in in-kind advisory and technical consulting services.
Under the renewed agreement, AECOM will continue providing specialist environmental, hydrologic, and engineering expertise. develop practical, science-based solutions addressing the Reef’s most complex environmental challenges.
“It’s an honour to recommit AECOM to another successful four years of using our specialist water and environmental advisory skills for good,” said Mark McManamny, Chief Executive of AECOM’s Australia and New Zealand region. “Our Sustainable Legacies strategy is about leaving a lasting positive impact on our planet, and this partnership embodies that ambition.”
Anna Marsden, Managing Director of the Great Barrier Reef Foundation, said AECOM’s continued involvement is instrumental in scaling up reef protection efforts.
“We’re delighted to extend this powerful partnership,” Marsden said. “AECOM’s expertise will help us prioritise large-scale coastal ecosystem restoration and address the most challenging threats to the Reef’s survival.”
Driving Innovation in Reef Protection
AECOM’s partnership supports several major Foundation programs, including:
- Roads to Reef Initiative:
AECOM engineers and resilience advisors developed decision-support tools to identify erosion-prone unsealed roads across the Reef catchment. work produced the first comprehensive sediment runoff model and a framework for testing nature-based interventions to improve water quality. - Reef Islands Initiative:
Environmental specialists are advising on multi-habitat restoration and biodiversity enhancement for islands within the Reef. Furthermore, a focus on First Nations and community-led partnerships. - Resilient Reefs Initiative:
Building on earlier collaborations, AECOM helped design the first integrated resilience model for UNESCO-listed coral reefs funding and implementation strategies across sites in Australia, Palau, Belize, and New Caledonia. - Blue Carbon Program:
AECOM and the Foundation are co-developing a white paper aimed at removing regulatory barriers to blue carbon projects conservation initiatives that restore mangroves, seagrass, and saltmarsh ecosystems to capture carbon and enhance climate resilience.
About AECOM
AECOM (NYSE: ACM) is a Fortune 500 professional services firm delivering infrastructure solutions in water, environment, energy, transportation, and buildings. With $16.1 billion in fiscal 2024 revenue, AECOM partners with public and private clients worldwide to create sustainable and resilient communities. Learn more at aecom.com.
About the Great Barrier Reef Foundation
The Great Barrier Reef Foundation works to protect and restore coral reefs globally with scientists, First Nations peoples, and communities to develop scalable, nature-based solutions that help reefs adapt to climate change. More information is available at barrierreef.org.
