WSP buys Queensland ecology consultancy e2m to boost approvals capability

What's the deal? Toronto-listed engineering group WSPDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → has acquired e2mDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, a Queensland-based environmental and ecological consultancy, for an undisclosed sum. The deal adds more than 60 ecologists, approvals specialists, and geospatial scientists to WSP's Australian business.

What do they do? Founded in 2015, e2m advises on ecology and approvals, with expertise in terrestrial ecology, environmental compliance, offsets, environmental analytics, and spatial services. WSP operates in more than 50 countries and employs about 83,000 people across sectors including transportation, infrastructure, energy, water, and mining.

Why now? WSP says the deal forms part of its growth strategy in Australia, strengthening its ability to support clients in infrastructure, energy, mining, and resources.

What's the endgame? The acquisition bolsters WSP's environmental and approvals capability. "Coming together with e2m is an important step in strengthening our environmental and sustainability offering," says Greg Kane, president and managing director of WSP in Australia.

E2m chief executive Scott Baker framed it as a path to scale. "Joining WSP is an exciting next chapter for our people to realise national and global opportunities," he says.

The signal: Large engineering firms are absorbing specialist environmental consultancies as approvals and compliance grow central to infrastructure, energy, and mining projects. For WSP, local ecology expertise is now a lever for winning complex work across Australia.

Read more: businessnewsaustralia.com

Image credit: NOAA's National Ocean Service