Strategen has agreed to merge with JBS&G Australia to create a leading environmental firm serving several industries.

“As a new combined entity, our merger (effective July) will bring together some of Australia’s leading experts within the environmental industry, allowing us to offer a broader range of services to our clients across the country,” Strategen said.

This will create a total workforce of more than 200, adding not only depth of experience to Strategen’s capabilities in Western Australia, especially in contaminated sites, approvals and stakeholder engagement, but also a broader offering of services to its clients across the country, Strategen said.

Strategen CEO, Darren Walsh (pictured left), said: “This merger will enable us to build on our 25-year track record of delivering results for some of Western Australia’s most important projects and we are delighted to be enhancing our ability to meet client needs through this partnership.

“Our new combined firm positions us to service our clients in Western Australia with a far superior depth and strength, and also allows the provision of Strategen’s range of services to JBS&G’s clients throughout Australia.

“We are proud to remain privately owned; and this new merger will solidify us as one of the largest, independently owned environmental consultancy firms within Australia”.

Walsh will retain a prominent role in the Western Australia business, becoming an Executive Director of the combined firm and continuing to work with the team to ensure exceptional levels of service and outcomes to clients, Strategen said. Current Strategen General Manager, Tim Bowra, will become the Western Australia Managing Principal. Current JBS&G CEO, Andrew Lau (pictured right), will continue at the helm of the expanded JBS&G business.

Lau said bringing together the two strong, complementary businesses will help drive growth and increase overall competitiveness. “Strategen’s technical expertise and track record of success in securing complex environmental approvals is a perfect fit for JBS&G and will help us continue to deliver unmatched expertise to our clients.

“We are bringing together some of the brightest minds and best people in the industry, with unmatched experience on some of Australia’s largest and most significant projects. This will enable us to continue to deliver fast, capable expertise to our clients and expand the breadth of services we deliver, particularly to Western Australia in the land development, infrastructure, mining, renewables and oil & gas industries.”

Strategen will, in part, retain its trading name in Western Australia, becoming Strategen-JBS&G from July. The JBS&G WA team, meanwhile, will relocate to Strategen’s offices in Subiaco in June, Strategen said.