Brisbane-based Cardno is an ASX-200 infrastructure and environmental services company with 8,200 staff, almost 6,200 of whom are involved in international projects.

The company plans, designs, manages and delivers complex infrastructure projects for clients in 103 countries. It offers a range of services in 10 primary sectors, including building, coastal and ocean, defence, emerging markets, energy and resources, environment, land, management services, transportation and water. 

Cardno integrates its engineering, environmental, social and economic expertise to create sustainable solutions that produce positive outcomes for communities in developed and developing nations. Its team of engineers, economists, geologists, planners and scientists have contributed to large-scale infrastructure and social programs worldwide. 

Some of these projects include contributing to restoration efforts in the Gulf of Mexico, installing hydroelectric power stations in Ecuador, helping oversee elections in Papua New Guinea and managing business skills programs for women in Zambia. 

Over the past three years, Cardno’s international revenue has increased threefold to over $650 million or 68 per cent of total revenue. The company is well on its way to derive more than 75 per cent of its revenue from overseas activities by 2015.

The judges described Cardno as a world-class consulting business that is led by a strong leadership and management team, commenting that the company’s focused planning could see it achieve its objective of becoming a global top 20 firm in its sector by 2020.

To learn more about Cardno and its success, read the case study.