Company Announcement - WorleyParsons, one of South Africa’s largest engineering contractors, launched its new global advisory business, Advisian, into its local South African structure in October 2014. Advisian provides high-level strategic and management consulting services and has been supported by the strong engineering and technical expertise that resided within the WorleyParsons group. Building on from this, WorleyParsons recently announced further changes to enhance the Advisian offering, by formally transitioning their technical consultants and industry specialists into the Advisian business.

The new entity is based on a successful model already well established in Australia, Asia, the Americas, Europe and the Middle East. Advisian in Sub Sahara Africa will work alongside the existing business units of Minerals, Metals & Chemicals (MM&C); Hydrocarbons, Resource Infrastructure, Power (HRIP);  Public Infrastructure (PI); and Improve. Advisian’s Global CEO, Dennis Finn, recruited from consulting firm PwC, explained that “Advisian’s main point of difference is its ability to offer expert strategic and management advisory services coupled with broader technical engineering consulting capabilities.  This is all backed by real-world experience across a wide range of industries and asset portfolios.  We believe we are now the first truly global consulting advisory business to be able to provide this integrated offering to our clients”.

The local Advisian business is led by Regional Executive Manager, Adam Boughton, who has been with the RSA operation for the past two years.  Initially Adam led the Rail Department and more recently, the Resource Infrastructure Division of HRIP.  Prior to his move to Africa, Adam spent a number of years working within the Group’s Australian Consulting business. “Advisian will be a strong driver of growth in our African operations,” said Boughton. “We have established local teams with significant experience across all engineering sectors which are supported by our global capabilities. Advisian will focus on harnessing this expertise to provide our clients with access to a world-best capability that will deliver significant value to their businesses.  All of our specialist capabilities are backed by credible, full-range, project delivery experience.” Advisian can be engaged at any time of the project lifecycle, either in a stand-alone manner or as part of the overall project, adding value from the early phases of project development through to decommissioning and post-closure. 

Consulting services include Strategic and Management Consulting Services (such as strategic decision making to investment portfolio optimisation); Mining Studies; Transportation; Ports, Marine and Terminals; Environmental and Social Services; Restoration Services; Power Advisory; Master Planning and Geotechnical Sciences.

WorleyParsons sub-Saharan Africa business grew rapidly through the acquisition of TWP in 2013 and has been undergoing a period of integration with the existing African business.  With this integration drawing to a close, Boughton says the timing was perfect to introduce Advisian as a dedicated strategic, management and technical consulting business line.