WGA appoints Susan Forrester as first female Chair in 40-year history

Multi-disciplinary engineering and project management business WGA (Wallbridge Gilbert Aztec) has announced Susan Forrester AM will become chair, the first female to take on the role in its 40-year history. The new appointment was announced at the AGM held on 16th December.

The new appointment is announced at a stage of positive transition for WGA as joint-Managing Directors, Nick Lelos and Peter McBean handover the leadership role to Ben Stapleton and Nathan Silby in early 2022. The company is celebrating 40 years in business this year, having been founded in Adelaide in 1982 and has since grown to a multi-disciplinary, award winning engineering and project management team which employs more than 400 people across Australia and New Zealand. WGA is known for managing diverse, high-profile projects including the Sunshine Coast Hospital in Melbourne, Torrens to Torrens Infrastructure upgrade in Adelaide and the Underwater Observatory in Perth.

McBean comments, “We’re over the moon to be welcoming Susan to the position of Chair. 2021 was about structuring and positioning WGA so we can capitalise on future opportunities by ensuring we have the best people in leadership positions. Susan’s board expertise across multiple sectors will bring unrivalled experience and objectivity to the role, and her appointment will improve board diversity and provide a fresh perspective”.

Forrester has served on the WGA board since 2020 as a non-executive board member and will step into the new leadership position from January 2022. Current chair Andrew Schofield will be stepping down after five years on the board.

“WGA is a dynamic, fast growing firm of passionate professionals now located across Australia and New Zealand. I am delighted to be stepping into this board leadership role in 2022 as WGA embarks on its exciting strategic growth initiatives. My personal values are closely aligned to those of the company, and it’s humbling to work with a team who really do care about their people, their clients and their commitment to engineering excellence” Forrester said.

About WGA

Wallbridge Gilbert Aztec (WGA) is a multi-disciplinary, award-winning engineering and project management team with an ethos based on developing long-term collaborative client relationships, and delivering innovative, buildable and economical solutions.

With 40 years’ experience across diverse sectors, WGA offers a wide range of consulting services including structural, civil, maritime, mechanical, geotechnical, heavy lifting, temporary works, project management, traffic management, water, electrical, pressure vessels, hydrogeology, hydrology and demolition.