GHD Group
| Company type | Employee-owned private company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Professional services, Engineering, Architecture, Environmental consulting |
| Predecessor | Gutteridge Haskins & Davey |
| Founded | January 1, 1928 in Melbourne, Australia |
| Founder | Alan Gordon Gutteridge |
| Headquarters | Waterloo, Ontario (North American headquarters) , Australia (global headquarters) |
Area served | Worldwide (over 135 countries) |
Key people | Jim Giannopoulos (CEO as of 2 April 2024) |
| Products | Advisory, architecture and design, buildings, digital solutions, energy and resources, environmental science, geosciences, project management, transportation, water-related services |
| Revenue | AUD 2.888 billion (USD 1.822 billion) (FY2024) |
Number of employees | Over 12,000 (2024) |
| Website | www |
GHD Group Pty Ltd—previously known as Gutteridge Haskins & Davey—is a worldwide, employee-owned multinational firm specializing in technical professional services. Its expertise spans advisory, architecture and design, buildings, digital solutions, energy and resources, environmental science, geosciences, project management, transportation, and water-related services.
With a workforce exceeding 12,000 professionals—including engineers, architects, planners, scientists, project managers, and economists—GHD operates from more than 160 offices distributed across five continents. The company delivers projects across over 135 countries, serving sectors such as water, energy and resources, environment, property and buildings, and transportation.
History
The firm traces its origins to 1928 in Melbourne, founded by consulting engineer Alan Gordon Gutteridge with an initial focus on water and sewerage systems. In 1939, it formalized as Gutteridge Haskins & Davey through a partnership with Gerald Haskins and Geoffrey Innes Davey. By the mid-20th century, the company had grown to over 400 staff members and diversified into transportation infrastructure, manufacturing facilities, building and civil construction, energy projects, mining operations, and dam construction. Among its significant undertakings was the expansion of potable water and sewage networks throughout Tasmania. The 1970s marked the beginning of international growth with a joint venture established in Malaysia.
During the 1990s, GHD expanded its service offerings to include architecture, environmental consultancy, and business advisory services while strengthening its presence in Southeast Asia. The subsequent decade witnessed continued expansion through mergers and acquisitions across regions including the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, the Middle East, China, Chile, and Malaysia. By 2013, the North American workforce surpassed 1,000 employees.
A pivotal development occurred in 2014 when GHD merged with Canadian firm Conestoga-Rovers & Associates in one of the engineering and environmental consulting sector’s largest private stock deals. This union created an organization employing approximately 8,500 people with combined revenues of AUD 1.5 billion. Conestoga-Rovers contributed roughly 3,000 personnel mainly from North America and the United Kingdom; GHD added around 5,500 employees worldwide. That same year also saw GHD acquire the Australian architecture firm Woodhead’s brand and operations, later rebranded as GHD Woodhead.
In 2018, GHD inaugurated a new North American headquarters located in Waterloo, Ontario. At that time, North America represented more than half of GHD’s global revenue of USD 1.7 billion.
On 2 April 2024, Jim Giannopoulos was named CEO following his previous leadership roles in Canada and oversight of the Americas region.
Market sectors
For FY2024, GHD’s revenue distribution was as follows: Environment contributed 30%, Transportation accounted for 21%, Water represented 19%, Property and Buildings made up 18%, and Energy and Resources comprised 12%. The company achieved an organic growth rate of 8% compared to FY2023 with total revenues reaching AUD 2.888 billion (USD 1.822 billion).
- Water – This segment generated 19% of total revenue in 2024. Significant projects include desalination facilities located in Carlsbad, Huntington Beach, and South Orange County (US), reconstruction initiatives in Brisbane and Christchurch, sewerage system implementation in Manila, as well as infrastructure enhancements across Canada and New Zealand. Additionally, GHD engineered a tunnel aqueduct supplying water to seven million residents in Manila and developed advanced water treatment technologies incorporating ultraviolet disinfection alongside membrane bioreactor systems.
- Energy & Resources – Comprising 12% of revenue share, key undertakings encompass the Hawsons Magnetite Iron Ore Mine project; the QCLNG Export Pipeline situated in Australia; and the Taysan Copper Mine located in the Philippines.
- Environment – Representing the largest portion at 30% of revenues; notable engagements include Chile’s HydroAysen Transmission System project and biodiversity conservation programs within Australia. Recent efforts feature remediation of industrial contamination sites in Louisiana and converting landfill areas into parks within the Mariana Islands consistent with EPA standards.
- Property & Buildings – Accounting for 18% of revenue streams; highlighted projects include Qatar’s Al Walkra Hospital; New Zealand’s Kerikeri Police Station; and Australia’s Richlands Rail Station.
- Transportation – Making up 21% of revenues; major projects consist of New Zealand’s Ahuriri to Napier Link; Chile’s San Antonio Port Expansion; and Australia’s South Road Superway. Additional recent work involves designing multi-lane roundabouts in Monterey (California), conducting economic evaluations for New Zealand State Highway 3 upgrades; as well as constructing acoustic barriers along State Highway 1 aimed at mitigating noise pollution and improving air quality.
- Digital – Employing over 500 technology specialists; services include data analytics, location intelligence solutions, cybersecurity measures, plus virtual and augmented reality applications. Recent digital initiatives feature a connected site platform supporting the Level Crossing Removal Authority rail upgrade alongside development of a smart city framework for Glenelg Shire in Victoria.
Achievements
At the 2018 Innovation Awards hosted by the International Water Association, GHD's Birmingham Resilience Project earned the bronze medal for Outstanding Project Execution and Delivery. The American Council of Engineering Companies of California acknowledged GHD for its Comprehensive Large-Scale Habitat Restoration efforts in collaboration with the Border Coast Regional Airport Authority, focusing on wetland mitigation. The Australian Institute of Project Management recognized GHD's Pesticide Container Management initiative in the Pacific region. Additionally, GHD was honored with an Environmental Award of Merit from Engineering News-Record for its involvement in closing a landfill in Puerto Rico and developing Eloy S. Inos Peace Park. GHD Woodhead received the Harry Seidler Award for Commercial Architecture, alongside a national sustainable architecture accolade from the Australian Institute of Architects for their design of Barwon Water headquarters in Geelong, Australia.
In 2024, GHD secured the 14th position in Environmental Analyst's Top 100 Global Environmental & Sustainability Consultancy Firm Rankings.
GHD ranked 16th on Financial Review’s list of Australia's top 500 private companies in 2018.
In the same year, Engineering News-Record placed GHD at number 27 among its Top 500 Global Design Firms.