BrazilAECOM launches sustainability center of excellence in Singapore
Global engineering and advisory group AECOM has established a Centre of Excellence in Singapore. The centre aims to train 100 staff in the coming three years.
In a statement, AECOM’s President Lara Poloni said that the firm launched the centre in response to growing demand for sustainability services. “Singapore has risen rapidly as a global leader in sustainable development thanks to exceptional talent and the city-nation’s bold approach to addressing environmental issues. The centre presents an opportunity to build on our leading environmental, sustainability, and resilience capabilities.”
The new center of excellence will serve as a hub for innovation, training, and thought leadership – aimed at furthering the sustainable engineering skills of AECOM’s employees in Singapore.
Enhancing sustainability skills
The centre will focus on three components. For one, the centre will provide structured training programmes and technical workshops conducted by AECOM’s global sustainability experts. Second, Singapore-based employees will be given secondment opportunities at other offices worldwide, where they can contribute to sustainability projects and build their practical skills.
AECOM aims to train more than 100 employees for sustainability roles over the next three years to support the growing pipeline of sustainability projects in Singapore and the region.
Third, the centre will also organise industry forums and events to promote sustainability efforts in Singapore, as well as lead the firm’s thought leadership in the sustainability domain.
The establishment of the new centre was supported by the Singapore Economic Development Board, a government agency (under the Ministry of Trade and Industry) tasked with enhancing Singapore’s position as a global centre for business, innovation, and talent.
According to Jacqueline Poh, Managing Director of the Economic Development Board, the commitment by AECOM will help the country better cater to the growing demand for sustainability talent. “As cities and industries accelerate their green plans, the demand for sustainability talent will continue to grow. We are heartened that through AECOM’s Centre of Excellence, Singaporeans will get more opportunities to reskill or upskill to take on (new) sustainability roles.”
For the Economic Development Board, the deal continues a string of big consulting names the group has helped attract into Singapore. Last year, global strategy giant Boston Consulting Group picked Singapore for its Climate & Sustainability Hub in Asia Pacific, and in 2021, PwC did the same.
These partnerships align with the Economic Development Board’s support to the Singapore Green Plan 2030, which charts ambitious and concrete targets in support of the UN’s 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and Paris Agreement, as well as Singapore’s goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.
“We believe the centre’s work will create a spillover effect which will benefit Singapore, AECOM and the region, and look forward to a continued strong partnership,” said Poloni.
AECOM has been active in Singapore since 1985, during this time working on several iconic infrastructure developments, such as Jurong Innovation District, Marina Bay and Greater Southern Waterfront, Deep Tunnel Sewerage System Phase 2, Integrated Waste Management Facility, Changi Airport Terminals 4 and 5, and Singapore Sports Hub.
