The name Entura was adopted in September 2010. It is an anagram of nature. ‘En’ applies to our expertise in engineering, energy and environment, while ‘tura’ refers to the durability and future of our solutions which are built to last.

Entura’s products and services are part of the integrated energy package that the Hydro Tasmania group offers its clients and customers. Entura provides engineering and management services to water and energy markets nationally and internationally. Entura supports Hydro Tasmania in water and environmental management and compliance and delivering its capital programs associated with hydropower and, from July 2011, wind developments.

Entura is based in a five-star, green star designed office at Cambridge, Tasmania. Other full-service offices operate in Melbourne, Brisbane and New Delhi, India, with project offices in Adelaide and Sydney.

Performance

Entura delivered a profit for 2010-2011, a turn-around from a negative result in the previous year. It accepted the challenge of the competitive environment for consulting services, especially in energy and water markets, and took steps to improve clients’ experiences through efficiencies and partnerships. Improvements are shown in significant growth in sales and accounts in the power and energy, and water and environment markets nationally and internationally.

Clients’ needs are critical to the success of Entura. The business introduced a third party online client survey in 2010-2011 to find out more about where it can improve clients’ experiences. A number of business system initiatives introduced during the year were already showing improved project delivery at the end of the reporting period. Importantly, Entura retained its ISO9001 quality certification across all national offices.

At the end of the reporting period it was finalising a risk methodology specific to Entura that will provide a framework for assessing operational and project specific risks and appropriateness for the size of the business and markets. It will include human rights.

Entura’s challenge is to return larger profits and position itself in the market as a specialist consulting business.
The strategy to grow involves expanding into international markets for a more balanced portfolio.

Governance

In April 2011 a new governance structure was introduced for Entura when a Board of directors was established consisting of Hydro Tasmania’s CEO and four other executives with experience in managing consulting businesses. The Board will guide Entura’s future strategic direction and support the business as it grows.

General Manager Scott Baddiley guided Entura through the global financial crisis and set up a sound future for the business. Scott left Entura in April 2011 to take up a senior executive position in the private sector.

The Entura board appointed Tammy Chu as the new Managing Director in May 2011. Tammy started with Hydro Tasmania as a graduate engineer and over the next 10 years gained the experience and developed management skills fit for the position. She holds a Bachelor of Engineering from the University of Tasmania.

Our markets

Entura has continued to grow its national and international client base, with almost half of total sales for the year coming from outside Tasmania as at June 30. International work accounted for almost 20 per cent of total sales.

Further growth is expected in India, and to cater for existing and projected employees and services the New Delhi office moved to new and larger premises. The move coincided with the brand launch in India, attended by Hydro Tasmania’s CEO and hosted by the Australian Trade Commission. The Indian office had 28 employees at 30 June, principally employed in various aspects of hydropower. Entura already has an excellent reputation for expert wind advice in India, providing business certainty to developers and turbine suppliers looking to invest in wind farm projects. Services to both wind and solar developments are projected to grow for Entura in the Indian market.

The relationship with Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB) that was formally established last year continues to build the capacity of that business to develop the country’s renewable energy resources in hydropower. During the year Entura commenced a two-year accredited hydropower operation training program, aimed at building capacity to operate SEB’s planned hydropower assets. Delivered to 24 SEB employees in Sarawak and Tasmania, the program will ensure SEB is operationally ready when new assets are commissioned in 2013.

In the Solomon Islands, Entura was commissioned by the World Bank to undertake a feasibility study for the 15 MW Tina River hydroelectric project. Entura also worked with the Solomon Islands Government, the World Bank and the European Investment Bank to prepare the environmental and social impact scoping study.

Entura has continued to win projects in Papua New Guinea and to investigate opportunities for water, hydropower, and wind power in Africa, where millions of people still do not have access to electricity and water. Government programs include ambitious energy development plans and renewable energy targets.