The Group’s business strategy is built on three critical elements: diversity, financial strength and people. It is these three elements, working in unison, that are key to our success.

The Group’s business strategy is based on diversity by markets or products, by the companies through which it operates, by geography, and the way in which services are delivered to clients. Over the years, this has resulted in a progressive shift away from being a construction-only entity operating in one market to being a multi-faceted international contractor.

Diversity has added momentum to the Group’s evolution into a financially strong, diversified and uniquely structured contracting and project development group with an expanded industry focus. It has also allowed the Group’s operating companies to utilise the full depth of their expertise and skills in a range of industries and market sectors, not just in Australia, but also across the Asian region. Diversity has allowed us to navigate our way through the cyclical nature of most of our key markets whilst still providing growth for shareholders.

The Group’s strong financial base is another core element of our strategy, driving growth through selective equity stakes, acquisitions and funding capital-intensive activities such as mining. The best business partners are attracted to the Group: they understand that our ability to deliver goes hand in hand with the financial support we bring. Project investors are encouraged by Leighton’s commitment to sharing development risk by taking equity stakes, and clients understand that the guarantee of our financial strength makes us a better partner. The balance sheet strength the Group has is an asset in itself, one that is used to pro-actively drive growth.

Our people are critical to our success. We are a serviced based organisation and we succeed or fail because of the quality of that service. It is our people who manage relationships with clients, drive equipment, pour concrete, collect tolls and liaise with the community. We foster a performance driven culture throughout the Group and reward performance against stated objectives through various incentive schemes. Our people operate through a decentralised management structure which allows a high level of autonomy. It is a flexible structure that can adapt to changing market conditions and each of our companies has its own distinct identity and market position.

The Leighton Group’s strategy has been one of evolution, flexibility and focus, where diversity, capability, strength and integrity are the key qualities. All of the people across the Leighton Group have made this strategy a reality. A core set of values based on integrity binds us together across a decentralised structure, providing an ethical and responsible framework for conducting business.

Leighton is not fixed on growth for growth’s sake; rather it seeks to create shareholder wealth while satisfying stakeholder needs. It will continue to do this by pursuing new markets as they develop, and applying skills and principles in a disciplined and strategic way to maintain the momentum of the business.