In October 2002, SMEC’s Chief Operating Officer, Peter Busbridge, held a briefing in Cooma for former staff resident in the Cooma-Monaro region.

The purpose of the briefing was to bring retired staff up to date with some of the many changes in SMEC’s operations during the past few years, including privatisation through sale to the staff, regional expansion in Australia and overseas and diversification into new areas of professional services. The briefing also covered the operations of SMEC Developments and the establishment of the SMEC Foundation.

About eighty former SMEC employees are believed to live in the Cooma-Monaro region, representing the company’s largest single concentration of retired staff. About forty people attended the briefing. The guests included Doug Price, Bill Rushton, Bert Knowles, Dick Mattner and Pat O’Dea.

The briefing was very well received and has now became an annual event normally held in October or November.   Any former staff are welcome to attend.