SMEC is almost unique among Australian consulting organisations in the pattern of its corporate development which includes the following phases:

• 1970-1989 Government Authority a statutory authority owned by the Australian Government and governed by an Act of Parliament
• 1987-1993 a Corporatised Government Agency a company owned by the Australian Government but registered as a corporation subject to the Corporations legislation and operating in a commercial environment
• 1993-present Staff Owned Private Company a fully commercial company privatised by sale to the staff.

The majority of SMEC's current executives have been involved in most or all phases of SMEC's development.

This experience enables SMEC to provide a range of services to state-owned companies expecting or undergoing privatisation, newly privatised firms or firms wishing to be staff owned. Practical advice derived from SMEC's management of its own corporate transition can be provided in the following areas:

• planning of privatisation
• review of public sector operational procedures to assess appropriateness for private sector application
• development of corporate plans for post-privatisation conditions
• preparation of staff for private sector operations
• planning and negotiation of staff buy-outs
• structuring of shareholdings
• approaches to Board structure and appointment of directors
• planning and management of changes in corporate culture.

SMEC's transition from state to private ownership has been extremely successful. Since 1993 the company has more than doubled turnover and staff numbers, diversified its operations by region and sector and retained its client base. The benefits of this experience are now available to public sector organisations worldwide confronting an era of rapid and far reaching change.