Australian Power Equipment (APE) is one of the nation’s fastest-growing suppliers of high-voltage power solutions, serving sectors from mining and tunnelling to renewables, agribusiness and defence. Directors Abby Crawford and Andrew Cockbain have built a business that not only delivers critical infrastructure but also embeds sustainability at its core.
By applying circular-economy principles, APE ensures decommissioned equipment is repurposed, reducing waste while driving value for clients. This blend of innovation and responsibility has quickly set the company apart in a highly technical industry.
That same philosophy underpins APE’s conservation efforts. For the second year, the company has funded Indigenous Ranger wages in a unique partnership with Aussie Ark to protect one of Australia’s most endangered reptiles: the Broad-Headed Snake.
Found only within 200 kilometres of Sydney, this striking species faces challenges such as habitat loss, predation, and the looming threat of extinction. Aussie Ark, supported by APE, has now achieved a conservation breakthrough: successfully breeding Broad-Headed Snakes in captivity and preparing them for release back into restored sandstone habitats.
Indigenous Rangers—whose roles are sustained by APE’s funding—lead fieldwork in habitat restoration, wildlife monitoring, and fire impact studies. Their expertise ensures the project blends science, cultural knowledge and on-the-ground management.
For Abby and Andrew, the link between business and conservation is clear. “We work in energy and infrastructure, industries that depend on Australia’s natural resources. Supporting conservation is part of our responsibility to balance progress with preservation,” Andrew says.
This alignment of business growth and environmental stewardship is shaping APE’s legacy. Each refurbished transformer and repurposed cable drum reflects a broader mission: reducing environmental pressure while supporting community-driven conservation efforts.
As Abby notes: “Conservation is about ecosystems, communities and future generations. It’s about leaving behind more than we take.”
For Aussie Ark, APE’s support is pivotal: “This is true commitment to ensuring the survival of endangered native animals,” its team says.
Looking ahead, APE plans to expand both its market impact and its conservation partnerships—proving that in the right hands, industry can help power progress while protecting Australia’s natural heritage.
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