CASE STUDY
Wesfarmers & Coronado Demerge Microsoft 365 Tenant & Azure Migration
OVERVIEW
In December 2017, Wesfarmers Resources announced the sale of the Curragh coal mine to Coronado Global Resources. As part of the acquisition, Coronado required fully operational IT systems at the moment of handover – with zero disruption to mining operations. At the same time, the small team remaining with Wesfarmers Resources Limited (WRL) needed a new, independent IT environment ready to operate immediately after separation.
With only three months from sale announcement to transition deadline, both organisations engaged Codify to deliver a fast, secure, and seamless IT separation tailored for the resources sector. Codify designed and deployed new Azure cloud environments, migrated critical Windows Server and SQL Server workloads, and executed a tenant to tenant Microsoft Office 365 transition, all without outages or operational impact.
“We wanted, and got, a fit for purpose solution. Codify delivered a great experience in a way that made sense for an organisation of our size.”
Mike Dixon
CFO, Wesfarmers Resources Limited
CHALLENGES
The IT separation required for the demerger presented several time critical challenges within a complex mining environment. Coronado purchased a fully operating mine and needed all functional IT systems to continue running without interruption. WRL, meanwhile, needed a completely new cloud based environment built from the ground up, including identity, email, infrastructure, and data, ready to operate independently on day one.
The existing environment included shared Microsoft 365 services, legacy Windows Server and SQL Server workloads, and on premises infrastructure supporting critical mining operations.
The transition had to occur under strict contractual timelines, with no tolerance for outages, data loss, or operational disruption. Both organisations required a partner capable of delivering a dual stream separation and migration while minimising reliance on internal teams already stretched with business as usual responsibilities.
“There could be no compromise on outcomes due to the many obligations at play.”
Mike Dixon
CFO, Wesfarmers Resources Limited
SOLUTIONS
Codify delivered a structured, two phase program of work tailored for a resources sector cloud migration, ensuring operational continuity for both organisations throughout the demerger.
Phase 1 – New Azure Cloud Environment for Wesfarmers Resources
Codify designed and deployed a new Azure cloud environment for WRL, including:
Migration of Windows Server and SQL Server workloads to Azure
Deployment of a new Office 365 tenant
Data migration into Azure and Office 365
Automation scripts to streamline user onboarding and email cutover
This provided WRL with a modern, simplified, cloud based IT environment with no need for on premises infrastructure.
Phase 2 – Microsoft Office 365 Tenant Migration for Coronado
Following the sale, Codify executed a tenant to tenant Microsoft Office 365 migration for Coronado, ensuring:
Seamless transition of mailboxes, identities, and collaboration services
No outages during cutover
Preservation of all Curragh operational data
Minimal impact on staff and mine operations
The implementation occurred over a single weekend, with Codify and internal teams working together to troubleshoot and validate every component.
Microsoft 365 Tenant Migration Risk Management and Operational Continuity
Codify ensured the transition was executed with complete operational continuity, with no loss of Curragh data, no disruption to mining operations, and minimal reliance on internal teams already managing day‑to‑day workloads. The project met all contractual timelines, and automation played a key role throughout, reducing manual effort, accelerating setup tasks, and ensuring accuracy during every stage of the separation.
“It was all hands on deck… and a very smooth process.”
Rochelle Jones
Senior Service Delivery, Coronado Curragh
RESULTS
The IT separation and Azure cloud migration were completed smoothly, securely, and on schedule, delivering significant operational and strategic benefits for both organisations.
The changeover was uneventful, with no outages or negative consequences. WRL’s new Azure based environment simplified daily operations, eliminated the need for on premises infrastructure, and provided modern capabilities around reporting and security. Coronado gained a clean, fully operational Office 365 tenant and retained all critical mine data without interruption.
Automation delivered major time savings, particularly around user setup and email transitions. The project also demystified cloud adoption for both teams, giving them a clear vision of future transformation opportunities and establishing a best practice model for cloud modernisation across the mining sector.
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“It was all very uneventful, which is exactly what we wanted.”
Conrad Gagner
Technology Manager, Coronado Curragh
“We now operate in a cloud environment… it is much simpler.”
Mike Dixon
CFO, Wesfarmers Resources Limited