About Us

Consult Australia is the association representing the business interests of consulting firms operating in the built and natural environment. We specialise in helping businesses of all sizes to create a commercial platform from which they can operate successfully and sustainably while making the business side of running their firm easier and less time consuming.

By acting as the voice of the industry, facilitating collaboration and networking, and by providing tailored education and support services, Consult Australia frees its members to do what they do best and what they enjoy most about providing professional consulting services: consult!

Our member firms’ services include, but are not limited to: architecture, landscape architecture, engineering, planning, cost consulting (quantity surveyors), project management and environmental science.

We are active in your state or territory

In addition to our National Office, Consult Australia has strong representation through our offices in the states and territories that support committees of members representing industry interests in that jurisdiction. Our state and territory divisions: drive advocacy activities responsive to their unique local challenges; facilitate new networks and business development opportunities for our member firms; deliver targeted training, local communications and member engagement.

The purpose of Consult Australia is to drive business success for our member firms. We are focused on helping to make the business of doing business easier and less time consuming for our members.

Want to know more?

You can find out more about the benefits of membership here and read about our current advocacy priorities here.

If your firm is interested in becoming a Consult Australia member, please contact Kisanne Dulin, Director - Membership & Commercial Services, on (02) 8252 6718 or via email to membership@consultaustralia.com.au.

Our history
Consult Australia was formerly known as the Association of Consulting Engineers Australia (ACEA), and was formed and officially established in 1952.

A redraft of the Association’s rules took place in 1962 in order to provide for the changing national character of the Association and to accommodate state-based Chapters, and in 2001 ACEA membership base changed to become an association of business firms.

Also in 2001 Consult Australia launched FutureNet WA and subsequently Australia-wide aimed at supporting younger professionals within the industry. In 2005 the FutureNet Business Leaders Program was launched in NSW, and subsequently to Queensland and Victoria.

Also in 2005, the Association decided to provide its members with a referral service called the PI Pathway, which provides access to broking services and a range of associated support from a panel of insurance brokers carefully selected following a comprehensive tender process.

In 2010—as a reflection of the changing nature and make up of its member firms, the ACEA changed its name to Consult Australia. This rebrand was followed by a relaunch of the Association's website, and a redraft of the Constitution.

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Meet the Management team

Megan Motto, Chief Executive Officer

MEGAN MOTTO is the Chief Executive Officer of Consult Australia; the association for professional services firms within the built and natural environment. Megan is also currently a Director of Standards Australia, Treasurer of the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council, Councillor of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and a member of the NSW State Advisory Council for the Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA).

A highly sought after contributor to public policy in Australia, Megan is a regular contributor in a wide array of issues, including sustainability, procurement, workplace diversity and infrastructure planning, governance and financing.

In addition to her double teaching degree (BABEd) and Masters in Communication Management, Megan is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a Justice of the Peace. She lives in Marrickville with her husband Ringo, and children Kaden and Jada.

Kisanne Dulin, Director - Membership & Commercial Services

Kisanne joined Consult Australia in February 2014, bringing with her almost 20 years’ experience in marketing, business development and client service within professional services - including work with several member firms.
Kisanne is focused on providing members with services that add value to their membership and increase their level of engagement with Consult Australia. She is responsible for managing membership retention and recruitment and for the delivery of all member and commercial services offerings (including business tools, national events, publications, professional development and sponsorship).

Nicola Grayson, Director - Policy & Government Relations

Nicola is a government relations specialist, and has represented industry associations to governments in the UK, the European Union, and Australia. Nicola has worked across a range of sectors including general insurance, consumer finance, alcohol, and education, in addition to consulting engineering. With an Honours Degree in Law from the UK, she specialises in liability and contracting issues on behalf of Consult Australia. Nicola previously worked for Consult Australia from 2004 to 2010 (the development of AS4122-2010 being her last major project). After 5 years back in the UK, she re-joined Consult Australia in 2017.

Jan Irvine, Director State Operations | Manager SA & NT

Jan joined Consult Australia in December 2009, with a background in finance, IT, recruitment, event management and advocacy, bringing with her the knowledge and experience gained by working in both non profit and corporate organisations in a number of executive and management positions.

As Director of State Operations Jan focuses on empowering the team of State Managers to work together, share ideas and knowledge to deliver a cohesive, informed approach to Consult Australia’s advocacy work and member engagement.

Responsible for achieving Consult Australia’s business strategy and representing its member firms from SA and the NT on a wide range of issues, Jan facilitates the connection of business to Government and business to business - working with government at both state and federal level, collaborating with numerous Built and Natural Environment stakeholders. She strives to address critical business issues and improve the business environment in which our member firms work.
State Managers

Jillian Carney - QLD State Manager

Jillian has over 15 years international experience within a membership based professional organisation. Jillian has managed business operations, client services and client relations, advocacy, event and training programs and communications and marketing channels to ensure that members and clients are properly represented across the property and construction industry. Jill’s extensive experience working with a not-for-profit organisation means she is used to working with a diverse group of professionals, including members, industry stakeholders and government.

Zeina Nehme - VIC & TAS State Manager

Zeina joined Consult Australia in February 2012 as the State Manager for Victoria and Tasmania. Zeina has gained a wealth of experience through a number of different corporate organisations and industry bodies. Most recently in the not for profit sector, she spent over three years in a range of membership management roles throughout Australia.

Jan Irvine - SA & NT State Manager

Jan joined Consult Australia in December 2009 as State Manager SA/NT, with a background in finance, IT, recruitment, event management and advocacy, bringing with her the knowledge and experience gained by working in both non profit and corporate organisations in a number of executive and management positions.

Steve Coghlan - WA State Manager

As a graduate of both the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) and Royal Military College – Duntroon (RMC-D), Steve started his career as an Army Officer before then transitioning to the corporate sector where he ran the WA operations for an engineering firm operating within the Telecommunications sector. Up until recently Steve worked for the Department of Premier and Cabinet in WA before taking up the opportunity to join Consult Australia as State Manager WA. He holds both a Bachelors degree in Politics and a Masters degree in International Relations.

Caitlin Buttress - ACT Manager

With several years’ experience in professional associations, Caitlin’s work in the built environment sector spans communications, marketing, project management, public affairs, sponsorship, education, and event management. Caitlin has gained a wealth of knowledge through various national roles and is now eager to drive engagement at a local level; facilitating conversation with key stakeholders and fostering good working relationships with policy-makers to achieve positive outcomes for member firms.
Annual Reports / Meeting Minutes

Annual Reports

2018 Annual Report
2017 Annual Report
2016 Annual Report

AGM Minutes

2017 AGM Minutes
2016 AGM Minutes
Consult Australia Constitution & By-Laws

To download a copy of the Consult Australia Constitution & By-Laws click here.
Consult Australia Code of Ethics
The members are committed to the Principles of this Code of Ethics. These are:
- to act honestly and with integrity;
- to respect the inherent dignity and privacy of the individual;
- to act on the basis of competence and a well informed conscience;
- to hold paramount the welfare, health and safety of the community; and
- to uphold, at all times, the Tenets as expressed in this Code of Ethics.
The Tenets of the Code of Ethics are the specific principles to which the Association ascribes:
- Members shall at all times place their responsibility for the welfare, health and safety of the community before their responsibility to private interests, or to other members;
- Members shall act with honour, integrity and dignity in order to merit the trust of the community;
- Members shall act only in areas of their competence and shall practise in a careful and diligent manner;
- Members shall act with honesty, good faith and without discrimination towards all in the community, including clients, employers and colleagues;
- Members shall apply their skill and knowledge in the interest of their employer or client for whom they shall act with integrity, without compromising any other obligation to these Tenets;
- Members shall take all reasonable steps to inform themselves, their clients and employers and the community of the social and environmental consequences of the actions and projects in which they are involved;
- Members shall express opinions and recommendations, make public statements or give evidence in an objective and truthful manner and only on the basis of existing and adequate knowledge having regard to their obligations of confidentiality and their responsibility to the safety, health and welfare of the community;
- Members shall continue to develop relevant knowledge, skill and expertise throughout their careers and shall actively assist and encourage those under their direction to do likewise; and
- Members shall not assist, induce or be involved in a breach of these Tenets, shall support those who seek to uphold them, and having knowledge of any alleged violation of this Code of Ethics will raise it with the member and the Association as considered appropriate.
All Consult Australia members agree to be bound by the Consult Australia Code of Ethics, for a copy of the Consult Australia Code of Ethics, please CLICK HERE
Consult Australia Strategic Plan

The Consult Australia Board in consultation with the membership recently reviewed the Strategic Plan and released an updated version covering the period 2017 - June 2020.

A copy of the Consult Australia Strategic Plan can be downloaded here.