Consult Australia is the sole association dedicated to the success of consulting businesses in design, advisory and engineering, and has been for over 70 years.

Our members, ranging from Australia’s most innovative small and medium sized firms to global corporations, deliver the solutions to the nation’s most complex challenges helping shape, create and sustain our built and natural environment.

Team Consult Australia:
Jonathan Cartledge, Penny Clark, Linda Gaunt, Kristy Eulenstein, Kristine Banks, Alison Kirk, Mark Rogers, Emma Thunder, Matt Williams, Laura Macdonald, Amy Costin, Matt Piesse, Louise Dowbiggin, Coleen MacKinnon

TASOS KATOPODIS

Executive Leader and Principal - GHD Ventures and Construction Services | GHD | Consult Australia President

I am particularly pleased with the financial improvement of the Consult Australia business over the last 12 months. We have posted a strong operating surplus and that has translated to a marked improvement in our balance sheet. The relative performance has provided our best financial results since 2021. Achieving this position has taken resilience, determination and commitment from the current and historical boards, but more particularly from our CEO, Jonathan Cartledge, Head of Finance, Penny Clark with the Executive and wider Consult Australia Team. We now have a sounder financial position to move forward and implement our new strategy over the next 3 years.

Speaking of our new strategy, my heartfelt thanks to our Strategy Committee, ably led by our President-elect Natalie Muir, for their tireless work over the last 12 months or so to develop the strategy. This has included wide engagement across our membership and our broader industry. The strategy is an evolution of our current business plan and will be underpinned by four key pillars - impactful and influential advocacy, industry leadership, strategic partnerships and elevating consulting excellence. Natalie will talk to our new strategy further at the AGM.

The mainstay of the Consult Australia business is advocacy and policy development. In order to amplify our voice, we are developing our relationships with like-minded organisations so that the infrastructure industry, as a collective, can benefit. When looking at the Australian economic landscape, our biggest current challenge appears to be productivity growth. Our advocacy is largely shaped with this dilemma in mind, and two pieces of thought leadership we have developed over the last 12 months or so, play to productivity – Unravelling Risk and Digital by Default. This thought leadership has been well received across our industry and beyond and is opening up pathways for us to develop strong influence in this debate.

As my time as President of Consult Australia comes to a close, I reflect with great fondness and gratitude of my time on the Board. I have learnt a lot, had the honour of meeting so many great and capable people in our industry and leave with a strong sense of gratitude at the opportunity that this time has offered me - I feel humbled and privileged by the experience. Having said this, I look forward to handing over as President to Natalie Muir, the Regional Director for Water at Stantec. Natalie has been a tremendous contributor to the Consult Australia Board as a Director, and I am sure she will excel even further as President. I also look forward to observing fondly from afar the further advances and growth that Consult Australia will make under the stewardship of Natalie and Jonathan.

In closing, and as always, I’d like to thank Jonathan and his team for their excellent efforts in the last 12 months to deliver quality services to our membership. The Consult Australia Team is small, but very capable and committed to our membership and industry and we continue to be indebted to them for their efforts.

JONATHAN CARTLEDGE

Chief Executive Officer | Consult Australia

As we close the 2024–25 year, I am struck by the progress our industry has made through resilience, leadership and partnership. The past twelve months have brought no shortage of challenges: slowing infrastructure pipelines, persistent productivity pressures, and a continued focus on the need for cultural change. Yet in each of these, our members and our association have demonstrated the strength to adapt and the vision to lead.

Our advocacy has been sharp and consistent, focused on people, productivity and procurement. Through campaigns such as Unravelling Risk and Digital by Default, we have shaped debates that matter for every firm in our sector. We have engaged directly with government across more than 100 agencies to ensure your voice is heard in the national conversation on infrastructure investment, productivity and skills.

At the foundation of our work is a commitment to create the most competitive operating environment for our members. This focus supports your business success and ensures the industry can fully realise its potential in partnership with government and the private sector. Alongside this, we have reaffirmed our commitment to safer, respectful and inclusive workplaces in light of global challenges, recognising that strong cultural foundations are essential for a healthy and sustainable industry.

This year has also been one of renewal. Working closely with our Board, we have developed the 2025–28 Strategic Plan, setting a clear path for Consult Australia’s future. The plan positions us to grow our influence, strengthen our value to members, and build on the most secure financial footing we have enjoyed in recent years.

Behind all of this is a small but dedicated team. Their commitment and creativity drive the services, events and advocacy that support your business every day. Our strength also comes from the expansive network of more than 250 representatives from across our membership who contribute their expertise through our roundtables, forums and committees. Their engagement ensures our advocacy is grounded in the real challenges and opportunities your firms face.

I want to thank our members for their continued support and active engagement, and to acknowledge our sponsors and partners whose commitment helps us to extend our reach and deliver impact. I also want to recognise the leadership of our outgoing President, Tasos Katopodis, whose guidance with the Board has helped set Consult Australia on a more secure and ambitious course.

As we look ahead, we will continue to be a trusted voice and partner for your business, shaping an industry that is innovative, productive and sustainable. Thank you for making this possible.

Submissions, reports and media releases

Regular forums with government (including federal, state/territory and local government agencies) 

Member forums (including Large Firms, SME Open, national roundtables and state/territory committees)

Collaborative activities with other industry associations 

Activities with government contacts (including meetings with Ministerial offices etc) 

Activities with member contacts, delivering the support our members need 

In April 2025, Consult Australia released its latest thought leadership piece Unravelling Risk exploring the underlying reasons for the disputation in Australia’s construction industry and the impact on design, engineering and advisory consulting businesses.  

A key focus of the report is the knotty issue of risk which has become more important, but with no improvement in risk management. The report explores the underlying reason for disputes, especially in design and construct contracts, which often results in a design, construct and litigate cycle.  

We propose five reform threads to unravel the current situation:

Since launch, we have had significant engagement on Unravelling Risk

Unravelling Risk >

Digital by Default >

Infrastructure Net Zero >

Mental Health and Wellbeing >

Model Client Behaviours >

Our campaigns supported by enduring and strengthened partnerships across industry and globally.

CollabX Conference 2024

Consult Australia members, when dealing with clients, the community, and other members, will uphold the standards expected of professional
consultants, committing to collaboration, fairness and integrity as per our Code of Ethics.

We represented 169 member organisations, employing over 31,000 staff.

Activate Strategy Group
Amplitude Consultants Pty Ltd
AtkinsRealis Australia Pty Ltd
Buildspect Pty Ltd
Cinfra Infrastructure Pty Ltd

Metaphic Pty Ltd
Oceanis International Pty Ltd
PAEC Outsourcing Services Pty Ltd
Port Phillip Planning Consultants Pty Ltd
Yanun Project Services

Consult Australia Champions of Change

The Board of Consult Australia follows a process for evaluating the performance of the Board in accordance with good governance principles described by the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD). A Board effectiveness assessment including a self evaluation is conducted by the Board Nominations & Remuneration Committee who also monitor Board skills and diversity. The skills and diversity of the Board (considered across technical skills and experience, gender diversity, geography and market representation) were considered appropriate throughout the significant changes to Board membership since October 2023. The attendance of Board Members at all scheduled Board and Committee meetings has been assessed and considered suitable with most of the Board attending all scheduled meetings, and assessed as committed to furthering the interests and performance of Consult Australia.

Awards for Excellence Gala Dinner 2023-24

Keeping you up-to-date with the news, issues and people affecting our industry and your business.

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we work and live which includes the lands of the Gadigal, Kuarna, Kulin, Turrbal and Wurundjeri people.

We pay our respect to Elders past & present.

Every 12 months, Consult Australia prepares an Annual Report to outline the organisation’s activities and achievements, performance and financial position for that year.

Use the links below to download the Annual Reports from the last few years:

2023-24 Annual Report
2022-23 Annual Report
2021-22 Annual Report
2020-21 Annual Report

If you would like more information about Consult Australia’s Annual Report, please contact Consult Australia on (02) 8252 6700 or via email info@consultaustralia.com.au.