Who We Are
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, Tim Anderson, Amy Costin, Matt Piesse, Fredi Cueva,
Coleen MacKinnon
TASOS KATOPODIS
Executive Leader - GHD Ventures and Construction Services | GHD | Consult Australia President
As the first year of my Presidency ends, it has dawned on me how quickly it has gone by. It is a reminder of how busy and demanding, but also very fulfilling, our careers in the engineering, design and advisory consulting sector are – although a goofy cliché: “time flies when you’re having fun”.
We are thrilled that in the last 12 months, two large firms, WSP and Beca, have rejoined Consult Australia after a period of absence. In discussions with both firms, they iterated the importance they see in supporting Consult Australia, as the only voice dedicated to the success of engineering, design and advisory businesses. In addition, there is a sense of obligation to support the common causes of our sector and ensure that the strong voice that Consult Australia offers continues sustainably and in perpetuity. This last year the strength of this voice has seen our influence grow across a raft of policy wins and change highlighted in this report as it supports a better operating environment for all our members.
Collaborative engagement is a fundamental pillar of Consult Australia’s success in this advocacy. This is reflected with our member firms through our state and territory committees, roundtables, FutureNet and associated forums and events. However, it is also important as we strengthen relationships on behalf of the industry with Engineers Australia (EA), the Australian Constructors Association (ACA) and the Insurance Council of Australia. These relationships help magnify our voice and the importance of the issues we speak to as a respected member of the broader infrastructure ecosystem. In addition, globally we are continuing our strong engagement with the International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC) and have further strengthened our ties with our neighbouring association in New Zealand, the Association of Consulting Engineers (ACENZ), looking for opportunities to co-create and leverage one-another’s strengths.
Over the last 12 months or so, the Board has strongly focussed on consolidating Consult Australia as a business including the development of a more contemporary fee model that appropriately responds to delivering on the needs of our membership. Looking ahead, the key focus for the next 12 months is the development of Consult Australia’s next strategy. The Board has established a sub-committee for this which includes members of the board and external participants from member firms. Various forums will be used over the next period of time to engage with members and we ask that you look out for, and contribute to, this initiative that will shape our organisation over the balance of this decade.
It is no secret that the debt positions of most state and territory governments and the Commonwealth are presently difficult, associated with the stimulus spending that was necessary to sustain our economy through Covid-19 and the large infrastructure investments that have been made over the last decade. As such, we are seeing a softening and uncertainty in parts of our industry that all firms are having to navigate. Your continued support for Consult Australia, as the voice for the industry is increasingly important in this environment with this economic outlook a key input to our next strategy.
In conclusion, 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 we continue to be indebted to them for their service.
JONATHAN CARTLEDGE
Chief Executive Officer | Consult Australia
Through this my second year as CEO of Consult Australia, I reflect on a year marked by resilience, innovation, and the strength of collaboration. Despite increasing uncertainty in the market and a patchwork of economic conditions across the states and territories, our commitment to supporting your business has remained focused on driving meaningful change.
We have continued to champion the issues that matter most across your people, the productivity of the industry and procurement of your services. Our advocacy has addressed both immediate challenges and long-term opportunities. Whether navigating a changing infrastructure pipeline or pushing for regulatory reforms, we have prioritised your business interests.
Collaboration has been crucial to our progress. Working together—across firms, with government agencies, and across and within industry—has enabled us to tackle complex challenges. Initiatives like the CollabX Conference with the Department of Defence and our ongoing work with Engineers Australia, the Australian Constructors Association and FIDIC exemplify this, showing how collective action drives change.
This spirit of collaboration fuels our advocacy directly with government. Our engagement with over 100 agencies nationwide influences key policy decisions driving improvements in procurement, regulatory reform, and the operating environment for your business – see more in our advocacy update below.
We continue to prioritise the wellbeing of our industry, with a focus on cultural change supported by our global leadership on diversity and inclusion with the leadership of our Consult Australia Champions of Change. The delivery through this year of our Breaking Barriers and Building Inclusion Program including a new Diversity & Inclusion Knowledge Hub, alongside our newly refreshed Member Resources provide essential tools to support your team and the prosperity of your business. With an expanded professional development program, refreshed FutureNet, our flagship Future Leader course now offered in Victoria and new online training we are pleased to provide practical support tailored to the unique interests of our members and their teams.
Our achievements this year would not have been possible without the collaborative leadership of our six Industry Champions (AECOM, Aurecon, GHD, Jacobs, SMEC, Stantec) supporting our transition to a new more sustainable fee model. This leadership alongside the broader support of our expanding network of sponsors has been vital in driving our shared goals.
With the hard work, passion and commitment from the incredible Consult Australia team, our President Tasos Katopodis and Board we are looking forward to continuing to champion the success of your industry in the year ahead.
Thank you for your continued support.
Our Value
Advocating for your business success
Our highly skilled policy and government relations team is dedicated to improving the commercial operating environment for our members through our relationships with key clients, particularly in government.
Providing trusted forums for sharing & collaboration
We provide space for industry peers to collaborate, exchange knowledge, prepare for change, understand challenges and share expertise.
Championing industry leadership
We profile the critical and unique role of the industry and our members in the supply chains in which they work and as positive change-makers in the broader economy.
Building capability
Our education, resources, and networking supports a thriving, competitive consulting industry.
Advocating for your business success
20
Submissions, reports and media releases
35
Regular forums with government (including federal, state/territory and local government agencies)
54
Resources available for immediate download by members through the new Member Resources Portal
83
Member forums (including Large Firms Forum, national roundtables and state/territory committees)
1,094
Activities with government contacts (including meetings with Ministerial offices etc)
3,621
Activities with member contacts, delivering the support our members need
OUR ADVOCACY IN ACTION - CASE STUDY
Long haul advocacy leads to practice standard success
Consult Australia’s advocacy on the NSW Practice Standard for Professional Engineers began in late 2021. From the start our position was clear – a NSW based fit for purpose regime would be counter to the Australian Consumer Law exemption and have a significant detrimental impact on the professional indemnity market for engineers.
Due to our insistent and vocal calls, the NSW government met with the insurance industry who backed up our concerns.
Finally, in March 2024 we saw the fruits of that advocacy. In response to Consult Australia’s concerns about the breadth and undefined nature of the standard’s obligation, the NSW government included a much narrower definition and criteria for its ‘fit for purpose’, now set out in table form. This change has reassured the insurance industry about the availability of professional indemnity insurance for engineers working in the NSW building sector.
Further, in August 2024, the NSW government advised that the original implementation of September 2024 would be delayed until ‘early 2025’ after the government conducts further consultation. Consult Australia will continue to champion our members’ interest in the interim.
To read more about our advocacy through this year stay tuned with Consulting Matters, and make sure you are signed up for all the latest news and updates.
Our campaigns supported by enduring and strengthened partnerships across industry and globally.
CollabX Conference 2024
Our Members
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.
193
Member organisations
31,000+
Staff employed
Members by firm size
New Members in 2024
Apex Diagnostics Pty Ltd
Beca Pty Ltd
C&M Shepherd Consulting Engineers
Casmat Engineering Pty Ltd
ConstructiveIQ Pty Ltd
Damwatch Pty Ltd
Finch Advisory Pty Ltd
Halliwell Fire Research
20.5%
Membership Employee Increase
We are pleased to welcome a diversity of new members to Consult Australia in 2023/24, alongside seeing significant growth in employee numbers across our membership. Our new Membership Directory profiles this diversity and with a new easy to use map view, it showcases the breadth of our member firms as they service all parts of Australia.
Consult Australia Champions of Change
Board Performance
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.
Consult Australia acknowledges the many members who freely give their time and energy to contribute to the success of the organisation – without you, we would not be able to achieve all we do for our industry:
- Board members
- Awards judges
- Committee and Roundtable members, along with representatives on industry working groups
- Contributors to our member resources
- Members who have committed time to advocacy and policy
Awards for Excellence Gala Dinner 2023-24
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.
Safe passage artwork from Kimberley Back under license until March 2025
Past Annual Reports
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:
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.