March 2026
A confident, collaborative industry
The 2026 Consult Australia Awards for Excellence has recognised exceptional projects, people and firms across 14 categories. The quality of submissions reveals an industry focused on delivery and design excellence.
Held at the ICC Sydney on Thursday 5 March 2026, this year’s awards attracted 50% more submissions than in 2025, reflecting the scale of activity across the engineering, design and consulting sector.
Consult Australia Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Cartledge says the quality of submissions reveals an industry focused on delivery and design excellence.
“This year’s winners show a clear pattern of firms working earlier and more closely with clients, partners and communities, and taking responsibility for outcomes well beyond their immediate scope.”
Winning projects range from large-scale transport and water infrastructure to digital platforms and recovery programs delivered under extreme time pressure. Many involved multi-disciplinary teams working across organisational and jurisdictional boundaries.
The increase in submissions was significant in its own right, Jonathan notes.
“More firms are choosing to put their work forward. That tells us something about confidence in capability, a willingness to share lessons with the wider industry and the value placed on peer recognition.”
The hotly-contested ‘best photo’ of the night was presented to WSP, with the team winning a spot in one of Consult Australia’s professional development courses. Check out the event gallery.
Consult Australia Awards presented in 2026
Collaboration for Project Excellence
Jacobs and Arcadis, supported by CBP Contractors and DT Infrastructure, Warringah Freeway Upgrade
Carrying 250,000 vehicles a day, the Warringah Freeway demanded continuous operation during its upgrade. Jacobs and Arcadis worked in close partnership with contractors and Transport for NSW to integrate design, staging and construction sequencing. Through shared risk under an incentivised target cost model, the team delivered highly precise, prefabricated solutions for a live traffic environment, replacing or modifying 10 bridges, upgrading 16 lanes and enhancing bus, pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure.
Highly commended: GHD, Water for Women Fund
Collaboration for Project Excellence – Working with Government
Land iQ, NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, Property and Development NSW, WSP, Giraffe and Aerometrex
A world-first data platform, Land iQ enables rapid, evidence-based land use decisions across government. Co-designed with more than 10 NSW Government agencies and now licensed across state departments, Land iQ integrates hundreds of datasets into a shared platform. It has informed housing affordability initiatives, infrastructure planning and emergency response, notably by identifying suitable land for temporary housing during the 2022 NSW floods in days rather than weeks.
Highly commended:
- Arup, Kamay Wharves
- SMEC, Hexham Straight Widening Alliance
Client Service Excellence
Aurecon, GEMCO (Milner Bay) Wharf Recovery
After GEMCO’s Milner Bay Wharf was severely damaged in 2024, halting manganese exports critical to global steelmaking and batteries, rapid recovery was essential. GEMCO appointed Aurecon to lead planning and design. Working in close partnership under extreme time pressure, Aurecon enabled exports to resume within 14 months – a recovery that would typically take three to five years.
Highly commended: Umwelt, Environmental Approvals for Narrogin Wind Farm
Innovation for Excellence
Tonkin + Taylor, New Bridgewater Bridge
Tasmania’s largest transport project, the New Bridgewater Bridge is a 1.28-kilometre crossing of the River Derwent, replacing the ageing 1946 lift bridge. As lead geotechnical designer, Tonkin + Taylor delivered one of Australia’s most technically demanding foundation systems, using large-diameter monopiles up to 91.5 metres deep. The team overcame highly variable ground conditions and seismic risk through new assessment techniques and innovative construction approaches.
Highly commended: Transgrid, Elecnor Australia, Aurecon and AECOM Project EnergyConnect
Superior Sustainability
GHD, Upper South Creek Advanced Water Recycling Centre
This visionary project will produce high-quality recycled water with ultra-low nutrient levels – a more than a ten-fold improvement on current best practice. Led by GHD and Jacobs in partnership with Sydney Water, the 35 ML/day facility embeds circular economy principles across design, delivery and operations. Recognised for exemplary collaboration, the project achieved a Platinum v2.1 Infrastructure Sustainability rating, the highest verified design score nationally.
Highly commended: Egis Group, Biyal-a Armstrong Creek Library
Planning for a Digital Future
WSP, Heavy Vehicle Structural Assessment Permit System (HVSAPS)
Designed to address the growing demands of Victoria’s freight industry, HVSAPS automates the structural assessment process for Class 1 and Class 2 heavy vehicle permit applications, reducing processing time from months to minutes. Developed by WSP in collaboration with the Victorian Department of Transport and Planning and Freight Victoria, the digital tool will support 172,000-plus applications annually and assess more than 6,000 structures, streamlining approvals, improving safety and reducing operational delays.
Highly commended: Stantec, SA Water’s Next Generation Demand Forecasting Tool
People First
Yanun
Indigenous and veteran-owned project services consultancy Yanun has contributed to the delivery of more than $18 billion in infrastructure while building First Nations capability through long-term partnerships, career pathways and on-the-job mentoring. Co-founded by a proud Ngarrindjeri man and former navy clearance diver and special forces sniper David Mallett and construction leader Jessica MacDonald, Yanun is strengthening communities and creating lasting social value.
Small Firm Business Excellence – Client Satisfaction
Yanun
A purpose-driven project services consultancy that approaches every engagement with care, accountability and dedication to excellence, Yanun works alongside clients to refine briefs and solve problems early. On projects like the Seaview Village Aged Care development in Ceduna, Yanun led inclusive, on-Country engagement that reshaped scope, reduced delivery risk and produced culturally appropriate outcomes. This hands-on, collaborative approach builds trust, accelerates decision-making and delivers results clients value.
Emerging Leader
Zoe Maher, Senior Principal and Strategic Rail Planning Lead, WSP
As a Senior Principal at WSP, Zoe Maher has delivered major public transport projects across Western Australia while building high-performing teams. She founded WSP’s Strategic Rail Planning team, achieving the firm’s highest engagement score nationally, and led projects including METRONET ahead of schedule. Her initiatives include the national Empower Hour program for women in engineering, and the Going Pink research project, advancing gender-sensitive transport planning through evidence-based insight.
Highly commended:
- Jess Haines-Holgate, Jacobs
- Georgina Fairweather, Beca
- Dean Rodrigues, SMEC
- Daniel Wong, AECOM
Leadership in Diversity & Inclusion
Brad Harvey-Fiander, Arup
The founder of ConnectOut, Arup’s LGBTQ+ employee resource group in Australia, Brad Harvey-Fiander has driven practical, organisation-wide change. As lead of Arup’s Pride and Allyship Working Group, Brad’s work has delivered inclusive parental leave, changes to family and domestic violence leave, a Gender Affirmation Guide, and all-gender bathrooms as standard – supporting Arup to secure Silver status in the Australian Workplace Equality Index.
The awards for small, medium and large firm of the year are awarded to the firms with the highest scores, in their categories, across all submissions.
Small Firm of the Year
Yanun
Founded in 2020, Indigenous and veteran-owned Yanun has grown from one to 19 staff through disciplined, values-led expansion. Operating nationally across Defence, transport and community infrastructure, the firm balances major programs with local delivery. Strong governance, ethical practice and selective growth underpin a resilient business model that delivers consistent results for clients, communities and Country.
Medium Firm of the Year
Egis Group
With team of 1,000 staff across 17 locations, Egis Group delivered sustainability, façade and acoustics consulting on the City of Greater Geelong’s Biyal-a Armstrong Creek Library. This highly collaborative project pursuing a 5 Star Green Star rating demonstrates Egis’ strength in integrated design, sustainability leadership and effective partnership with government, industry and Traditional Owners.
Large Firm of the Year
WSP
Global engineering and professional services firm WSP delivers projects across transport, infrastructure, property, water, energy and environment. With a long-established presence in Australia, WSP combines local expertise with global capability to deliver excellence on complex and innovative projects. In 2026, WSP was recognised by Consult Australia for digital innovation through two projects: Victoria’s Heavy Vehicle Structural Assessment Permit System and the Land iQ platform in New South Wales.
Consult Australia President’s Award
Tony Horan
Over the past decade, Tony Horan has played a central role in building industry capability as risk and adversarial behaviour have intensified. Through his delivery of Consult Australia’s courses, he has shaped how thousands of professionals approach procurement, risk and contract administration. The growing cohort of public and private sector participants reflects course credibility and Tony’s standing as a trusted authority. As Consult Australia’s first double recipient, this award recognises Tony’s enduring leadership and contribution.
Future Leader Program Project
The Consult Australia Future Leader Program runs for six months each year, during which time a cohort of professionals attend workshops and work on joint projects to grow their skills and networks.
Each joint project was judged by an esteemed industry panel, with 400-plus Consult Australia members also choosing a winning team in the ‘People’s Choice’ category.
The Judges’ Award was presented to:
Northern Connect
- Hua Qian Ang, Engineers Australia
- Inhae Jung, Jacobs
- Josie Kleinitz, pitt&sherry
- Vinh Ly, Atlas Engineering Group
- David Collett (Mentor)
The People’s Choice Award was presented to:
Liveability League
- James Rowlinson, KBR
- Jamsheed Bhanja, Arup
- Matthew Keen, Northrop
- Jess Wood, Arcadis
- Sam Millington, WSP
- Alex Campbell (Mentor)