May 2026
Competing on the same side
Competitors rarely sit around a table discussing the issues keeping them awake at night. But Consult Australia’s Membership Development Manager Louise Dowbiggin says it is becoming more common in the consulting industry.
“Most firms join Consult Australia for advocacy, policy influence and practical support. What often surprises them is the value of connecting with peers facing many of the same challenges..’”
Margin pressure, complex procurement models, rising insurance costs and aggressive risk transfer are reshaping the operating environment. Consulting firms are being asked to carry more risk for less return – and the imbalance is too hard to solve alone.
“We bring together firms that compete fiercely in the market yet still recognise that some challenges are bigger than any one business.”
Collective intelligence
After spending her career working with business leaders – from global traders to chief executives at The CEO Institute – Louise noticed that “it can be lonely at the top”.
“There’s often nobody to ask whether you’re doing things the right way.”
This can be especially acute in consulting businesses, where leaders must navigate increasingly complex commercial and operational risks while delivering expert advice to clients. Smaller firms can feel this keenly. A contract clause, insurance issue or procurement condition that might land on the desk of a legal or commercial specialist inside a large company can sit with an SME founder at 9pm on a Thursday.
“New members are often surprised by how much day-to-day support we offer. I like to call it a ‘toolbox’ of resources. There are over 50 in total, from contract templates to risk guidance. The contracts alone can save smaller companies thousands of dollars.”
Big impacts for small business
Advocacy wins can sometimes sound abstract on paper, but the commercial value of Consult Australia’s advocacy work can be significant.
Louise points to the Federal Budget measure announced on 12 May, confirming that mandatory Australian Standards referenced in the National Construction Code will become freely accessible.
Consult Australia has long advocated for the change in collaboration with other industry associations.
“We’ve estimated that a single project may require access to hundreds of standards, so this is a substantial win for member firms, particularly smaller businesses. This is the kind of industry issue where our collective voice makes a real difference,” Louise says.
Strength in numbers
Firms are looking for perspective as much as information. What are others seeing? Where are risks emerging? How are my competitors responding? Consult Australia creates the space for people to explore these questions.
“The more firms engage with Consult Australia, the stronger our collective voice and the greater our ability to shape key issues.”
The benefits of membership are not confined to senior leadership teams, Louise adds. Members can contribute to reform through committees, roundtables and working groups, through industry alliances and initiatives like the Champions of Change Coalition, while also building networks and career opportunities.
“Sometimes firms join expecting advocacy, resources or a leadership network, but what they discover is much broader support.” This may explain why Consult Australia has doubled the number of new members this financial year.
Louise suggests there is another reason too. “Firms recognise the cost of trying to navigate complexity alone.”
“I think competitors collaborating is a sign of industry maturity. A willingness to share lessons and compare experiences may have felt counterintuitive the past, but now it is a smart business strategy.”
To learn more about joining Consult Australia, or to refer a potential member, contact Membership Development Manager Louise Dowbiggin.