A year of progress, partnership and purpose

Jonathan Cartledge, Chief Executive Officer, Consult Australia

As we approach Consult Australia’s Annual General Meeting on 30 October, I’m proud to reflect on a year of growth, impact and collaboration. We’ve increased our engagement with more than 100 government agencies, expanded our membership and hosted high-impact events – all while championing the issues that matter most to you.

Over the past financial year, we hosted 83 member forums, produced 20 submissions and reports, and chalked up 1,094 activities with government contacts.

We grew our membership to 193 organisations representing 31,000-plus employees. And, with a 12% increase in total revenue year-on-year, we are in a strong position to continue delivering value for our members.

Our advocacy work with 100-plus government agencies nationwide has driven improvements in procurement and regulatory reform to create a better operating environment for our members’ businesses.

We’ve achieved significant policy wins, attracted more delegates to the CollabX Conference in partnership with the Department of Defence, and expanded our cultural impact through the Consult Australia Champions of Change.

A special shout out to our six Industry Champions – AECOM, Aurecon, GHD, Jacobs, SMEC and Stantec – for supporting our transition to a more sustainable fee model. This leadership, alongside the return of WSP and Beca to the membership fold, strengthens our collective efforts to champion the future of the industry.

You can read more about these achievements in Consult Australia’s 2023-2024 annual report, which speak to our growing influence and impact at a time of industry uncertainty. As our President Tasos Katopodis notes, industry-wide “softening” is a challenge for all firms to navigate, making Consult Australia, as the “voice of the industry”, more crucial than ever.

Looking ahead, we are gearing up for the release of two special reports – the Digital by Default white paper and the Unravelling Risk report – that will shape critical industry conversations in a pivotal federal election year in 2025.

Please remember to submit to the Consult Australia Awards for Excellence before the deadline on Thursday 19 December, and mark the Awards Gala Dinner (Thursday 27 March) and CollabX (5-6 March) in your diary. Both are important opportunities to collaborate, connect and contribute to your industry – and both will arrive sooner than we expect.

As I wrap up my second year as CEO, I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished together. Consult Australia’s members have shown remarkable resilience, innovation and commitment to collaboration. With this strong foundation I’m confident we will continue driving meaningful change and foster progress, partnerships and purpose in 2025 and beyond.

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