Leadership takes more than technical expertise. It takes the confidence to make decisions, the ability to bring people together and the judgement to navigate complex challenges.
Consult Australia's Future Leader Program helps emerging professionals develop these capabilities through practical learning, industry mentoring and collaboration with peers from across the consulting sector.
Designed specifically for professionals in consulting engineering and the built environment, the program provides opportunities to learn from experienced leaders, broaden industry perspectives and apply new skills to real challenges.
Develop the leaders your business needs
Strong leadership capability is essential to the future of consulting businesses.
The Future Leader Program supports organisations investing in their emerging talent, helping participants build the skills needed to lead teams, manage relationships, understand commercial challenges and contribute beyond their technical roles.
For participants, the program offers something equally important: the opportunity to step outside their day-to-day work, learn alongside professionals from other firms and develop a broader understanding of the industry they are helping to shape.
Through interactive sessions, mentoring and a collaborative industry project, participants put leadership into practice rather than simply learning about it.
The program focuses on the capabilities that help professionals move from technical expertise into broader leadership responsibilities.
Participants will:
Your next leadership opportunity starts here
Whether you're ready to develop your own leadership skills or looking to invest in the next generation of leaders within your organisation, the Future Leader Program provides the learning, industry experience and connections to help you move forward.
Register your interest in the Future Leader Program 2027
For more Information - contact: Linda Gaunt, Head of Engagement
linda@consultaustralia.com.au
The Future Leader Program combines facilitated learning, practical discussions and opportunities to apply new skills.
Sessions are designed to encourage discussion, challenge thinking and help participants apply what they learn in their professional roles.
Some of the most important leadership lessons happen when people work together to solve a difficult problem.
A central part of the Future Leader Program is its industry-led group project.
Participants work in multidisciplinary teams to explore a real challenge relevant to the consulting sector. With guidance from experienced industry mentors, they research the issue, develop solutions and present their recommendations.
The project provides an opportunity to practise collaboration, negotiation, problem-solving and decision-making while working with professionals from different firms and disciplines.
At the conclusion of the project, teams present their work to a panel of industry leaders, with the winning team recognised for its excellence, innovation and impact.
The experience also creates professional relationships and connections that can continue well beyond the program.
"For the last 5 years, I have been privileged to be a mentor on Consult Australia's Future Business Leader's course. It has been amazing to see the transformational development in the participants from the start of the course to the end of the course.
The Projects that the team work on, are complex, real life projects which require multi-disciplinary input and a lot of conceptual and abstract thinking, and the reports that are generated by the teams, are actually used by the end Client in the development of their projects.
This course really sets up aspiring future leaders for success in their careers."
Managing Director | AM Advisory Services Pty Ltd
"Being a mentor in the Future Leader Program is a privilege. The group work drives collaboration, pushes participants beyond their comfort zones, and delivers tangible growth - both personally and professionally.
As a mentor, it’s rewarding to witness how the teams support each other and how quickly they apply new skills in real-world scenarios. The role is about guiding, encouraging, and sometimes nudging, but mostly it’s about helping talented individuals unlock their own potential."
CEO & Founder | Ignite Global
"2025 was my second year being a Mentor for the Consult Australia Future Leaders Program. I’m passionate about helping others be the best they can be and developing the leaders of tomorrow. The CA Future Leaders Program is all about helping young professionals to become the leaders that will sustain our industry long after I’ve retired.
Sometimes the Mentor role is about working with my assigned team and providing guidance and advice on their project assignment, and other times it’s about the softer skills; dealing with team dynamics, keeping them focused and overcoming difficulties on the journey. Real learning happens when things are hard, not easy, so constantly challenging the team is part of the gig. I’m looking forward to being part of the program again next year."
Director | Victoria & SA, BG&E
The Future Leader Program provides a structured opportunity for organisations to develop emerging professionals and strengthen their leadership capability.
Participants gain practical skills, industry connections and experience working beyond their usual responsibilities. Organisations benefit from professionals who can bring broader perspectives and stronger leadership skills to their teams and projects.
Geotron Engineering ConsultantsSenior Structural Engineer
The 2025 CA Future Leader Program was 100% worth the investment.
The presentations offered practical insights I could apply immediately at work and in everyday life.
The program helped me strengthen key leadership skills, including emotional intelligence, teamwork, sales, networking, negotiation, and leveraging emerging technologies.
I highly recommend the course to any engineer looking to go beyond their “technical toolkit” and develop a true “leader’s toolkit”.
pitt&sherryAssociate Civil Engineer
The Consult Australia Future Leaders Program has been one of the most energising and thought-provoking experiences of my career. It challenged me to step beyond the day-to-day and engage more deeply with the broader forces shaping our industry and society, while sharpening how I think about leadership, decision-making and impact.
What I enjoyed most was the calibre of conversation that comes from being surrounded by curious, driven people who weren’t afraid to question, test ideas and learn from one another. That experience has stayed with me, influencing how I show up in my role with greater clarity, confidence and intent.
I’d recommend it to anyone looking to expand not just their skillset, but their perspective on what’s possible.
ArcadisCivil Structures Engineer – Structures NSW
Completing the Consult Australia Future Leader Program in 2025 was an absolutely rewarding program.
The in-person experience has without a doubt significantly strengthened my leadership capabilities.
Over the eight-month program, I developed skills across many areas not only limited to Leadership Skills. Some of these included emotional intelligence, strategic networking, and effective communication, all of which I’ve been able to apply directly in my role.
The Infrastructure Australia group project was an exciting challenge on a topic that is very relevant to the current housing and infrastructure situation now. Working in a team with people from different companies on this project helped to reinforce the networking and collaboration which the Future Leader course is best for.
I can't express enough how much this program has not only enhanced my confidence as a leader but also expanded my professional network and perspective on the consulting industry. I would strongly recommend it to any professionals looking to take the next steps in their leadership journey. For me this course is 10/10.