For over 17 years, Consult Australia’s Future Leader Program has been shaping the next generation of leaders within the design, advisory, and engineering sectors. Many of today’s senior leaders, Managing Directors, and CEOs proudly count themselves among its alumni, having undertaken the program earlier in their careers. 

Having successfully operated in Sydney since inception and in Melbourne for the past two years, the program is now expanding to Brisbane in 2026. Running from April to November each year, the Future Leader Program offers a transformative experience for emerging professionals seeking to elevate their leadership capability and broaden their industry impact. 

Each cohort meets fortnightly on a Thursday evening from 5.30pm to 8.30pm in a CBD training environment (venues to be announced). Participants take part in 16 facilitated sessions designed to inspire professional growth, self-awareness, and leadership excellence. Each session concludes with dinner, creating a valuable opportunity for participants to network, exchange insights, and build professional relationships. 

Some of the topics covered include: 

• Bringing Your Best Self to Leadership 1 & 2 
• Personal Brand Development 
• Professional Networking 
• Government & Stakeholder Relations 
• Negotiation Skills 
• Emotional Intelligence & Awareness 
• Diversity & Inclusion 
• Professional Presentation Skills 
• Career Progression 
• Tomorrow’s Mind - Where AI Is Taking You 

With its blend of expert facilitation, mentoring, and hands on experience, the Future Leader Program continues to be one of the most highly regarded programs in the sector. 

At the heart of the Future Leader Program is a real world project, not a simulation, but a live challenge set by an actual client.

Around halfway through the program, participants are professionally profiled and placed into project groups. These groups then collaborate to deliver practical solutions for real clients such as government agencies, Aboriginal Land Councils, and key industry partners.

Participants draw on the skills developed throughout the facilitated sessions to shape and deliver their project outcomes. Because the projects are authentic and outcomes are applied, they provide valuable, lasting benefits to both the participants and the project hosts.

Each project group is guided by an experienced industry mentor, a senior leader who provides insight, challenge, and support throughout the second half of the program.

Mentors play a pivotal role in helping participants connect classroom learning with real world application. They share their own leadership experiences, provide feedback, and encourage participants to develop confidence and strategic awareness as emerging leaders.

In the final stage of the program, each group presents their project outcomes to a panel of judges representing the client organisation and Consult Australia. A winning project is selected based on innovation, practicality, budget and alignment with client needs.

While one group is named the winner, all projects contribute valuable insights, and their outputs are often adopted by the client or shared within the broader industry.

The winning team is announced at the Consult Australia Awards for Excellence Gala Dinner held each March, where all participants are invited to attend and graduate in front of their peers and industry leaders, celebrating their achievements as Future Leader alumni.

The Future Leader Program is widely recognised across Australia for the calibre of its content, facilitators, and outcomes. Testimonials from past participants consistently highlight the program’s impact on their confidence, leadership capability, and career trajectory.

All facilitators are hand picked and reviewed annually, ensuring the highest quality of learning delivery. Consult Australia partners only with industry leading professionals who bring deep experience, engaging delivery styles, and genuine commitment to developing emerging leaders.

With the program now available in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane, places for the 2026 cohorts will be limited to 20 per group. We encourage interested professionals to register early to secure their place in this highly regarded leadership journey.

Host States:
Sydney
Melbourne
Brisbane (minimum numbers of 12 to be reached)

Host Venues
Sydney: Professional CBD Location (TBA)
Melbourne: Professional CBD Location (TBA)
Brisbane: Professional CBD Location (TBA)

2026 Dates:
Sydney: Thursday April 10 – Thursday November 12
Melbourne:  Thursday April 10 – Thursday November 12
Brisbane: Thursday April 10 – Thursday November 12

10% off for 3 or more participants from the same organisation (can combine across the three states) using discount code: FutureLeader3 during checkout.

Brendan Walton
Arcadis
Chartered Principal Civil Engineer and Team Leader
★★★★★

“This program is an empowering course that provides the skills and tools needed to become a future leader in our industry. The team project was my favourite part, working with people from diverse backgrounds showed how our differences made us stronger. We worked hard, formed lasting connections, and continue to support each other today.

I’d recommend The Future Leaders Program to anyone wanting to elevate their leadership skills. The diverse presenters covering everything from contract law to personal branding. It offers creative, engaging insights into the business and management side of our industry, inspiring future leaders every step of the way.”

Mary Hadjiangeli
SMEC
Team Leader - Rail Structures
★★★★★

“Being part of the Future Leaders Program in 2025 was an incredibly rewarding experience.

The best part for me was the connections I made, many of whom I’m still in touch with from the cohort today.

Each session offered something valuable, from practical leadership insights to ways of using AI more effectively in our day to day work.

I’ve taken bits and pieces from the program and applied them in my role ever since. I’d highly recommend it to anyone looking to grow both personally and professionally.”

Dean Garroway
Jacobs
Senior Civil Engineer
★★★★★

"This program serves as a fantastic platform for emerging professionals to develop essential skills and gain insights into thriving in the consulting industry. One of the sessions was particularly enlightening, as it helped me identify my strengths and understand how to effectively apply them to my project work, significantly enhancing my professional development. The facilitators were outstanding, and I left each session feeling inspired about how I could implement those learnings in my own work. I recommend this program to anyone looking to elevate their career. It’s a valuable experience that can truly make a difference.

I would highly recommend the Future Leader Program.”