• Roundtables and Working Groups

Member-driven advocacy

Consult Australia's advocacy work is member-driven. Key to delivering this are our strategic forums, state/territory committees and roundtables/working groups. Participation in these is exclusive to full members and is one of the key benefits of membership.

Strategic forums

Our strategic forums bring together industry leaders from our membership, with a strategic purpose in mind. The strategic forums currently in place include:

  • Champions of Change Coalition
  • Mental Health Ambassador Network
  • Large Firms Form
  • Small and Medium Enterprise Open Forum
State/territory committees

Each state and territory has a committee, giving members the opportunity to develop strategies to tackle local issues as well as contribute to Consult Australia's advocacy strategy and focus. Committee participants are often called upon to represent Consult Australia in local engagement activities (including meetings with government agencies etc). These committees generally meet monthly and require engaged individuals. Visit your state/territory page for more information on current participants.

Roundtables and working groups

Our roundtables give members the opportunity to discuss, provide advice and support the delivery of Consult Australia's advocacy work. The information sharing culture between roundtable participants builds understanding of best practices, as well as broader challenges facing the sector.

Roundtable participants are often called upon to represent Consult Australia in engagement activities (including meetings with government agencies etc) and provide support to state/territory committees on local issues (where relevant). 

We currently have four roundtables:

  • Mental Health Roundtable
  • Defence Roundtable
  • People & Human Resources Roundtable
  • Liability & Contracts Roundtable

The roundtables generally meet quarterly, except for the Liability & Contracts Roundtable and Mental Health Roundtable which meets every 6-8 weeks. Roundtables require engaged individuals with the skills/experience relevant to the topic areas. More information on current participants and latest news for each roundtable is below.

Working groups

From time to time we form working groups to work on specific advocacy campaigns or thought leadership pieces. Working groups allow a select group of members to do a deep-dive on a particular topic and provide guidance and feedback on drafting of policy initiatives.

 

    Priorities

    Our Mental Health Roundtable is a group of member representatives that drives the activities of Consult Australia's Mental Health initiative in collaboration with our Mental Health Ambassador Network.

    Latest 'top 3 takeaways'

    Every meeting our roundtable participants summarise the 'top 3 takeaways' from the meeting which we share with the rest of the membership. Here at the top 3 takeaways from our latest meeting:

    1. Staff shortages - The mental health pressures of industry-wide staff shortages are being seen.
    2. Resilience - Participants are realising the realities of the challenging culture their employees work in as well as realising the great resilience of their people to deal with so many stressors. 
    3. Workplace Practices Survey - Participants are eager to see the results of the Consult Australia Workplace Practices Survey.

    Current participants

    Below is the list of the current roundtable participants. Want to get involved? Contact info@consultaustralia.com.au.

    NameMember business
    Ian Banister (Chair)Lead Grow Succeed
    Mark Fairweather (Chair of the Mental Health Ambassador Network)
    		HDR Pty Ltd
    Julie GrattonAECOM
    Rebecca EllisonArcadis
    Jenny AustinArup
    Lynna MarrAurecon
    Ashling TurnerGHD
    Bawani RavindranNorthrop
    Sarah MillsPitt & Sherry
    Vesna Findlow SMEC
    Paul BroadStantec
    Bianca LockettUmwelt

     

    Priorities

    Our Defence Roundtable oversee our engagement with Defence. Participants discuss the challenges and rewards of Defence work. Through the Defence-Industry CoLab participants drive increased collaboration between Defence and industry (consultants and contractors).

    Latest 'top 3 takeaways'

    Every meeting our roundtable participants summarise the 'top 3 takeaways' from the meeting which we share with the rest of the membership. Here at the top 3 takeaways from the latest meeting:

    1. Contracts - Consult Australia is keen to secure member feedback on the current suite of Defence contracts. 
    2. Workshop - Participants are keen to prioritise a contract workshop with Defence.
    3. Co-Lab - The ongoing success of the Defence-Industry Co-Lab is always a key focus of this roundtable.

    Current participants

    Below is the list of the current roundtable participants. Want to get involved? Contact info@consultaustralia.com.au.

    NameMember business
    Tim Nicholls (Chair)KBR
    Liam Hale (Vice Chair)AECOM
    Kylie Schmidt/Barry GleesonAECOM
    Sean PageACOR Rudds Consultants
    Stephen Carroll/James TrezonaAurecon
    David Barter/Kate EmersonBeca
    Carl Jenkins/Damian Drain/Gary Hazel/Jeremy WheelerGHD
    Ralph WilliamsHDR
    Mirsad Abdic Jacobs
    Alistair Aitken / Mark ChappeRider Levett Bucknall
    Kate Drews (Consult Australia Board representative) / Dan Keep SMEC
    Arthur Psaltis (Consult Australia Board representative)Pritchard Francis

     

    Priorities

    Our People and HR Roundtable oversee our nationwide activities relating to people and skills including; mental health, skills and inclusion. Participants share best practice initiatives on workplace issues and help develop member resources to assist particularly SMEs in this area.

    Latest 'top 3 takeaways'

    Every meeting our roundtable participants summarise the 'top 3 takeaways' from the meeting which we share with the rest of the membership.

    1. Retention - Retention is an ongoing challenge and one of the most pressing issues for member businesses right now.  

    2. Boundaries - People and HR professionals are reminded to set their own boundaries and preserve their energy particularly given the stress and strain of the past few years. 

    3. Salary expectations - Salary expectations are rapidly increasing creating a difficult challenge for businesses to navigate. 

    Current participants

    Below is the list of the current roundtable participants. Want to get involved? Contact info@consultaustralia.com.au.  

    NameMember business
    Stephen Troilo (Chair)Northrop 
    Claudia Faulkner
    		ADP Consulting
    Kerry van Donderen (Consult Australia Board representative)/Jane Moylan
    		AECOM
    Ann Malam
    		Arcadis
    Phoebe Ryssenbeek
    		Arup
    Lauren Di Pietro Aurecon
    Sharon ProwleCardno
    Amy Singh Douglas Partners
    Tasos Katopodis (Consult Australia Board representative)/Cara Kuramoto/Guy DrerupGHD
    Viviane AkkaryHDR
    Silje Barningham Jacobs 
    Sarah MillsPitt & Sherry
    Leonie KerleySLR Consulting
    Abesi MwendaSMEC
    Kylie Ward / Venelina KostourkovStantec
    Olivia OliverTonkin
    Bianca LockettUmwelt Australia 

     

    Priorities

    Our Liability & Contracts Roundtable oversee our nationwide activities relating to fairness in contracting, insurance as well as legal and regulatory risk. The roundtable includes legal practitioners and commercial managers. Participants share best practice initiatives on contracting and support state/territory committees to tackle local issues. Roundtable participants help develop member resources to assist on law reform issues, legal requirements and contracting issues.

    Latest 'top 3 takeaways'

    Every meeting our roundtable participants summarise the 'top 3 takeaways' from the meeting which we share with the rest of the membership. Here are the 'top 3 takeaways' from the recent meeting:

    1. Fitness for purpose – Participants are eager to assist in discussions on fitness for purpose, to make clear the problems for consultants and their insurance.
    2. Engagement - Victorian government contracts are a priority for engagement in 2022. 
    3. Contracts – Participants are concerned with the NT government contract obligations on vaccination which will require further monitoring and engagement.

    Current participants

    Below is the list of the current roundtable participants. Want to get involved? Contact info@consultaustralia.com.au. 

    NameMember business
    David Saunders (Chair)SMEC 
    Luke Russel / Adam ScottAECOM 
    Taryn Holmes/Joanne PerdriauArcadis 
    Ainslie Blunck Arup 
    Scott MenckAurecon
    James GroverBeca 
    Steven EvansCMC Asia Pacific
    Michelle Golafshan (Consult Australia Board representative)Douglas Partners
    Denise Obst / Peter HortisGHD
    Shawn RoddaHDR
    Felicity DonaldsonJacobs
    Joshua Magennis / Jeanette ThomsonKBR
    Laura KennyNorthrop
    Jane BaileyPitt & Sherry
    Glenn ThomasSLR Consulting
    Josie LewisStantec
    Jonathan AllanUmwelt