Consult Australia

"I like to do things where people win and business wins.” It’s a simple line, but it explains how Lyndall Rowe approaches her new role as Consult Australia’s State Manager for South Australia and the Northern Territory. A warm welcome to Lyndall who commenced with Consult Australia just last month in parallel with the return of the Malinauskas Government providing continuity across SA, and as she puts it herself: "an opportunity to maintain momentum on the issues that matter most to Consult Australia members”. Read more about the experience Lyndall brings to our members in SA and the NT in the latest Consulting Matters and be sure to connect: https://lnkd.in/g-sG3CkM #ConsultAustralia #SouthAustralia #NorthernTerritory

WSP in Australia highlighting Consult Australia’s Meeting Positive Duty report: creating workplaces that are safe, respectful and inclusive requires evidence, transparency and sustained leadership. This work brings those elements together, establishing a shared baseline across the members of Consult Australia's Champions of Change Group representing more than 25,000 employees. One of the clearest insights from this report is that underreporting remains a challenge: reinforcing the need to build trust, improve reporting pathways, and strengthen access to support. The focus now is continuing the work: measuring, learning and acting: because prevention depends on what we are prepared to see, and to act on. Thank you Greg Kane for your role as Chair of our Champions of Change Group alongside our members AECOM; Arcadis; Arup; Aurecon; Douglas Partners; GHD; Jacobs; Stantec; SJ Group; Umwelt Environmental & Social Consultants alongside the Champions of Change Coalition and all our members. This report shows what collective action looks like in practice.

Celebrating Excellence in our Industry The 2025–2026 Consult Australia Awards for Excellence showcased the outstanding talent, innovation and collaboration that continues to shape our industry. From exceptional leadership to groundbreaking projects, this year’s winners demonstrated the depth of expertise and commitment across Australia’s consulting sector. You can read more about the fantastic results in this month’s Consulting Matters article: 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gZcCyvPq And as one door shuts, another opens. For those who would like to defend their title, have another go, or enter for the first time, the Consult Australia Awards for Excellence will reopen for the 2026–2027 season on Monday 14 September. 📅 Put the date in your diary now. We look forward to seeing the next wave of excellence across our industry.

Join Us in Brisbane: Cyber Risk Insights for Industry Leaders Only a few spots are available. Find out more and register below. https://lnkd.in/gN3PADFW Cyber risk has become a critical issue for construction and property professionals, with contractual requirements increasing and exposure that is often underestimated. As AI adoption accelerates and cyber legislation continues to evolve, businesses in the sector face a heightened risk landscape that demands attention at every level of leadership. Calling construction and property professionals in Brisbane - join us for an exclusive seminar on Thursday 23 April exploring practical insights on cyber risk management and key implications from the Olympic Games for the construction and property industry. We will be covering: • How cyber policies are structured and what is covered • Construction case study on managing an alleged cyber-attack • How cybercriminals are leveraging AI to scale attacks • Olympic Games and cyber-attacks - what you need to know for Brisbane 2032 • Navigating the cyber security legal landscape and director duties • Insurance and contracting requirements for Brisbane 2032 You will gain practical tools and insights to manage cyber risk, navigate the evolving legal landscape, and understand your obligations as a director or business leader in the construction and property industry. Attendees will also be eligible to earn CPD points. Simon Gray Carina Bogaard

At CollabX, Infrastructure Australia CEO Adam Copp highlighted a shift in thinking: moving beyond individual assets to connected precincts that support industry, skills and long-term economic growth. This matters. Infrastructure Australia’s analysis shows these sectors are drawing on the same workforce and supply chains. This makes a focus on coordination and sequencing essential to avoid bottlenecks and cost pressures. There is a clear opportunity to plan infrastructure as part of a broader system: not just what we build, but what it enables. The recently published Infrastructure Priority List an essential read in this context. Thanks Adam & IA for your insights and joining Jonathan Cartledge with our CollabX audience to discuss how government and industry can respond together to these pressures. Read more on the Infrastructure Priority List in our latest Consulting Matters: https://lnkd.in/g_JP_kMg And our take on CollabX unpacking Minimum Viable Capability: https://lnkd.in/gAwQ7YRu

This reflects the value of bringing fresh thinking into some of our most complex infrastructure challenges. The Consult Australia Future Leaders Program continues to show how early-to-mid career professionals can contribute meaningful, evidence-based ideas: in 2025 tackling the intersection of infrrastructure and housing supply. Thank you Infrastructure Australia, Peter Lee and the team for your support of this program and its vital role in backing the next generation of leaders. Are you recognising your future leaders? We’re now taking enrolments for the 2026 program in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne: https://lnkd.in/gbxpDGTD And to get inspired, check-out the team projects here: https://lnkd.in/gdrQ__Tj

Parliamentary Friends of Engineering (PFoE) this week hosted a roundtable to discuss declining participation in maths in schools and the impact in narrowing the path to engineering. Without securing this pipeline of future engineers domestically, the ability for industry to deliver the raft of engineering required to solve our most pressing and complex public policy problems will be challenged. Thanks Greg Kane, WSP; Virginia Anderson, SJGroup and Lauren Spring, AECOM for joining the discussion with Consult Australia, and sharing their personal and industry perspective. In a global race for engineers we need to see record levels of students taking advance maths, but instead we are now seeing record lows with just 8.4% of Year 12 students in 2023. Advanced maths prerequisites are still required for 60% of engineering degrees. Support for teachers to build confidence, create memorable ‘math moments’ timed to maximise math maturity, and avoid math anxiety from early years through secondary and senior secondary schools was seen as critical. As was supporting participation and learning for regional, remote and low SES areas where teacher support and resources are vital. Thanks to PFoE Convenors Andrew Charlton, Garth Hamilton MP and Bridget McKenzie; and Professor Merrilyn Goos for kicking of the discussion with her insight. Fantastic to support PFoE with Engineers Australia leadership with Australian Academy of Technological Sciences & Engineering (ATSE), Australian Council of Engineering Deans (ACED) and Science & Technology Australia (STA).

Thank you to everyone who joined us in Canberra for CollabX. It was a fantastic two days of collaboration and conversation. We are grateful to the speakers, sponsors and attendees who made it such a memorable event. If you attended and would like to revisit the event, or just interested? View the event photos here: https://lnkd.in/gYvXutpJ Jonathan Cartledge Kristine Banks Emma Thunder Amy Costin Robin Mellon Natalie Muir Rebecca Wilkinson Jackie McPhee Toby George Erik Vandenberg Louise Dowbiggin Kristin Moss Tanya Sideris

A big thank you to the Consult Australia Initiative Sponsors supporting CollabX, which kicked off in Canberra today. Your support helps bring together leaders from Defence, Consulting and other key stakeholders to share insights, strengthen connections, and explore opportunities shaping our sector  Carina Bogaard Simon Gray Travis Wilson Maeve Power Jackie McPhee Rebecca Wilkinson Jonathan Cartledge Kristine Banks Emma Thunder Louise Dowbiggin Amy Costin

CollabX officially opens today in Canberra, bringing together leaders from the defence, consulting and infrastructure sectors, alongside many other key stakeholders. Over the next two days we look forward to insightful conversations, new connections and important discussions shaping the future of our industries.