Professional services consultants Synergy have merged with strategy and design provider ThinkPlace to create what they hope will be a new major player in the national government consulting market.

It comes after a series of scandals created new opportunities in the market, with PWC last year divesting its government consulting arm after senior partners leaked confidential tax department information to private sector clients, and confidence in the sector severely shaken.

Synergy has been operating since 1999 while ThinkPlace has an 18-year history of consulting to government, NFPs and the private sector with a focus on social impact.

Disruption

Synergy hopes the new partnership with ThinkPlace will position it as “a pre-eminent Australian-owned government consultant”, with 600 staff across the country.

“With the current disruption in the Australian consulting market, the Synergy Group / ThinkPlace combination provides a true sovereign alternative to our multi-national competitors,” Chair Lucille Halloran says.

Synergy’s CEO Robert Kennedy says a great deal of thought and planning went into bringing the two companies together.

“It’s our public declaration that we are leaning in, looking at opportunities to contribute to Australia’s biggest government programs, and backing ourselves to adapt to current market conditions,” he said in a statement.

ThinkPlace will retain its own brand but Mr Kennedy says the two companies will work together to integrate the businesses and transition staff and clients.

Main image (supplied) In the front row, Robert Kennedy, CEO of Synergy Group; Lucille Halloran, Chair of Synergy Group.Standing behind, Dr Nina Terrey, ThinkPlace Partner; Darren Menachemson, ThinkPlace Partner; JohnBody, ThinkPlace Founding Partner.

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