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Reflecting on a year of impact

Posted October 17, 2024

Experts in this area:

SGS Economics and Planning AGM Alison and Peter

In our recent Annual Report and Annual General Meeting, we reflected on the past year’s achievements and challenges .

Each milestone has advanced our mission of shaping sustainable places, communities, and economies. As an employee-owned business, our success directly benefits our team, meaning there’s no outside interest or tension over who sees the rewards. Profits stay with the people driving the business forward, making our AGM and annual report truly celebrate shared progress and impact.

Two experiences over the year stood out as powerful reflections of our values and purpose. The Annual Company Conference brought our team together to collaborate on how we can make meaningful changes to the issues that matter most to the communities we serve. It was a day filled with energy and a strong commitment to advancing our vision as agents of change.

Following this, we held an engaging Strategy Day with our senior team and directors, focusing on sharpening our Client Value Proposition and how we communicate the breadth and depth of our services across our areas of impact. We talked about the public policy challenges facing our communities and economy, and how SGS could play a part in shaping better outcomes.

For the first time, we reported to our shareholders—our team—using the Mutual Value Framework developed by the Business Council of Cooperatives and Mutuals with Monash University’s Business School. This framework measures total value creation across six dimensions of mutual value. SGS performed strongly in shaping markets, member and community relationships, ecosystem reciprocity and mutual mindset, all while maintaining commerciality in a challenging market. This report will guide future strategic and business planning to support alignment with our purpose.

Staying purpose-driven

Our team remained focused and resilient despite a challenging economic landscape this year. As SGS Board Chair Peter Galvin noted:

In a year of tough market conditions, our team’s adaptability and commitment to public good helped us not only navigate challenges but also expand our impact. This resilience is a testament to the hard work and passion driving SGS forward.
— Peter Galvin

SGS Economics and Planning Peter Galvin AGM

Despite the hurdles, we delivered over 300 projects with our federal, state, and local government clients and the for-purpose sector, including peak bodies, universities and not-for-profit organisations, while staying true to our values. We balanced operational pressures that many of our collaborators across the consulting industry face with long-term sustainability, investing in our people and innovation.

Additionally, our Board established the Future Strategy Committee, identifying public policy areas where we can have a lasting impact. We are now more prepared than ever to make meaningful changes for Australia’s cities and regions.

CEO Alison Holloway captured this perfectly:

Just like a city continues to experience change, so too will we. The focus will remain on how we evolve with our values front and centre to guide us – inspiring, amplifying knowledge, collaborating and prioritising quality.
— Alison Holloway

Key achievements and impact

This year, we expanded our work in the renewable energy and health sectors. SGS was honoured with the Peter Harrison Memorial Prize for our expertise in sustainable development and super-diversity in Australian cities and regions. Patrick Fensham was elected President of the Planning Institute Australia (PIA), while Ellen Witte continued her role as a Director of Homes Tasmania. Emily Hobbs received recognition as the Victorian Female Achiever of the Year by PIA, and our CEO, Alison Holloway, was celebrated as a PIA Fellow, further reinforcing her leadership in the planning sector.

We marked the second release of the SGS Cities and Regions Wellbeing Index, providing critical insights across Australia’s 518 local government areas. The Index uncovers spatial inequalities in our cities and regions, pointing to the urgent need for policies that foster fairness and accessibility throughout Australia.

We also published the ninth annual edition of the Rental Affordability Index, highlighting the escalating rental affordability crisis. Launched at Parliament House in Canberra, this report informs and shapes policies that create meaningful change.

As we continue shaping these initiatives, we appreciate our team’s hard work tackling these pressing challenges in collaboration with our clients.

Looking ahead

Our focus is on continuing to make a positive impact. As an employee-owned organisation, our structure empowers each team member to play a role in achieving our goals. Through our projects and partnerships, we will continue to evolve, delivering innovative solutions that shape change and create a brighter future for communities across Australia. Below are a few highlights from our team’s experiences over the past year.

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