Deloitte and infrastructure, construction project management specialists PDS Group to join forces

16 August 2021:  Deloitte Australia will transform its capability and market presence in the end-to-end public and private infrastructure project management space, joining forces with the team from PDS Group.

Founded, and head quartered in Melbourne in 2003, PDS Group specialises in high performance, cost effective and innovative integrated project and development solutions for clients across multiple construction sectors – from commercial, industrial and residential, to public infrastructure.

With a track record supporting over 600 public and private sector projects, PDS Group services cover the full development spectrum – from conception to completion:

• Project management – including consultant and contractor selection and management, budget and cost management reporting, design management, program establishment, monitoring and reporting, project delivery and completion
• Development management – including site procurement and acquisition, feasibility investigation analysis, finance structuring, master and concept planning, settlement management and strategic planning
• Project advisory – including due diligence and risk management, feasibility and financial planning, asset optimisation reviews, and asset management and capex works planning.

The 70-strong team, led by co-founder and Managing Director, Andrew Fortey, has a strong national presence – focused on Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, alongside Perth, Adelaide and Canberra. The Group’s expertise will be fully integrated into Deloitte’s market offerings, focused on sustainable infrastructure, precincts and public sector, while it continues to operate from its existing offices.

The tie-up will formally commence on 1 September 2021. Andrew Fortey will become a Deloitte Financial Advisory partner.

Deloitte Australia CEO, Adam Powick, said: “This is a really interesting, innovative and exciting move for a firm like Deloitte.

“With the construction sector, and the infrastructure agenda being such an important driver behind Australia’s COVID-19 recovery, there is significant demand for advisory and project management services.

“Deloitte has strong capability across a range of public infrastructure and real estate advisory areas. This partnership with Andrew and the PDS Group team will complement and enhance our existing market offerings to cover the complete infrastructure development value chain.”

Deloitte Financial Advisory Managing Partner, David McCarthy, said: “With the surge in public and private infrastructure investment and the drive to low-carbon footprints we are seeing an unprecedented need from our clients for project delivery support.

“PDS Group’s exceptional reputation in built environment project solutions will complement and extend our existing infrastructure, capital projects and real estate advisory capability. By joining forces with PDS Group we will realise a long held ambition to deliver our clients end-to-end capability in this space, from strategy and planning, to funding and procurement, and, now first-class project delivery.

“They bring with them a top-tier client base and strong respect in the market, with the Group having evolved and matured over 20 years. This high regard will continue, and teaming with Deloitte will underpin the next phase of the team’s growth, while retaining the agility and esprit de corps for which they are known.

“Together, our collective experience will provide a unique and unrivalled mix of strategic, operational and financial expertise to clients in Australia and across the region.”

Incoming Deloitte Financial Advisory partner, and PDS Group co-founder and Managing Director, Andrew Fortey,  said: “This is an exciting time for our business. It’s clear that our client offerings will really complement Deloitte’s existing strengths and expertise in an area that is so important to Australia’s post-COVID-19 future.

"We have always had a relentless focus on providing our clients with the highest levels and quality of service, ensuring successful outcomes, enhanced reputations and longstanding repeat business. We see these same attributes in Deloitte and we look forward sharing our advisory, development and project management capability further.

“This move offers an opportunity to expand and grow our established networks further into upstream and early engagements with government and large multinational clients, and will provide our people with significant career advancement opportunities through accelerated growth supported by the leveraging of Deloitte’s significant regional and global network.

"There is a close alignment of our business cultures, expansion and market integration. Ultimately, we are excited about our future and what it will mean for our talented and wonderful team.”