Answer extracted from the Pegasus Radio podcast — listen to the full episode below.
How does career progression differ for professionals relocating from the UK to Australia?
Relocating professionals typically experience a significant step backward in responsibility level—typically two to three years. The Australian QS role carries measurably less project-level authority than its UK equivalent, even when working for the same global firm at the same organizational level.
Matthew Mackey moved from director level in Manchester to a senior cost manager position when he relocated to Australia. Despite holding an equivalent title at a recognized global consultancy, the actual scope of work and decision-making power differed substantially. The Australian market structure fundamentally limits the autonomy afforded to quantity surveyor roles compared to their UK counterparts.
This isn't a reflection of individual capability—it's a market structural reality. As Mackey noted in the episode, professionals moving internationally should expect to invest time rebuilding credibility and understanding local hierarchies, even if they arrive with extensive experience. The role title remains similar on paper, but the practical authority and project involvement differ significantly.
Career navigation in a new market also depends on understanding unwritten rules. Mackey's experience in Brisbane shows that professionals who make multiple job moves within their first five years overseas aren't necessarily failing—they're often learning which firms and roles genuinely match the career trajectory they want to build.
"You've got to have a relationship and be so embedded with that client. If you were to walk out the door, that's going to be a hole in the company's bottom line."
Matthew Mackey — Director, Contolo Group. Mackey spent 16 years in Brisbane building and leading Arcadis's cost management service before returning to Manchester in late 2024. He navigated multiple role changes across Australian firms while establishing himself as a thought leader through podcast hosting, networking group management, and appearances on Australian financial television—all while contending with the structural differences between UK and Australian QS roles.
One specific challenge is that the Australian construction industry operates as a unionized market, unlike the non-unionized UK environment. This fundamental difference in labor relations ripples through project delivery, cost management authority, and the way fees are structured—all factors that reshape how a senior cost manager actually works, regardless of their prior experience in Manchester or London.
The Real Price of International Relocation
Accepting a step backward is not optional—it's the entry cost of international relocation in construction consultancy. Mackey made more job moves in five years in Australia than in his first 15 years of UK employment, precisely because he was identifying the roles and firms where he could rebuild credibility and eventually return to director-level authority.
This isn't a permanent career ceiling. The key difference is timeline: what took three years to achieve in the UK may take five or six in Australia. Understanding this upfront helps professionals choose between firms strategically and avoid the frustration of expecting immediate parity with their previous role.
See also
What are the key differences between the QS role in the UK versus Australian construction markets?
In Australia, the QS role is diminished compared to the UK—QSs can be appointed as sub-consultants to architects, excluded from design team meetings, and have less project-level authority than their UK counterparts.
How does Accaloft ensure that strategies are deliverable in practice?
Accaloft tests strategies in-house from multiple stakeholder perspectives using a technique similar to Amazon's practice of having a spare chair to represent the absent voice.
What does Jamie identify as critical industry challenges that Accaloft addresses?
Jamie emphasises that the industry has massive productivity issues that if not fixed will result in a real mess in five to ten years.