Michael Courtney – Executive Director | Managing Director
Thank you to all Associates who attended our recent Associates Day in Geelong. It was a fantastic day, with a broad range of speakers and valuable discussions that reflected the strength and depth of our Associate network.
Your feedback highlighted a strong desire for more time to connect – so we’re pleased to confirm that we’ll be hosting dedicated networking events in 2026, with the first planned for February. These sessions will provide time to reconnect, share ideas, and strengthen professional relationships across the CT Management Group community.
In today’s hybrid environment, where so much of our collaboration happens online, taking time for face-to-face connection has never been more valuable.
We also took the opportunity to acknowledge and farewell three long-serving Associates -Terry Alford, Eric Peterson, and Peter Godfrey – whose outstanding contribution and service to CT Management Group and to the broader community has been deeply appreciated.
It’s encouraging to see our Associate network continue to grow, and our ongoing challenge and opportunity is to continue creating meaningful work and collaboration opportunities for all.
Expanding Our Strategic Alliances
We’re also delighted to extend our Strategic Alliance partnerships to meet increasing demand in the Local Government marketplace. Recent additions bring fresh capability and contemporary expertise in leadership development, council facilitation, community engagement, and ICT.
Our alliances are designed to complement and strengthen CT Management Group’s consultancy capability providing access to highly specialised skills, proven methodologies, and innovative tools. We also expect that these partnerships will generate referrals and new opportunities for our Associate teams across Australia.
Our Strategic Direction 2025- 2028
During Associates Day, we presented our new Strategic Direction 2025-2028, outlining the company’s Business Plan, Marketing Plan, key strategies, and internal product development priorities.
Our focus areas for FY2025/26 include:
- National Marketing Program: Brand and website refresh
- Strategic Alliances: Expansion of partnerships to strengthen key service areas
- Product Investment Program: Ongoing investment in product development
- Associate Strategy: Recruitment, retention, wellbeing, and training
- Succession & Shareholder Transition: Recruitment of a new CEO and Business Development & Marketing Manager
- Quality Assurance Framework: Implementation of a formal QA system
- Digitisation of Key Services: Integration of AI technologies
- IT Strategy: Continued advancement of CTC² and AI initiatives under the Product Investment Plan
Brand and Website Launch
Our national rebrand and new website are nearing completion – a significant milestone for the business.
A special thanks to Esther, Merv, and Melissa, who have worked tirelessly to deliver what will be a generational leap forward in CT Management Group’s marketing and digital presence.
The new website will be informative, intuitive, and easy to navigate, clearly showcasing our services and solutions for Local and State Government.
Supporting Council Sustainability
Our key products – the Long-Term Financial Plan and Capital Works Evaluator continue to be in high demand as councils seek solutions to strengthen long-term financial sustainability.
This focus aligns with recent findings from the Victorian Auditor-General’s Report (October 2025), which identified several ongoing challenges across the sector:
- While most councils can meet current financial obligations, key sustainability indicators are trending downward.
- Councils can strengthen their financial management practices, particularly in service planning and infrastructure management.
- Many councils lack mature frameworks and metrics for prioritising services.
- Improved guidance, capital works planning, and financial decision-making engagement with councillors are needed.
At CT Management Group, we see this as an opportunity to continue partnering with councils nationwide to address these challenges – helping them plan with confidence and build long-term financial resilience.
Looking Ahead
As we move toward the close of the year, I want to thank all our Associates for your continued support, professionalism, and contribution to CT Management Group’s success.
We look forward to sharing more updates with you soon and we can’t wait to unveil the new CT Management Group brand and website later this month.
Stay well and thank you for the important role you play in helping us deliver better outcomes for our clients and communities.