Q5 celebrates 10 years Down Under

From one suitcase and a single client in Sydney to a thriving regional business delivering more than 750 projects across sectors, Q5 Australia has grown into a key success story. The firm has looked back on its first decade Down Under, while looking ahead to horizons still to come.

“Launching Q5 in Australia was a leap into the unknown, but one filled with opportunity,” recalls Tom Leary, partner at Q5. “What has made it work is the calibre of our people and the strength of our partnerships. I couldn’t be prouder of what we’ve achieved together.”

In 2015, Q5 first took that “leap”, as with a suitcase, a vision, and plenty of ambition, Leary landed in Sydney to open Q5’s first APAC office. The goal was simple but a huge challenge, to establish a new frontier for Q5, building a gateway to Asia and Australasia while supporting our clients in the region.

A first client win soon followed, in the shape of a major media and publishing organisation, making the beginning of a global relationship stretching across Australia, the UK and the US. From those foundations, Leary and Q5 were able to build connections across Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne, with a small team quickly growing to 25.

In 2017, those roots deepened, with Q5 starting work with organisations remain clients in Victoria; through a partnership with a luxury cosmetics brand. The moment marked Q5’s second anniversary with clients and friends at an evening of reflection and gratitude – and the following year saw 21 projects delivered across sectors from media to transport and retail, ahead of officially opening a new Melbourne office, signalling national expansion and joining up with colleagues in London and New York on projects that spanned the globe.

Despite difficulties arising from the Covid-19 pandemic, Q5 maintained its momentum in the APAC market, launching in Sydney, and rolling out Pop-up Australia. The first pro-bono consulting initiative offered crucial consulting services to SMEs and non-profits, beginning with The Resilience Project.

Australian anniversary

Flashing forward to 2024, Q5 co-founder Chris Parsons travelled to Australia with Nat Firth, a partner with the firm, for what began as a six-week visit but turned into a long-term stay. Their move represented a deepening of Q5’s commitment to Australia and injected fresh energy into our business, read more here.

Parsons explained, “Australia has always felt like an integral part of the Q5 family, and it’s been a privilege to contribute to its journey over the past year. As we enter our tenth year, I’m incredibly optimistic about the opportunities ahead; to grow, exceed our clients’ expectations, and continue building meaningful careers for our Q5ers across the region. I’m looking forward to working with such a talented team as we make Q5@10 a real milestone to remember.”

Now, as Q5 celebrates a decade in Australia, the firm is determined to enjoy the achievements of the last 10 years. A statement from the firm noted that Q5 had delivered more than 750 projects across a wide variety of sectors, “while remaining a trusted partner to some of the clients who joined us in those earliest years”.

The release concluded, “We have also expanded into new industries, including renewable energy, laying foundations for a more sustainable future.”