Synergy Group is a leading consulting firm offering the full range of consultancy, project and managed services to government. Originally based solely in Canberra, their capability spans the full range of professional services.

They deliver capacity, and also integrate, design and create solutions to support in addressing significant, national policy issues. Their extensive services include strategy, transformation, digital, financial, defence, governance, managed services and design.

Services

  • Strategy
  • Planning
  • Merger and Acquisition (M&A)

There are many differences between Synergy and BEING: they are bigger and they are a consulting firm at heart; they also work exclusively with government. We are smaller but also more diverse with significant learning and creative agency offerings; we also do not focus solely on government, with a broad range of private sector clients, large and small. We nevertheless have a great deal in common, and Synergy has called on our CEO, Siebert Neethling, on several occasions to be an impartial but informed facilitator and advisor. He has supported Synergy with capability development and strategy facilitation. He also facilitated the development of Synergy’s much-admired values.

In 2023 Synergy Group announced a merger with ThinkPlace Australia, another leading advisory firm. This was an initiative to reposition in the national government consulting market, and to expand into other cities and government markets in Australia.

As far a mergers and acquisitions go, this was a pretty seamless process, with like-minded professionals seeing the potential of the new arrangement. But to unlock more of the true potential of the merger, to identify joint opportunities, and to identify areas for improvement, Synergy called on us to facilitate a process combining partners from both organisations.

The process started with extensive 1:1 interviews with every single partner from both Synergy Group and ThinkPlace – now re-branded ThinkPlaceX. We conducted these interviews in-person and virtually, with both structured and unstructured elements. This enabled us to clearly identify the issues, challenges and opportunities, and to also develop an insightful heat-map of partner approaches to the merger and to the firm’s strategy generally.

This information was combined with a carefully developed process to improve understanding and collaboration between partners. Siebert Neethling facilitated a two-day partner retreat in Bowral, where the leaders from Synergy Canberra, Synergy Melbourne, and ThinkPlaceX worked through a series of discussions and exercises, interspersed with capability development sessions and collaboration accelerators. There was also a practical and highly engaging session demonstrating the importance of cohesion.

After the retreat, we produced a road-map identifying clear themes and initiatives for improvement, with practical and inspiring measures to unlock the true potential of this merger.

Testimonials from Synergy projects

Siebert, you were fantastic today. Got so much great feedback and you provided the perfect platform for change. Thank you so much.

Galia Cornish
Chief Executive Officer, Synergy Group

A pleasure working with you again and absolutely hit the mark. Your knowledge and understanding of our business and the trust from the partnership made it a very productive outcome.

Rob Kennedy
Executive Chairman and CEO, Synergy Group

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