Whittle Consulting
Whittle Consulting is a Melbourne-based mining consultancy that uses proprietary Prober-E optimization software to deliver Enterprise Optimisation studies for mining companies worldwide, improving project NPV by 5-35%+ across all commodities and stages.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1999
- HeadquartersSurrey Hills, Australia
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Whittle Consulting does
Whittle Consulting Pty Ltd is a privately-held Australian mining consultancy founded in 1999 in Melbourne by Jeff Whittle AO, specializing in enterprise optimization for the global mining industry. The firm conducts Whittle Enterprise Optimisation studies — multi-phase consulting engagements that apply a 10-step simultaneous optimization model (Pit/Underground, Phases, Mine Schedule, Cut-off Grade, Stockpiles, Blend, Processing, Product Mix & Specification, Logistics, Capital) to improve mining project economics. The methodology combines Activity Based Costing and Theory of Constraints within a long-term Integrated Strategic Planning framework.
The firm's core technology is the proprietary Prober / Prober-E software — a multi-thread, cloud-enabled, non-linear, multi-variable simultaneous mine optimizer developed over 35 years by Jeff Whittle and the internal team. The software is used exclusively by Whittle Consulting for client engagements and is not sold as a standalone product. The advertised outcome is 5-35%+ NPV improvement, with individual case studies documenting results as high as 59% (Copper Project), 37% (Underground Operation), 31.7% (Alloycorp Mining Avanti Kitsault), and 31% (Pronto automated haul trucks).
The business model is professional services-driven: revenue is generated from (1) Enterprise Optimisation consulting engagements sold on a multi-year, project-based fee structure, (2) the Integrated Strategic Planning Seminar (6,500+ attendees since 2009, delivered both in-person and online) which serves as both a direct revenue stream and a lead generation channel, and (3) ancillary use of Prober-E within engagements. The firm serves the full spectrum of mining companies — from junior explorers and pre-feasibility-stage projects (Oroco Resources, Nova Minerals, Alto Verde) to major mining houses (Anglo Platinum, Ivanhoe Mines, B2Gold, ITM Coal) — across all commodities (gold, copper, coal, platinum, molybdenum, PGM) and geographies spanning Australia, Africa, North America, South America, Europe, and Asia. More than 180 Enterprise Optimisation studies have been completed since 1999. The company is led by CEO Gerald Whittle (son of the founder) with founder Jeff Whittle continuing as Technical Director, and operates as a family-controlled private firm with a small international consulting team.
Whittle Consulting firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Whittle Consulting
- Legal name
- Whittle Consulting Pty Ltd
- Website
- https://whittleconsulting.com.au
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1999
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Whittle Consulting is a Melbourne-based mining consultancy that uses proprietary Prober-E optimization software to deliver Enterprise Optimisation studies for mining companies worldwide, improving project NPV by 5-35%+ across all commodities and stages.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Whittle Consulting industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Mining Consulting Services
- NAICS
- Management Consulting Services (54161), Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services (541611)
- SIC
- Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Engineering Services (8711)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Operations & Process Improvement Consulting (BPAHACAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Data, Analytics & AI Consulting (BPAHAEAF), Strategy & Corporate Development Consulting (BPAHACAA)
Keywords
Where Whittle Consulting is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Surrey Hills
- HQ country
- Australia
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices4 records
Markets served
Whittle Consulting business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Enterprise Optimisation Consulting Services: Core consulting engagements involving Whittle Enterprise Optimisation studies conducted for mining projects and operations. Studies are typically multi-phase engagements tailored to client needs.
- Integrated Strategic Planning Seminars: Educational seminars on mining optimisation methodology, delivered both in-person and online via Zoom. The seminar has been attended by over 6,500 mining professionals since 2009.
- Proprietary Software Tools: Prober-E software used exclusively by Whittle Consulting for client engagements. Software developed over 35 years by founder Jeff Whittle.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Enterprise Optimisation Study - Custom engagement |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels7 records
Whittle Consulting product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Whittle Consulting delivers Enterprise Optimisation consulting studies for the global mining industry, using its proprietary Prober/Prober-E software to simultaneously optimise all parts of the mining value chain (pit/underground, phases, schedule, cut-off grade, processing, logistics, capital) and typically improve NPV by 5-35%+. The firm supplements consulting with the Integrated Strategic Planning Seminar, an industry-recognised educational programme delivered in person and via Zoom. Since 1999, the company has conducted over 180 studies across all commodities and continents.
Product overview
Whittle Consulting offers a suite of mining optimisation products and services centred on its proprietary Prober and Prober-E software platforms. Prober (including versions Prober-B and Prober-E) is a multi-thread, cloud-enabled, non-linear, multi-variable, simultaneous mining optimiser that Whittle Consulting uses to execute Enterprise Optimisation studies for mining clients worldwide. The company delivers its Integrated Strategic Planning methodology through consulting engagements (Enterprise Optimisation Studies) and an educational seminar programme. The Prober software is the core technology enabling the 10-step optimisation process that simultaneously considers all parts of the mining value chain from resource to cash flow. Since 1999, the company has conducted over 180 Enterprise Optimisation studies globally, consistently achieving 5-35% NPV improvements for clients across all commodities.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Enterprise Optimisation Studies
Quantifiable outcome
- 5-35%+ NPV improvement
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Whittle Consulting
Customer profileNamed customers12 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Whittle Consulting technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Whittle Consulting partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- CEEC InternationalcoreCollaboration on Neo-Marvin case study under the Global Water Initiative (GWI). Partnership to model and test innovative water supply and tailings management strategies, integrating water considerations into mine optimisation processes using Prober software.
- Agnico EagleminorSponsor for the Neo-Marvin case study and Global Water Initiative focused on sustainable water management in mining.
- WeirminorSponsor for the Neo-Marvin case study and Global Water Initiative focused on sustainable water management in mining.
- CSA GlobalcorePartnership agreement to collaborate on offering Integrated Strategic Planning services in the United Kingdom, Europe, and surrounding regions. Combines CSA Global's consulting presence with Whittle's optimisation methodology.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Whittle Consulting competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Hatch: Hatch is a large global engineering and project delivery firm serving mining, metals, and infrastructure clients. It offers mine planning, optimisation, and full project execution, competing with Whittle for high-level strategic mine planning mandates while also delivering broader EPCM work.
- Ausenco: Ausenco is an engineering and project delivery firm with a strong mining and metals practice covering studies, engineering, and construction. It competes with Whittle on feasibility studies and optimisation embedded within larger project mandates.
- Wood Mackenzie: Wood Mackenzie is a global research and consultancy firm covering energy and natural resources, including mining strategy and market advisory. While broader in scope, it competes with Whittle for senior mining-executive advisory work and strategic planning engagements.
Direct peers
- DRA Global: DRA Global provides mining engineering, project delivery, and optimisation services to mining clients globally. It overlaps directly with Whittle on strategic mine planning and optimisation engagements and employs senior mine engineers with similar optimisation expertise.
- SRK Consulting: SRK Consulting is a global mining and geoscience consulting firm that delivers resource estimation, mine planning, and feasibility studies. It is directly comparable to Whittle as an independent, partner-led mining consultancy serving major and junior miners worldwide.
- CSA Global: CSA Global is a mining-focused consulting firm offering geological, resource, and mining engineering services. It is a direct partner of Whittle for UK/Europe delivery of Integrated Strategic Planning, making it the closest comparable in mining optimisation and mine planning consulting.
- Minemax: Minemax specialises in mine planning and optimisation software (Minemax Scheduler and Planner) used by mining companies for strategic and operational planning. It is directly comparable to Whittle's Prober-E as a specialist in mine optimisation algorithms and workflow tools.
- RPMGlobal: RPMGlobal is an ASX-listed mining advisory and software firm offering mine planning, scheduling, and optimisation software (including XPAC) plus consulting. It is directly comparable to Whittle because it combines mine optimisation software with consulting services for the same mining customer base.
Emerging players
- Maptek: Maptek provides 3D mine planning, geological modelling, and optimisation software (Vulcan, Evolution) used across the mining industry. It is an emerging technology peer to Whittle's Prober-E in the strategic mine optimisation workflow, particularly as mining software vendors push higher up the value chain.
- JKTech: JKTech is a mining technology and consulting provider that partnered with Whittle in 2013 to add a sustainability framework to the Integrated Strategic Planning approach. It is comparable as a niche mining optimisation and consulting peer, particularly around sustainability, risk, and reliability analysis.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Whittle Consulting social profiles
Digital presenceWhittle Consulting financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Whittle Consulting leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Whittle Consulting funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Whittle Consulting M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Whittle Consulting
What does Whittle Consulting do?
Whittle Consulting delivers Enterprise Optimisation consulting studies for the global mining industry, using its proprietary Prober/Prober-E software to simultaneously optimise all parts of the mining value chain (pit/underground, phases, schedule, cut-off grade, processing, logistics, capital) and typically improve NPV by 5-35%+. The firm supplements consulting with the Integrated Strategic Planning Seminar, an industry-recognised educational programme delivered in person and via Zoom. Since 1999, the company has conducted over 180 studies across all commodities and continents.
Is Whittle Consulting a public or private company?
Whittle Consulting is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Whittle Consulting founded?
Whittle Consulting was founded in 1999. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Whittle Consulting based?
Whittle Consulting is headquartered in Surrey Hills, Australia, in the Oceania region.
How does Whittle Consulting make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Enterprise Optimisation Consulting Services are the primary driver. The others are integrated Strategic Planning Seminars and proprietary Software Tools.
Who are Whittle Consulting's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Hatch, Ausenco and Wood Mackenzie. Direct peers are DRA Global, SRK Consulting, CSA Global, Minemax and RPMGlobal. Emerging players are Maptek and JKTech.
Does Whittle Consulting have an API?
No public API is recorded for Whittle Consulting.
What industry is Whittle Consulting in?
Whittle Consulting's product category is Mining Consulting Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHACAB, Operations & Process Improvement Consulting, with a secondary code of BPAHAEAF, Data, Analytics & AI Consulting. Its NAICS code is 54161 and its SIC code is 8742.