AEC
AEC Group is an Australian economic, financial and strategic advisory firm founded in 1999, serving government, corporate and community clients with economic impact modelling, feasibility studies, policy advisory and design services, anchored by its proprietary DataAU data platform.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1999
- HeadquartersSpring Hill, Australia
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What AEC does
AEC Group Pty Ltd is an Australian private economic, financial and strategic advisory firm founded in 1999 (claiming 30+ years of operating history) with headquarters in Townsville, Queensland, and a regional office in Brisbane. The firm delivers consulting services across seven disciplines — Regional Development & Investment, Strategy/Advocacy & Vision, Tourism Economy & Strategy, Community Research & Insight, Property Advisory, Strategic Finance, and Design & Visual Communication — to federal, state and local government agencies, corporate clients and community organisations across Australia.
The firm's core technology asset is DataAU, a national data visualisation platform launched in 2021 that aggregates over 400 socio-economic and demographic datasets together with Input-Output (IO) economic modelling tools and graphical reporting outputs. AEC applies this data foundation alongside qualitative market research and stakeholder engagement methodologies to produce economic impact assessments, business cases, feasibility studies, financial sustainability reviews and policy advisory work. Notable quantitative outputs from the firm's engagements include facilitating over $40 billion in infrastructure funding across 15,000+ projects and securing $15 million in COVID-19 recovery funding for Tourism Tropical North Queensland.
AEC operates a professional services, project-based revenue model, securing work primarily through competitive tenders, direct engagement with government bodies and repeat-client relationships. Pricing is quote-based and negotiated per engagement based on scope and complexity, with billing typically structured around multi-year contracts for ongoing clients such as Townsville City Council. Distribution is direct and consultative, supported by thought-leadership content on the firm's website and LinkedIn presence.
AEC firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- AEC
- Legal name
- AEC Group Pty Ltd
- Website
- https://aecgroupltd.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1999
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- AEC Group is an Australian economic, financial and strategic advisory firm founded in 1999, serving government, corporate and community clients with economic impact modelling, feasibility studies, policy advisory and design services, anchored by its proprietary DataAU data platform.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
AEC industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Economic & Strategic Advisory Consulting
- NAICS
- Management Consulting Services (54161), Marketing Research and Public Opinion Polling (541910), Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416)
- SIC
- Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Corporate Strategy Advisory (BPAHADAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Real Estate Development & Feasibility Advisory (Highest-and-Best-Use, Entitlements Support) (BPAJANAC)
Keywords
Where AEC is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Spring Hill
- HQ country
- Australia
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices2 records
Markets served
AEC business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Strategic Advisory Services: Revenue generated through consulting engagements with government, industry, and community stakeholders for economic, financial, and strategic advisory services. Projects include economic development strategies, feasibility studies, business cases, market assessments, and policy advisory work.
- Research and Analysis Services: Market research, data analysis, and interpretation services including quantitative surveys, qualitative focus groups, and socio-economic research for government and commercial clients.
- Visual Communication Services: Design and visual communication services including annual reports, branding, and multimedia content production.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Project-based consulting services for government and corporate clients |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
AEC product offering
Product offeringCore offering
AEC Group is a national Australian consulting firm providing economic, financial, strategic, market research, property, and visual communication advisory services to government, corporate, and community clients. The firm operates a platform-plus-services model combining its proprietary DataAU data visualisation platform (400+ socio-economic and demographic datasets, modelling tools, and graphically designed reports) with seven consulting disciplines: Regional Development & Investment, Strategy/Advocacy & Vision, Tourism Economy & Strategy, Community Research & Insight, Property Advisory, Strategic Finance, and Design & Visual Communication. Engagements are delivered by tailored expert teams and typically include economic development strategies, feasibility studies, business cases, impact assessments, financial sustainability reviews, market assessments, and policy advisory work.
Product overview
AEC Group is a national Australian consulting firm offering economics, finance, market research, and strategic advisory services. The company's primary product is DataAU, a national data visualisation platform featuring over 400 socio-economic and demographic datasets, exclusive indicators, and modelling tools. AEC operates as a platform-plus-services model, combining the DataAU data platform with seven core consulting disciplines: Regional Development & Investment, Strategy/Advocacy & Vision, Tourism Economy & Strategy, Community Research & Insight, Property Advisory, Strategic Finance, and Design & Visual Communication. Together, these services deliver evidence-based solutions for government, industry, and community stakeholders across Australia.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- DataAU: A national data visualisation platform developed by AEC Group providing over 400 socio-economic and demographic datasets, exclusive indicators, modelling tools and graphically designed reports for strategic community, economic development, and social infrastructure planning.
Products and services
- DataAU A national data visualisation platform featuring over 400 socio-economic and demographic datasets, exclusive indicators, modelling tools, and graphically designed reports. Provides data interpretation and insight for strategic community, economic development, and social infrastructure planning, serving government, industry, and community stakeholders across Australia.
- Regional Development & Investment Strategic advisory services for regional development and investment initiatives, supporting clients with regional economic strategy, investment attraction plans, and area-specific development assessments.
- Strategy, Advocacy & Vision Strategic planning and advocacy services helping organisations develop and communicate their vision through evidence-based frameworks and stakeholder engagement.
- Tourism Economy & Strategy Advisory services focused on tourism sector growth, strategy development, and economic impact analysis for tourism bodies, regional councils, and cruise industry clients across Australia.
- Community Research & Insight Market and social research services providing community insights and data-driven analysis including quantitative surveys, qualitative focus groups, and socio-economic research for government and commercial clients.
- Property Advisory Property market analysis, feasibility studies, and development advisory services for residential, commercial, retail, tourism, marine, and industrial development precincts.
- Strategic Finance Financial modelling, sustainability reviews, and strategic financial advisory services including service budget pressure analysis, benchmarking, cash flow forecasting, and capital investment planning for sustainable asset management.
- Design & Visual Communication Visual communication, graphic design, and creative services for reports, branding, annual reports, and multimedia content production supporting AEC's advisory engagements and external clients.
Quantifiable outcome
- $15 million in funding secured for TTNQ regional tourism recovery
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use AEC
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
AEC technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
AEC partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- The B HivecorePartnership with The B Hive to develop Western Australia's ten-year cruise tourism strategy. Project involved analyzing global and local trends, engaging cruise lines, ports, local governments, and tourism organizations, creating SWOT analysis, defining strategic goals, and developing implementation plans for short to long-term cruise tourism growth.
- SMECcoreSMEC led the preliminary Business Case for Hells Gates Dam project with AEC supporting as part of the project team to deliver economic, market, and financial feasibility analyses, including cropping scenarios and economic impact assessments for the proposed irrigation and water development.
- Plan CcoreCollaboration with Plan C to produce the Queensland Music Trails Business Case for Queensland Music Festival. AEC provided trail corridor identification, socio-economic analysis, market assessment, economic impact analysis, and financial viability analysis supporting successful $6.8 million grant application.
- MBD IndustriesminorEngaged by MBD Industries to develop economic impact assessment of Pacific Reef Fisheries prawn aquaculture expansion project. Provided Input-Output modelling for regional economic impact during construction and operational phases.
- Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA)coreAppointed by CLIA to prepare and present independent expert economic evidence in support of resource consent application for Auckland cruise ship terminal infrastructure. AEC's 15 years of cruise industry experience supported their expertise position for this engagement.
- The Airport GroupminorEngaged by WA Department of Regional Development alongside The Airport Group to develop whole-of-state investment framework for regional airports, identifying options for state and private sector investment in airport infrastructure development.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
AEC competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- GHD: GHD is a global engineering, architecture, and advisory firm with strong Australian government and infrastructure practice. Overlaps with AEC on economic impact analysis for infrastructure (water, transport, energy) and regional development projects, though GHD's core is engineering-led.
- Aurecon: Aurecon is an international engineering, infrastructure, and advisory firm with significant Australian government work. Comparable to AEC in delivering economic and strategic advisory as part of major infrastructure projects, with overlap on partners like SMEC in project teams.
- Deloitte Australia: Deloitte Australia's Government & Public Services practice includes economic advisory, regional development, and infrastructure consulting. Comparable in service categories (strategy, economics, infrastructure) but operates at much larger scale with broader service breadth than AEC.
- Remit Consulting (now part of FTI Consulting): Remit Consulting (now part of FTI Consulting) provides economic advisory and economic impact analysis services, with comparable offerings to AEC in tourism, regional development, and economic strategy. Broader portfolio than AEC and significantly larger scale.
- KPMG Australia: KPMG Australia is a Big 4 professional services firm with substantial economics, infrastructure advisory, and government consulting practices. Overlaps with AEC in economic impact analysis, infrastructure business cases, and government tendering, though KPMG offers a broader portfolio.
Direct peers
- ACIL Allen: ACIL Allen is an Australian economic and policy consultancy providing economic modeling, impact analysis, and strategic advisory to government and corporate clients. Highly comparable to AEC's economics and strategy practice, serving overlapping government and infrastructure clients across Australia.
- Urbis: Urbis is an Australian advisory firm providing economics, property, social research, and planning services to government and corporate clients. Comparable to AEC's integrated economics + property + research + strategy offering and similar government client concentration.
- Macroplan: Macroplan is an Australian economics, demographic forecasting, and property advisory firm specializing in regional and urban planning for government clients. Closely comparable to AEC in target market (local/state government), service offering (economic and demographic analysis), and project types (regional development, feasibility studies).
- SGS Economics & Planning: SGS Economics & Planning is an Australian economic and planning consultancy delivering economic impact analysis, feasibility studies, and strategic advisory to government and private sector clients. Directly comparable to AEC in service mix, customer base, and Australian geographic focus.
- BIS Oxford Economics: BIS Oxford Economics provides economic forecasting, industry analysis, and economic impact modeling with strong Australian and Asia-Pacific government and corporate client base. Comparable to AEC's economic modeling capabilities and tender-driven GTM targeting government and infrastructure clients.
Market position
Strengths1 record
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
AEC social profiles
Digital presenceAEC financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
AEC leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
AEC subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
AEC funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
AEC 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 AEC
What does AEC do?
AEC Group is a national Australian consulting firm providing economic, financial, strategic, market research, property, and visual communication advisory services to government, corporate, and community clients. The firm operates a platform-plus-services model combining its proprietary DataAU data visualisation platform (400+ socio-economic and demographic datasets, modelling tools, and graphically designed reports) with seven consulting disciplines: Regional Development & Investment, Strategy/Advocacy & Vision, Tourism Economy & Strategy, Community Research & Insight, Property Advisory, Strategic Finance, and Design & Visual Communication. Engagements are delivered by tailored expert teams and typically include economic development strategies, feasibility studies, business cases, impact assessments, financial sustainability reviews, market assessments, and policy advisory work.
Is AEC a public or private company?
AEC is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was AEC founded?
AEC was founded in 1999. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is AEC based?
AEC is headquartered in Spring Hill, Australia, in the Oceania region.
How does AEC make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Strategic Advisory Services are the primary driver. The others are research and Analysis Services and visual Communication Services.
Who are AEC's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are GHD, Aurecon, Deloitte Australia, Remit Consulting (now part of FTI Consulting) and KPMG Australia. Direct peers are ACIL Allen, Urbis, Macroplan, SGS Economics & Planning and BIS Oxford Economics.
Does AEC have an API?
No public API is recorded for AEC.
What industry is AEC in?
AEC's product category is Economic & Strategic Advisory Consulting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHADAA, Corporate Strategy Advisory, with a secondary code of BPAJANAC, Real Estate Development & Feasibility Advisory (Highest-and-Best-Use, Entitlements Support). Its NAICS code is 54161 and its SIC code is 8742.