Umanity Group

What Umanity Group does

Umanity Group is a privately held multidisciplinary heritage consultancy headquartered in East Perth, Western Australia, founded in 2008 (formerly JCHMC) and rebranded in 2024. The firm integrates four service lines — Archaeological Services (land, underwater/maritime and historical archaeology), Anthropological/Sociological/Native Title Services, Environmental Services, and Umanity Legal — under a single integrated engagement model, plus an Interpretation and Education arm built on VR/AR and digital storytelling. Field work is supported by 3D modelling, GIS, OSL dating, Ground Penetrating Radar and drone videography (including underwater platforms), enabling identification, recording and analysis of cultural heritage material to specialist standards.

Clients are concentrated in Western Australia and span local, state and federal government departments, Aboriginal corporations and Prescribed Body Corporates (PBCs), mining and exploration companies (including Top 200 ASX-listed issuers), and academic research institutions. Use cases centre on heritage impact assessments, native title and ILUA negotiation, environmental compliance and mine rehabilitation, with new revenue emerging from legal advisory and immersive interpretation. The firm has contributed to projects collectively valued at over $300 billion since inception, including over $55 billion in the most recent disclosed period, with 2,000+ archaeological and ethnographic surveys and hundreds of underwater missions completed.

The business is structured as a project-based professional services consultancy with sales-led, consultative go-to-market. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is negotiated per engagement. The firm operates from three locations in Western Australia — the East Perth head office, a Metro Depot in North Perth and a Regional Depot in Boulder/Kalgoorlie — supported by 13 disclosed employees and led by CEO John Cecchi. The company is privately held with no disclosed funding rounds, ownership structure, or external investors.

Name

Umanity Group

Legal name

Umanity Group

Website

https://umanitygroup.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Umanity Group is a Perth-based multidisciplinary heritage consultancy integrating archaeology, anthropology, environmental science and native title law to deliver heritage impact assessments, surveys and legal advisory for WA government, First Nations bodies and mining clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cultural Heritage Consultancy

NAICS

Historical Sites (71212), Environmental Consulting Services (54162), Museums (712110)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Historic Preservation & Conservation Planning (BPAHAKAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Historic Preservation & Landmarks Conservation (BPAGAHAE), Libraries, Archives & Special Collections (BPAGAHAF), Cultural Heritage & Indigenous-Led Visitor Services (Tribal Tours, Heritage Sites, Co-management) (THAAAGAL), Indigenous & Community Cultural Institutions (THAJADAK)

Keywords

• Cultural heritage consultancy
• Archaeological survey services
• Environmental impact assessment
• Native title legal services
• Heritage interpretation education

Headquarters

HQ city

Perth

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Heritage Consultancy Services: Professional consultancy fees generated from archaeological surveys, environmental assessments, anthropological studies, and legal advisory services. Revenue is project-based, typically involving contracted engagements with government and corporate clients for heritage preservation, impact assessments, and compliance work.
2. Legal Services: Specialised legal services in cultural heritage, environmental, and native title law, including regulatory compliance, negotiation, legal representation, and policy development, provided through Umanity Legal division.
3. Interpretation and Education Services: Digital heritage interpretation services including VR/AR experiences, educational programs, workshops, and community-based interpretation initiatives.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Umanity Group is a multidisciplinary cultural heritage preservation consultancy that delivers integrated archaeological, anthropological, environmental, legal, and heritage interpretation services. The firm conducts field surveys, impact assessments, native title research, regulatory compliance, and immersive VR/AR interpretation for government, mining, and First Nations clients across Australia. Its portfolio combines scientific field expertise with specialised legal counsel to support sustainable development that respects cultural and environmental values.

Product overview

Umanity Group is a multidisciplinary cultural heritage preservation firm offering an integrated portfolio of services: Archaeological Services (land, underwater, and historical archaeology with advanced data analysis), Anthropological/Sociological/Native Title Services (ethnographic surveys and First Nations land claims support), Environmental Services (management plans, impact assessments, rehabilitation), Umanity Legal (specialised legal counsel in heritage and native title law), and Interpretation and Education Services (immersive VR/AR experiences and digital storytelling). These services work synergistically—the firm combines archaeological, anthropological, environmental, and legal expertise to provide comprehensive heritage preservation and sustainable development solutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Umanity Legal: Legal division of Umanity Group specialising in cultural heritage, environmental, and native title law, integrating expertise of archaeologists, anthropologists, and environmental scientists

Products and services

• Archaeological Services Comprehensive archaeological services including land-based survey and excavation, underwater archaeological research, historical archaeology, and data analysis using 3D modelling, GIS, OSL dating, Ground Penetrating Radar, and drone videography. Served to government departments, mining companies, and developers requiring heritage site identification, recording, and protection.
• Anthropological, Sociological and Native Title Services Expert services in ethnography, anthropology, sociology, forensic anthropology, and native title research supporting First Nations land claims, Indigenous Land Use Agreements (ILUAs), and development consultation. Served to Aboriginal corporations, Prescribed Body Corporates, and developers needing cultural heritage consultation.
• Environmental Services Environmental management plans, environmental impact assessments, auditing, monitoring, compliance services, and specialist surveys including hydrological, fauna, and vegetation assessments, plus mine and exploration rehabilitation. Served to mining companies, government departments, and developers needing environmental compliance and sustainability.
• Umanity Legal Specialised legal division providing expert counsel in cultural heritage protection, environmental law, native title law, community engagement, regulatory compliance and advisory, negotiation and mediation, heritage site management, ESG consulting, permitting and licensing, and legal representation. Served to Prescribed Body Corporates, mining and exploration companies, government departments, and other developers.
• Interpretation and Education Services Cultural heritage interpretation services using digital storytelling, immersive VR experiences, AR applications, interactive exhibits, 3D reconstructions, community-based interpretation, and educational programs and workshops. Served to government agencies, museums, First Nations communities, and educational institutions seeking to engage audiences with heritage.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $55 billion in project value contributed over recent years alone
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• AECOM: Global infrastructure consultancy with cultural heritage, environmental, and indigenous engagement practices that competes for major heritage impact assessment work as part of a much broader portfolio.
• GHD: Major Australian-headquartered engineering, environmental, and heritage consultancy delivering integrated services to mining, government, and infrastructure clients across the same verticals as Umanity.
• WSP: Global professional services firm with cultural heritage and environmental advisory capabilities serving infrastructure and resource clients that compete for shared heritage-compliance work.
• Tetra Tech: Global consulting and engineering firm (now including RPS) with deep environmental and cultural heritage practices serving mining and government clients in Australia.
• Jacobs: Large global consulting firm with environmental, indigenous engagement, and permitting services overlapping with Umanity's mining and infrastructure client base.
• ERM (Environmental Resources Management): Global sustainability and environmental consultancy that supports mining, infrastructure, and government clients with heritage, permitting, and ESG advisory overlapping with Umanity's scope.

Direct peers

• OzArk Archaeology & Cultural Heritage: Australian cultural heritage consultancy delivering archaeological surveys, Aboriginal heritage assessments, and ethnographic services to government, mining, and infrastructure clients — a closely comparable niche peer in the same geographies.
• RPS Group (Tetra Tech): Global consulting firm with a strong cultural heritage and environmental assessment practice serving mining, infrastructure, and government clients across Australia — overlapping directly with Umanity's integrated heritage-environment service offering.
• Niche Environment and Heritage: Australian heritage and environmental consultancy providing Aboriginal heritage, archaeological, and ecological services to government and developers — a direct Australian niche competitor.
• SLR Consulting: Environmental and advisory consulting firm with heritage and indigenous engagement capabilities competing for the same mining and infrastructure assessments across Australia.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/jchmc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Umanity Group