The Nominees – JVS 2023
Martin Filz
Martin is CEO at data and insights business Pureprofile. With more than 20 years’ experience, Martin is one of the most well-respected and influential research industry leaders. He has worked in several senior executive positions, including as EMEA and APAC Managing Director at Research Now (now Dynata) and EMEA/APAC CEO at Kantar-owned, Lightspeed GMI.
A pioneer of online measurement and research, Martin is active in digital and research bodies including the Market Research Society, and the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB). Martin is also currently Secretary of the Australian Data and Insights Association.
Rob McLachlan
In his most recent day job, Rob McLachlan was a Director at TRA Australia, and before that Chairman of Kantar Australia/NZ. Prior to his chairman’s role, Rob was Chief Executive Officer of WPPAuNZ’s Data Investment Management Group, having worked at WPP AUNZ (previously the STW Group) for more than 12 years, in a range of senior finance and operations roles. Prior to joining the group, he was Finance Director at ACNielsen for 19 years, and CFO at AGB McNair.
Rob has been an integral part of AMRO/AMSRO/ADIA since the inception of AMRO in the early nineties. Rob held the role of AMSRO President from 1996 to 2000 and Treasurer from 2002 to 2018. He was also pivotal in making AMSRO professional, helping drive the appointment of Sarah Campbell as a full-time Executive Director to take the Association forward. Additionally, Rob was Chair of the Industrial Relations Committee and was pivotal in getting all of the NUW/UWU Agreements to date across the line
Jim Reed
For more than two decades Jim has helped clients across the Anglosphere to anticipate, influence and navigate change. His work brings together high quality research, creative insights and hard-won experience to formulate campaign strategy, tactical advice and communications. He works with a select group of clients at any one time to ensure quality and service is maintained.
Jim is pollster for The SMH and The Age where he returned the most accurate poll for the 2022 federal election, is a veteran of 20 general elections as a party pollster (with just 2 losses!) and has worked on numerous research-driven campaigns in recent years; as pollster for Yes Equality (same-sex marriage vote) and on various tax, legislation and funding campaigns worldwide.
Before creating Resolve, Jim was Group Director of Research & Strategy at C|T Group (formerly Crosby|Textor) and Senior Research Director at Newgate Communications. As a leader in his field, he regularly contributes to industry journals and conferences on specialist research topics.
Laura Robbie
Laura has worked in the market research industry since 2005, with a career spanning Europe, the US and Asia Pacific. Currently APAC CEO for International Data Analytics and Insights Business, YouGov, Laura has an extensive network in the Australian market and beyond. She is a people focused leader, committed to making Market Research an attractive proposition and career path for top and aspiring talent.
Laura previously spent 5 years at Lightspeed Research (a Kantar business), most recently as the Australian General Manager. Prior to that, she spent 8 years at Research Now (now Dynata) and served for 4 years as APAC Vice President of Operations. With strong experience in sales, operations, digital transformation, and data, she has successfully restructured and led international teams through periods of double-digit growth.
Laura has been actively contributing to the broader research industry for some time, facilitating recruitment, contributing thought leadership, and serving as an active ADIA committee member for more than 5 years and has recently joined the Board of the Australian Polling Council.
Yvonne Wallis
An industry leader, in 1991, she founded her own research company, Wallis Consulting Group, where she continued to consult to large national organisations, specialising in advertising and social research.
Yvonne was the first female President of AMRO (which became AMSRO and later ADIA) in 2003 & 2004 and from 2005-2006, she held the role of AMSRO Vice President and was Secretary of AMSRO until 2008.
During her time as President and years thereafter in office, Yvonne worked tirelessly to help establish several industry initiatives, including a self-regulated operating environment that set up organisations for success today.
After 25 years as Managing Director and Chairman of Wallis Consulting Group, Yvonne retired to follow her passion for Wine and Food. She became the Global Chair of the International Wine & Food Society, the longest-established gastronomic Society in the world. She is now the President of the Asia Pacific Zone of IWFS and the Global Branch Ambassador.
Craig Young
Craig is currently the Managing Director (Interim) of Sandpiper Research & Insights, Asia’s largest independent PR and communications consultancy. Prior to that he was Australian Managing Director of global marketing and communications group Big-Village (formerly Engine and ORC International) steering the company through the sale to Ipsos in 2023.
Starting in the research industry in 1994 as a buyer for the Department of Social Security, he has since worked in research consulting roles at Nielsen, ORIMA and Roy Morgan Research. He was an equity partner at NWC prior to its 2007 acquisition by ORC.
Craig served on the ADIA Board between 2013- 2022, including as Vice-President (2013-2016) and as President (2017-2019), and more recently as an Advisor to the ADIA Board. Craig’s achievements as president include industry-wide access to the IPND, new strategic partnerships with AMI, Giftpay and ESOMAR, the development of new income streams, the introduction of a rebranding and repositioning strategy, and the ADIA Inquiry into Political Polling following the 2019 Federal Election. Craig also sits on the Board of the Redfern Legal Centre and more recently, Super Consumers Australia.
