Consumer Award for Australian Research Leader

The Australian Social & Market Research Society (AMSRS) has announced that its outgoing National President John Sergeant has been awarded the NSW Consumer Advocate Award for his contributions to the protection of consumer privacy.

Beginning in September 2001 Sergeant developed a series of industry-specific Market & Social Research Privacy Principles, designed to safeguard people's personal information and uphold ethical research processes. These were later ratified by the then Privacy Commissioner, Malcolm Crompton.

The principles were supported by 'road shows' throughout the country briefing researchers on best practice procedures, and the development of a range of interpretative resources, and helped foster a greater understanding amongst government, business and the general community of the nature and benefits of market and social research.

Sergeant, a founding principal of research firms Eureka Strategic Research and Numbers International, has also played an active volunteer role in maintaining and raising research standards via the Society's Code of Professional Behaviour.

According to AMSRS Chief Executive Janice Besch, 'By maintaining and improving the levels of willingness within the Australian population to participate in research, John's work in the privacy area has also benefited both business and government, who rely on quality research to inform the development and delivery of services and programs'.

The NSW (New South Wales) Consumer Protection Awards 2004 were presented at Parliament House in Sydney by the Minister for Fair Trading, the Hon. Reba Meagher, during NSW Consumer Week.

The Australian MR and social research industry employs around 12,300 people and generates income of $AUD 587 million per annum. The AMSRS (formerly the MRSA) is online at www.amsrs.com.au

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.