Conference Comes Out Fighting

Next year's MRS Annual Conference will take as its core message the idea that the UK research industry 'must reconstruct itself if it is to continue to thrive'. Speakers Simon Chadwick, Bill Pegram and David Smith will open the event by urging delegates to re-examine how they run their businesses.

The opening session is entitled 'The Business of Reconstruction'. The three papers, which are billed as 'hard-hitting', will discuss why and how the research industry needs to change. Chadwick, Chairman of CASRO and now a Partner at Cambiar LLC, will examine the real implications of change for the industry and assess who should drive the direction of change. Pegram, Corporate Development Director at Synovate Western Europe, will investigate the challenges and opportunities involved in building an integrated global research group and attempt to redefine the role that market research is looking to fulfil in the business world. Smith, Chairman of Incepta Marketing Intelligence, will assess whether the research industry is really ready for reconstruction and highlight the importance of avoiding complacency to keep moving forward. Marilyn Baxter, Chairman of Hall and Partners Europe, will chair the session.

'Research 2005: Reconstructions' opens with a Drinks Reception in the Barbican Conservatory at 6.30pm on Wednesday 16 March, and runs until Friday afternoon. 'The Business of Reconstruction' session will take place on the first morning, Thursday 17 March.

Other topics due for discussion include an examination of new techniques in advertising research; an analysis of how brands can successfully re-invent themselves; and an investigation into the impact on today's society of some of the UK's most pressing social issues, including teenage pregnancy and obesity.

Next year's conference will include more interactive workshop sessions than previous conferences - these will take a lighthearted look at some new innovations in the research industry, including the use of facial expression analysis (on which participants will be tested...) to better understand respondents.

'Early Bird Discounts' for the Conference are available until 17 December 2004 - details from Elaine Merrins on 020 7566 1878, email conference@mrs.org.uk or via the MRS web site at www.mrs.org.uk

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