New Chief Exec for South African MR Association

South Africa's professional research body SAMRA has appointed a new CEO, Leonie Vorster. In addition to serving as MD of Evolutions Research Solutions, she is a former SAMRA chair and council member.

Vorster has run Evolutions since December 1998. Prior to this she worked as a Research Executive at Ask Afrika after around four years in academic positions. In her career to date she has managed more than 370 research and research-based consulting projects.

A lecturer in research since 1992 at four South African higher education institutions, she has also chaired sessions at the psychology society PsySSA Annual Congress and published and reviewed for the South African Journal of Psychology. She has served as South African ESOMAR representative since 2008 and has chaired SAMRA Code of Conduct and Consumer Protection sub-committees.

SAMRA Chair Prof. Adré Schreuder welcomes Vorster's in-depth knowledge and experience, and passion. Vorster herself describes the position as 'a great honour ... not without its challenges' and comments: 'Research has a powerful voice and it is our intention that it is heard, loud and clear. It is at the forefront of accessing information, making sense of it, and ensuring optimal use of information, to benefit not only industry clients but also the public and broader society.'

Vorster's priorities will include promotion of professional research standards; encouraging the public to participate in legitimate research and protecting it against unscrupulous and fake researchers; and ensuring value for SAMRA members and the sustainability of the association.

Web site: www.samra.co.za .