Insights Professional of the Year Award

Eligibility

The Insights Professional of the Year Award is open to researchers who:

• Work in an insights role, as a client-side researcher or buyer of research/research services (not a supplier of research services);
• Have worked in Insights for a minimum of two (2) years;
• Are a current financial member of The Research Society.

Application must include a referee recommendation statement from their organisation.

Submission must relate to their role/activities in the past 2 years only.

N.B. This Award is not open to researchers working in agencies.

Criteria

Winning the Insights Professional of the Year Award is about successfully demonstrating that you deliver effective research and insight to your organisation, are a trusted strategic partner, effectively engage stakeholders, incorporate innovation and fresh thinking, and make a contribution to the research and insights profession.

Your application should demonstrate how well you meet the following criteria. The judges will be looking for evidence of practices over the last two (2) years.

Criteria 1: Delivers effective research and insight to the organisation

(600 words maximum)

The judges are looking for evidence that you facilitate the delivery of high quality, fit for purpose research and insights for your organisation; and that you are effective in communicating, championing and embedding it into organisational decision making.

Criteria 2: Is a trusted strategic partner in the organisation

(400 words maximum)

Criteria 3: Quality of stakeholder engagement (internal and external) at all levels

(400 words maximum)

Criteria 4: Brings innovation/fresh thinking in research and insights

(400 words maximum)

Criteria 5: Contribution to the profession/industry

(400 words maximum)

The judges will be looking for evidence of your contribution to the profession/industry.

This could include your contribution to the Research Society and/or related professional bodies, internal training and skill building provision, mentoring, promotion of the profession, and similar activities.

Referee Recommendation Statement

Please attach (as a PDF) a recommendation from a referee (e.g. manager, supervisor or organisation leader) who can speak to your performance with respect to the criteria.

The letter must include their full contact details and confirmation of consent to be contacted. Referees do not need to be members of The Research Society.

Rules of Entry

• All entries must be submitted by 5pm AEST Thursday 11 September 2025. Late entries will not be accepted.
• Entrants must work in an insights role, as a client-side researcher or buyer of research/research services (not a supplier of research services);
• All entrants must be current financial members of The Research Society as at the closing date for entries.
• Entries must be submitted through the Research Awards Portal.
• Receipt of an entry is acknowledged by email confirmation. If you do not receive this email after submission, please email awards@researchsociety.com.au
• Each submission must include the following:
  a) a completed entry on the Research Awards Portal;
  b) a headshot; and
  c) an organisation logo.
• The judges’ decisions are final and no correspondence will be entered into.
• All submission materials will remain confidential to The Research Society and the judging panel.
• Entrants will be judged on the merits of the submission alone; no additional material will be considered.
• All entry materials will remain confidential to The Research Society and the judging panel.
• Entry into the Research Awards assumes that you are giving permission for The Research Society and our media partners to use your submission materials on our website and in promotional materials.
• Case studies may be published based on the materials provided; permission to publish will be sought from the entrants.

Entry Fees

There is no entry fee for this award.

Prize

The winners will receive the Insights Professional of the Year Award trophy. The Award winners will be announced and presented at the Research Society Awards Night.