Equality Summit 2023

Shazia Ali, Founder, Mint Research

Amina Arraleh, People Operations Director, Zappi
Amina Arraleh is the People Operations Director at Zappi, overseeing global People Ops and responsible for shaping Zappi's people practices. Her unwavering commitment lies in promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging within the organisation. Amina believes that by embracing the unique perspectives and talents of every individual, a company can unlock its true potential.  With her empathetic and collaborative approach, Amina fosters an inclusive work environment where everyone's voice is heard and valued. Her experience in people operations across diverse industries, Amina brings a comprehensive understanding of organisational dynamics to her role. She is dedicated to creating a diverse and inclusive workforce.

Dr. Nick Baker, Global Chief Research Officer, Savanta
Nick is a committed and successful marketing services leader with a track record of building commercially successful businesses. He is Global Chief Research Officer at Savanta with non-executive experience with Severn Trent Water and Board member then Chair of the Market Research Society. He believes research is one of the most powerful tools to guide better decision-making, progress and ultimately commercial – in all its forms – success. He has also made a significant contribution to the sector’s sustainability initiative as a founder member of the Insight Climate Collective and holds a PhD in Anti-Authoritarian Green Politics.

Michael Brown, Managing Partner, UM
Michael started his career as a marketing graduate at American Express.  After receiving his vocation to work in market research, he worked at 2 of the sector’s most innovative businesses, Research Now and MESH Experience. For the last 9 years, he has been working in media research for global media agency, UM.
Michael has extensive consumer research experience and has led studies for many brands including Fitbit, Johnson & Johnson, ITV, Spotify and The Economist. He prides himself on delivering a deep level of human insight, always with a focus on actionable recommendations.
Michael has recently taken on the leadership of UM’s Data Solutions division, harnessing the agency’s best-in-class audience data stack, and client data, to deliver effective campaigns.
Michael has a particular passion for using traditional research methods to give a platform to marginalised voices in society and for understanding the role and responsibility of ads in creating and tackling stereotypes. He was named in the IPA’s inaugural iList of industry equality advocates.
Michael sits on the IPA’s Talent Leadership Group and is founder and chair of #MRSpride, the market research sector’s LGBTQ+ network. He was made a Fellow of the Market Research Society in 2023 in recognition of his contribution to the market research sector.

Rebecca Cole, Chair of MRS Representation in Research steering group

Megan Cross, Global head of Inclusion and Diversity, Kantar
Megan Cross is the Global Head of Inclusion & Diversity at Kantar. She is passionate about creating cultures where everyone can access opportunities and anyone can thrive. Megan has re-launched Kantar's six Employee Resource Groups, ensuring that Kantar provides a supportive community and a platform for underrepresented voices. She introduced Kantar's first I&D policy, an inclusive mentoring programme and changed Kantar's logo to rainbow colours for Pride Month. She is also a visible LGBTQ+ role model at Kantar. Megan’s career began as a secondary school teacher with Teach First, and she is now a governor for a school in South East London and a Teach First Ambassador.

Sam Curtis, CEO Lifestream
Sam is Head of Digital Analytics at Kantar UK, and has previously held senior roles at Lifestream and Streetbees. He is an advocate for developing young talent in the industry, having established talent programmes and apprenticeship schemes at a number of companies. He is also a member of the MRS EDI Council.

Babita Earle, Chair of MRS ED&I Council

Jane Frost, CEO, MRS

Shazia Ginai, Chief Growth Officer, The Catalyx

Sania Haq, Founder, Bye to Stereotypes
Sania has been in research for 12+ years and, as well as delivering (mixed-method) research to major corporate clients such as Google and Spotify, she has specialist expertise in running projects for government and intergovernmental bodies. 
She is passionate about using research for the enhancement of public good. One of her main areas of specialism relates to minority, and lesser heard groups, and optimising methodologies to ensure that research more accurately represents their experiences/views. 
Sania writes and speaks extensively on intercultural matters, in relation to research and more widely. She is part of the Market Research Society’s Representation in Research Steering Group, and is the trainer for MRS courses on Inclusive Research.
Recently, Sania embarked on a new chapter by launching Bye 2 Stereotypes—a brand that blends her passion for research, training, strategic and advisory work. As part of this journey, she has deepened her involvement with BollyCo, a prominent, London-based, South Asian dance company that she actively helps run. Together, they strive to harness the power of music and dance to foster cultural understanding and appreciation. BollyCo's client portfolio includes notable names such as Marvel, BBC, Deliveroo, Meta, and NBC Universal.

Christine Hemphill, Founder and Managing Director, Open Inclusion
Christine is a disability and age-inclusive inclusive researcher, designer, and innovator.  She founded and leads Open Inclusion, based in the UK and operating globally. Open is a global leader in market, social, design and innovation research that includes disabled and older participants. We help our clients better understand the impacts of functional human diversity to inform better decisions and empower better solutions. We work with governments, large commercial organisations, academia, NGOs, accelerators and entrepreneurial start-ups to help them understand their target markets / audiences more broadly and completely to identify, design and deliver more valuable outcomes. Christine is the current Co-Chair of MRS Unlimited, on the Strategy Committee for XRAccess, a member of the Global Accessibility and Inclusion Leaders (GAILs) group, a judge for a number of inclusive innovation award programmes and an ambassador for Co-Innovate at Brunel University. 

Kenny Imafidon, Co-founder ClearView Research and Author of That Peckham Boy
Kenny Imafidon is an entrepreneur, author, and social commentator. He is the co-founder & Managing Director of ClearView Research, an agency that specialises in research, strategy, and engagement projects focused on diverse and underrepresented communities. Kenny has worked on projects across the world, with global businesses such as Vodafone, Uber, Starbucks, and Twitter and with international charities, and large philanthropic foundations, such as Wellcome Trust, Macmillan, One Young World and UNICEF UK. 
Kenny is a trustee of several charities, including BBC Children in Need. And, alongside Lord Michael Hastings CBE, he is also the co-founder of My Brother's Keeper, a voluntary group that supports men (mainly serving long-term sentences) in 6 prisons across the UK. In 2022 he was featured in Forbes' annual 30 under 30 list for Social Impact.

Steven Lacey, Founder and Managing Director, The Outsiders
Steven Lacey is a foresight specialist, cultural insight specialist, commercial anthropologist and a strategist who has extensive experience in advising Governments, opposition parties, Global brands, international advertising agencies and activists.
He has built a well-deserved reputation as a leading light in behavioural change research, with a particular understanding cultural changes both in the UK and Globally.
When Steven founded The Outsiders his goal was to establish an insight agency that was radical, straight-talking and challenging.
In many ways Steven is the archetypical Outsider being working class, physically disabled and neuro-diverse.
He brings to his work a depth of knowledge and expertise, as well as a personal passion, that has developed during years of work with an extensive range of diverse clients.
As a former planning director with Baby Creative, Steven was in charge of advertising accounts for Action Aid, Action for Children, Greenpeace, Motor Neuron Disease Association, VSO, RSPB, and Freedom From Torture.
Prior to this, Steven was a senior planner at Farm Communications, where he headed up accounts for the Department of Education, Department of Health (smoking cessation campaigns), Food Standards Agency and the Electoral Commission.
He has a number of thought pieces on such topics as “Global attitudes towards masculinity”, “The rise of Populism”, “Why the White working class voted for Brexit”, “Disability in the UK”, “How to conduct hard to reach research”, “The future of youth”, “How to communicate diversity” “Britishness”, “Mass Mainstreams attitudes to Covid” and “Russian Cultural codes”
Steven has worked on some of the country's best-loved adverts, including McDonald's Raise the Arches, Sport's England 'This Girl Can and Bodyform's Womb Stories.
Steven regularly appears in the media and is often consulted about culture by leading brands and advertising agencies. He has been a guest speaker for P&G, Talktalk, Asda, Gambleaware as well as at ad agencies such as Adam & Eve, BBH, Mother and St Lukes and is renowned for making the policy, communications and advertising industry think.
In 2017 he set up the Cultural Insights Forum to share insights in order to make the world a better place.

Amazin LeThi, Global LQBTQ Advocate, Health and Fitness influencer
Amazin LeThi is more than just a name; she embodies resilience, courage, and an unwavering commitment to driving change. With a dynamic portfolio spanning LGBTQ advocacy, keynote speaking, competitive sports, authorship, and cultural leadership, she has firmly established herself as one of the most influential figures in the global LGBTQ community.
LeThi's achievements are not only remarkable but also unparalleled. As the sole Asian LGBTQ athlete holding an impressive seven ambassador roles, including prestigious organizations such as Athlete Ally, Princes Trust, Stonewall, Gay Games, Asian Sports Foundation, Sporting Heritage, and MQ Mental Research, she is breaking barriers and setting new standards in the sports industry.
In 2022, LeThi reached yet another significant milestone by becoming the first Asian LGBTQ ambassador for MQ Mental Health Research, Sporting Heritage, and the esteemed 'Princes Trust' organization led by King Charles of the British Royal family. In 2023, she added to her exceptional achievements by becoming the inaugural Asian LGBTQ ambassador for the Asian Sports Foundation.
As a cultural change leader, LeThi takes immense pride in sharing her personal journey, from overcoming homelessness to emerging as one of the most visible and influential LGBTQ advocates worldwide. Her storytelling strikes a chord with audiences, inspiring hope and empowering others to embrace their own paths of self-discovery and empowerment. Her efforts have garnered recognition from over 25 international organisations, including the National Centre for Civil and Human Rights/LGBTQ Institute, Human Rights Campaign, and an honorary citizenship from the State of Georgia. Forbes magazine hailed her as "One of six Asian women to know" during Asian Pacific Islander Heritage month.
LeThi's influence transcends personal narratives, extending to global advocacy for LGBTQ rights, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), and social justice. Governments, sports organisations, and Fortune 500 companies seek her guidance on critical issues such as race, LGBTQ rights, gender equality, and sports justice. Her invaluable contributions as the LGBTQ and Asian Digital Communication Advisor for the successful 2020 Team Biden 'Out For Biden' campaign attest to her ability to drive positive change on a grand scale.
In 2023, LeThi shared her compelling story in 'V', the debut book by Florence Schechter, executive director of the world's first 'Vagina Museum', published by Penguin Books. This further amplifies her impact, cementing her legacy as a catalyst for transformation.
www.amazinlethi.com

Mark Thorpe, Board Director, Truth
Mark has worked in strategic insight for over twenty-five years and is an expert in human behaviour and psychology. He has worked with many organisations, from small to leading global businesses, advising them on a range of issues.
Mark is an elected Fellow of the Market Research Society and is on the editorial board of the International Journal of Market Research.   He is also a member of the Delphi Group – the MRS think-tank advising government and business on a range of matters.

Danielle Todd, Director, The Forge
Danielle is a Director at insight-driven strategy consultancy The Forge. Danielle is passionate about elevating our industry; being the Women in Research (WIRe) London lead, previous WIRe Advisory Board member, MRS Diversity, Inclusion and Equality MRS Council member and is often seen presenting, Chairing or judging at IIEX, ESOMAR or MRS conferences. Danielle also enjoys exploring wine, dystopian fiction and CrossFit, but usually not at the same time.

Georgie White, Director of Insight, Holland & Barrett
Georgie White is Director of Insight & Customer Experience at Holland & Barrett, Chair of the MRS Senior Client Council and a member of the MRS Diversity, Equality & Inclusion Council.  With a focus on empowering teams to be brilliant business partners to drive action, Georgie is an experienced insight leader having established fantastic teams at brands such as BT/EE, British Gas, Hive, Capital One & Merrill Lynch in roles covering Insight, Data and Commercial within both B2C and B2B environments in the UK and Globally.  Georgie is a passionate advocate for D&I, including championing more women into careers in data/insight, supporting neurodiversity and diversibility, and driving for better representation and inclusion within the Insight industry and the workplace more widely.  Georgie is proud of her superpowers from being Neurodiverse, something it took her close to 40 years to reconcile – what a wasted time and effort it was before she realised what a superpower it is!