MRS Unlimited – Inside the Award Winning Currys Campaign: Inclusive Co Creation and Commercial Impact Webinar

Chair

Ibtisam Belola, FRSA, is a Principal Researcher at Nexer Digital with 20 years of experience helping organisations understand the people they design for. Her work in accessibility spans across both the public and private sector with organisations such as AstraZeneca, Bupa, Historic England, Wealth Wizards,the Department for Education, DEFRA and the National Library of Scotland. Sams's work is grounded in a belief that good research starts with listening—deeply and with empathy. She enjoys bringing teams together around human stories and translating complex findings into clear, strategic guidance. Sam is committed to making research and design more representative and equitable, and she hopes her work contributes to a future where accessibility and inclusion are simply the way things are done.

Christine Hemphill is a researcher, designer, and innovator specialising in disability and age-inclusion. She is the founder and Managing Director of Open Inclusion, a UK-based, globally active research agency. Open is a market leader in disability and age-informed market, social, design, and innovation research.

Open Inclusion works with leading commercial brands, government bodies, academic institutions, and third sector organisations supporting them by providing authentically inclusive, practical insights. Open has particular expertise in the intersection of disability and emerging technologies such as AI and XR, customer/user experience, transport, and inclusive brand communications.

Christine is a Fellow at the MRS, a Member of the MRS Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Council and the past Co-Chair of MRS Unlimited (the Market Research Society’s sector group for disability-inclusive research and researchers). She teaches disability-inclusive research as part of a doctoral course on AI for Digital Media Inclusion at the Institute for People-Centred AI, University of Surrey.

Julie Ellison is an award winning researcher, experienced Insight Director and founder of Emerald Insights.

She is a firm believer that market research needs to be more inclusive of neurodiverse and disabled people. Julie has specialist knowledge across a variety of sectors allowing her to engage with a diverse group of participants including seldom heard audiences. Julie is an MRS, ICG & AQR member and an active member of the steering group at MRS Unlimited – a driving force for disability inclusive research.

Emerald Insights specialises in Qualitative & mixed methodology research, leveraging data analytics expertise and the power of AI. We collaborate with partners and work with global brands, commercial organisations, charities, NGO’s and government organisations. Emerald Insights supports innovation, refines brand positioning, conducts comprehensive communication & propositions testing, drives new product development and helps to enhance the usability of products and services for everyone.

Julie is passionate about the need for Disability Inclusion to be reflected in our research practices AND among industry professionals, to achieve a comprehensive understanding of people’s needs, identify opportunities for improvement and to make informed, strategic decisions that have real impact.

Julie is keen to use her experience to advocate for inclusive practices and seeks opportunities to develop and share knowledge in this area, to drive change!