The Human Advantage in a Digital World - How to navigate the tension between convenience and connection
2026-04-16 11:00 - 12:00 (Europe/London)
This webinar has been generously sponsored by Babble Research, Research, Meeting and Training Facility in Solihull Birmingham

In a world which is increasingly digitised, and in an industry in which digital and agentic services abound, it’s hard to remember the power that in-person, real-life, human interactions can bring at every stage of the research journey.
This webinar will act as this reminder.
We welcome representatives from two industry initiatives, ‘Power of Presence’ and ‘The Fieldwork Collaboration Group’ to talk about their work, after which we will open up the discussion for your thoughts.
Specifically, you will leave the webinar with;

A greater understanding of what these industry initiatives are doing – and how we can all benefit
An understanding of the sorts of arguments that you can present to clients who resist the human advantage
An appreciation of the power of industry collaboration (rather than competition)
A sense of hope about the future of the Insight sector.

Power of Presence
As research becomes increasingly digital and AI-supported, the industry is asking an important question: what role does human presence still play in insight? Drawing on findings from the Power of Presence (POP) industry survey, this session explores why connection remains central to understanding people. Rather than positioning technology and human interaction in opposition, POP highlights the importance of balance. In a screen-mediated world, the ability to connect, observe and engage meaningfully may be one of the most valuable and undervalued skills in modern research.
The Fieldwork Collaboration Group
The Field Collaboration Group (FCG) was formed in early 2025 by Richard Bryan, Managing Director at Qa Research and Kathy Tomlin, Managing Director at QRS Market Research. It is a collective of market and social research agencies’ across the UK that offer or use face-to-face research as a key service offering. The aim is to grow the volume of interviewers, particularly in low coverage areas across the country.
Since the Covid-19 Pandemic the volume of face-to-face interviewers and recruiters has declined significantly, with many at the time deciding to retire or find other forms of employment. Some parts of the country have a very low volume if any interviewers at all, which affects our industry’s ability to fully meet client demands for this methodology when required.
The face-to-face research method is critical to accessing parts of the population that are harder to reach via online research methods. It is able to target very specific local geographies and therefore fulfil survey quotas that other methods struggle to achieve.
The main goal of the FCG collective is to boost face-to-face interviewer numbers by 100-200 into the market and social research industry over the next couple of years.
Interest in the group is continually growing with 16 companies actively involved.
In March 2026 the FCG are running a pilot training session with prospective interviewers in Greater Manchester following a recruitment process in the region and working collectively to produce training materials.
Following the pilot agencies across the FCG will share and discuss lessons learnt and agree improvements that could be made to the process. They will then select another region in the UK to deliver a recruitment and training session, focusing on a locality that has low interviewer coverage but continued high demand for this methodology.
During the webinar Richard and Kathy will share more about the FCG and its aspirations and how others can get involved.
Our Speakers:
Cara Allan
Cara is a Director at Plus Four Market Research (and The Qualitative Lab, London SW19) with over 20 years of international qual and quant expertise. She is known for her quick grasp of complex issues and cutting through the noise to achieve clear, human-centred insight. Cara energises projects with creative thinking, combining methodologies to produce tailored approaches across sectors. She brings audience motivations to life and delivers sharp, actionable findings that inspire confident decisions and drive meaningful change. With an awareness of the need for an evidence base, Plus4 have supported the POP campaign delivering a pro bono industry survey.
Richard Bryan
Richard is Managing Director of Qa Research a full service social and market research agency operating in a range of sectors including transport, education, utilities, health and social care, agriculture, environment, and tourism. Qa offers a wide range of online and offline qual and quant research services. A key part of Qa’s offer includes face-to-face surveying, often as part of multi-mode projects or as the only method on a project. Richard worked with Kathy Tomlin as a joint founder of the Field Collaboration Group (FCG) to bring the industry together to help boost the volume of interviewers in low coverage areas of the country. Richard chairs monthly online meetings with the FCG and provides advice on strategy. He also chaired a smaller group of FCG members to focus on developing the process and materials for training new interviewers.
Sam Grey
Sam is Managing Director of i-view London and has worked in market research for over 24 years. Beginning her career in recruitment and fieldwork operations, she has supported both qualitative and quantitative research across a wide range of sectors. Sam now leads one of the UK’s most awarded viewing facilities and is the founder of the Power of Presence (POP) campaign, a collaborative initiative bringing together UK viewing facilities to champion the value of face-to-face research. Her work is grounded in the belief that insight is created through human connection, and that as research evolves, empathy, interpretation and presence remain central to its impact.
Kathy Tomlin
Kathy is Managing Director of QRS Market Research with over 30 years’ experience in the industry. As a fieldwork specialist, Kathy initially started as a telephone interviewer and mystery shopper before her career spanned into all methodologies and areas of the business. Operationally, it has been impossible to ignore the sharp decline in UK based interviewers following the Covid pandemic and its resulting impact on fieldwork coverage, quality, and cost — issues Kathy believes are critical to the long-term sustainability of face-to-face research. As a joint founder of the Field Collaboration Group (FCG), Kathy is responsible for overseeing the group’s operations and co-ordinating its first recruitment pilot in March ‘26. Boosting interviewer numbers and maintaining a quality field force is imperative for safeguarding the long-term survival and future of face-to-face interviewing in an evolving research landscape.

Register for this session here

The ICG's Annual Quiz Night
2026-04-16 18:00 - 21:30 | Anomalous Space, 36 Pentonville Road, London, N19HF, United Kingdom
We’d love you to join us! Come individually (we’ll allocate you a team), or as a team (of 5).*
Special thanks to;

Our Quiz Masters Deanne and Marc Gold, iPoint Research
Our main sponsors, Teneo Translations, Qualzy and The Qualitative Lab.
First drinks sponsor, QuestionPro.

Tickets here

SPECIAL OFFER: *COME AS A TEAM OF 5 (JUST LET US KNOW HERE) AND WE’LL GIVE YOU A FREE BOTTLE OF WINE FOR YOUR TABLE.

BOOK GROUP: Will Storr’s ‘A Story is a Deal’
2026-04-22 12:00 - 12:45
The ICG’s Book Group is designed to give members a flavour of a range of books that other members value and encourage others to read and discuss them.
Each session will be led by an ICG member who’ll talk briefly about the content of the book they’ve chosen, why they chose it, and how they interpret and feel about it.
We’ll then open the session up to others to contribute their own thoughts. You don’t have to have read the book being discussed to attend the session, but we encourage as many of you as possible to do so.

This session will be led by Judith Rose (Explners) and will be about ‘A Story is a Deal: How to use the science of story to motivate and persuade’ by Will Storr.

Register here

AI for Depth, Not Just Speed: A Platform Built by Researchers, for Researchers
2026-05-01 13:00 - 13:30
Join us for this Pitch Perfect* with Alok Jain, founder of DoReveal, and also now an ICG member.
About DoReveal

Built by researchers, for researchers, DoReveal is an AI-assisted qualitative research platform designed with a craft-first mindset. It supports researchers in developing accurate, nuanced, and in-depth insights, rather than simply accelerating output. The platform reflects real research workflows, helping teams move from raw data to clear, well-structured, and evidence-based findings.
DoReveal is used by over 100 researchers, including independent practitioners, boutique agencies, and organisations such as Snap, Amazon, and Kantar. As one customer put it:
“It makes us more thorough. It makes us better and more competent.”
What You’ll Learn
This session will provide a practical walkthrough of the DoReveal platform, illustrating how qualitative researchers can move from raw interview data through structured analysis to report-ready outputs.

From interviews to insight
How to go from interview recordings to synthesized findings and report-ready outputs.
AI that supports depth, not shortcuts
Using AI to enhance critical thinking, not bypass it—keeping the researcher in control of interpretation.
Working with research frameworks
Applying structured analysis approaches to achieve rigor, clarity, and depth in qualitative work.
Researcher-first workflows
How DoReveal aligns with how qualitative research is actually conducted, rather than forcing rigid processes.
Transparent, project-based pricing
A practical look at affordability for small teams, with simple and predictable pricing.

Alok Jain

Alok Jain is a research professional with over 30 years’ experience and the Founder and CEO of DoReveal, an AI-powered synthesis platform designed specifically for qualitative researchers.
Prior to founding DoReveal, he led research, strategy, and design initiatives at organisations including the World Bank, BNP Paribas, Carfax, Capital One, and Centene Corporation.
Alok Jain | LinkedIn
Alok Jain, Author at The ICG
DoReveal – Transforming Research with AI-Powered Insights

Register for this session here
* Pitch Perfect is the new name for our Lunch&Learn programme

AI in 2026 – What's The Wider Insight Industry Saying About It?
2026-05-05 16:30 - 17:15
This Knowledge Share is presented by ICG member Diana Hilty-Vance and is generously sponsored by Liveminds

In this Knowledge Share, Diana Hilty Vance will feedback on what she heard at the Qual360 Berlin Conference this year, which focused primarily on AI and Qual.

Specifically, she’ll talk about;

Who is doing what with AI in qualitative research?
What is AI Slop and why is it problematic?
What people really think of the tools and services available.

REGISTER HERE
KNOWLEDGE SHARES ARE FOR ICG MEMBERS ONLY

Collecting Qual in a Quant Environment
2026-05-13 13:00 - 13:30
Do you struggle to capture deep, qualitative insights within surveys that are primarily limited to quantitative, closed-ended questions?

Join Senior Account Manger Oku Egho and discover how to collect real-time video feedback in your research through QuestionPro’s VideoAI solution.
AI-driven emotion and sentiment analysis provides you with the flexibility to generate comprehensive reports and create snapshot views for instant insights.
Specifically, this session will show you how to gain;
● Authentic insights: capture ‘the why’ through tone, facial expressions, and natural language
● Unified workflow: add qualitative depth without switching tools or platforms
● Compelling Storytelling: share human stories and video clips that resonate with stakeholders more than charts alone
Register here

Getting Representation Right In Qual and Quant
2026-05-14 11:00 - 12:00
Join us for this panel discussion about the impact that getting a properly representative sample can mean for the effectiveness of your research, and how to go about persuading clients of the importance of this.
We welcome Daniel Singham (Yonder Data Solutions) and Kate Dale (This Girl Can) to share their experiences.
We will then open up for a discussion about the challenges we face in this and where to go/what you can use to help navigate this.
This will be a discussion rooted in real case studies and shared experiences.
Daniel Singham

Daniel Singham is Commercial Director at Yonder Data Solutions and a member of the MRS Main Board, with more than 20 years’ experience across commercial and operational roles in market research. He also chairs the MRS Representation in Research Committee, where he champions inclusion, representation and better reflection of diverse audiences across the industry.
Kate Dale

After starting life as a journalist, Kate evolved into a campaign and digital specialist. She’s currently leading This Girl Can – Sport England’s award-winning, disruptive campaign to get more women more active. She’s a strategic communicator with extensive experience in producing integrated behaviour change and marketing campaigns. Kate is also a confident and inspiring public speaker, experienced writer and analytical campaign and content strategist. Outside work, she’s a stand-up comedian and co-owner of The Queer Comedy Club and Milli Productions.

Register for this session here

Not another Gen Z brief: Exploring the Older Adult Opportunity in Asia
2026-05-19 09:00 - 10:00
Developed Asian markets share a defining reality: rapidly ageing societies. Yet most brands persist in chasing youth, overlooking those with longer lives, deeper pockets, and rising cultural influence.
To shed light on this huge opportunity, join fellow ICG members Drago Djourov and Scott Percival to hear key insights from their proprietary research — “The New Contract”.
Their qual-quant study focused on the experiences of 50+ adults in Singapore and Japan through the lens of retirement. They’re also building on the learnings via a series of expert interviews from across Asia on their podcast – Potluck.
This session will unpack the key dimensions that define the older adult experience in Asia — and reveal how brands can authentically engage this audience. With implications for any ageing market – and a challenge to help your clients see what they’ve been missing.

Scott Percival

Scott is the founder of Lore Consulting, based in Singapore. Lore focuses on learning what brands must know about people, cultures and categories to help drive decisions, inspire ideas and be part of the story. We work with selected local partners and associate researchers across Asia to deliver qualitative projects – with specialisms in brand, communications and UX research.

Drago Djourov
Drago left post-Communist Bulgaria to go to university in post-bubble Japan, make a stop in post-reunification HK, and then start an insights agency in post-LKY Singapore. Now, with a network of partners, he conducts research across Asia for London-based MNCs, Chinese startups or New York ad agencies. Most of his work is in travel, tourism and hospitality, but has experience across categories.

Potluck
Born in 2019, Potluck is the podcast that stirs up a unique flavour of people, culture and brands in Asia. As co-hosts, Drago and Scott speak with guests from across the brand, marketing and academic spheres. In 2025, we’ve rebooted the show – using it as extension of our thought leadership collaboration, beginning with The New Contract.

Register for this session here

How to Run Online Qual Your Way - Not the Platform’s Way
2026-05-20 13:00 - 13:30
Join us as we host incling for this Pitch Perfect*

This session shows how to run online qual your way – fast, flexible and free from the constraints of rigid platforms. We’ll break down how to deliver quick‑turn studies, shape communities to fit your needs and run multi‑market work without losing depth or control.
You’ll learn:

What quick, flexible online qual looks like in the real world
How to adapt approaches to different clients, timelines and budgets
When to choose platform‑only, managed support or full‑service delivery
How AI‑supported moderation speeds things up while keeping the human touch
Practical examples of agile online qual that actually works

It’s a straight‑talking, practical session for researchers who want to work smarter, move faster and stay in control
About incling
incling is a qualitative research provider specialising in online communities and multi‑market online qual. Our platform is built for flexibility – from rapid pop‑ups to complex global programmes, and works in 27 languages with built‑in translation, transcription and AI‑supported moderation.
You can work with us in three ways:

Platform‑only when you want full control
Managed support when you want to stay hands‑on but need operational help
Full‑service qual when you want end‑to‑end delivery

Everything we build is designed to help researchers run online qual their way – fast, flexible and without compromise
Glen Tooke – Commercial Director

Glen is Commercial Director at incling, where he helps agencies and insight teams run fast, flexible online qual that fits the way they work. He specialises in shaping go‑to‑market strategy, elevating client engagement and building research programmes that balance speed, depth and operational clarity.
Before joining incling, Glen held senior commercial and insight roles across Consumer Edge, FDM, and more than a decade at Kantar – leading investment, financial services and fashion, insight and business development teams. His background spans business development, strategic consulting and client leadership, giving him a blend of commercial sharpness and research fluency
Across his career, Glen has helped brands, agencies and financial institutions make smarter decisions by combining strong narrative, rigorous insight and practical commercial thinking. At incling, he brings this experience to the world of online qual – helping teams design agile, researcher‑led approaches supported by modern tools, AI‑assisted moderation and multi‑market delivery.

Register for this session here
Glen Tooke | LinkedIn
incling – Online market research | Online Communities
*Pitch Perfect is the new name for Lunch&Learns

ICG Member Virtual Speed Networking (using Zoom)
2026-06-03 13:00 - 14:30
We are excited to bring you another ICG Member Speed Networking session, hosted on Zoom.
This is your opportunity to meet others in small groups for short periods of time.
A perfect opportunity to meet potential colleagues, share experiences with other members, and generally feel part of the ICG community.
We’d encourage you all to treat this as a fun way to get to know others, rather than being a direct sales pitch.
Register your place here
