Market Research Consultants in Sydney to Watch For in 2025
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The 2025 Guide to Sydney’s Sharpest Market Research Minds
Sydney is more than just iconic harbors and sunny beaches. It’s a powerhouse for innovation, growth, and consumer insights. In 2025, Digital Reference is proud to spotlight a fresh crop of research professionals in Sydney who are redefining how businesses gather, interpret, and act on data.
Our methodology is rooted in real research. From scouring LinkedIn profiles and firm websites to client testimonials and case studies, we find professionals who don’t just do research, they elevate it. From boutique shops to big-name firms, each expert on this list has been chosen for their sharp thinking, human-first strategies, and business-changing insights.
Whether you're an enterprise seeking deeper segmentation, a startup navigating product-market fit, or a hiring manager assembling a research dream team, these Sydney-based consultants offer something special.
For more ways to understand and assess the modern insights landscape, check out our latest resources on the evolving talent ecosystem and our practical guide to hiring market research and social media consultants.
🤝 Let's meet Sydney's expert market research consultants:
Chris Lonergan
CEO & Founder, Lonergan Research
Chris Lonergan is the CEO and Founder of Lonergan Research, a full-service agency he launched in 2009 after 15 years in the industry. With nearly three decades of experience under his belt, Chris is a standout for his technical versatility, business acumen, and media-savvy insight delivery. His firm is known for powering high-impact campaigns in the PR and FMCG sectors, but Chris’s influence goes far deeper than headline-ready stats.
- 📌 Highly experienced in both quant and qual, including CATI, ethnographic studies, focus groups, online panels, and more
- 📌 A strategic thinker with a strong focus on business and marketing applications of research
- 📌 Renowned for mentorship and leadership in the Sydney research community, with a reputation for building smart, agile teams
Derek Jones
Managing Director & Market Researcher, D&M Research
As the Founder and Managing Director of D&M Research, Derek Jones has led the Sydney-based agency since 1994 with a rare combination of psychological expertise, statistical rigor, and business storytelling. With over 30 years in the field, Derek has become one of Australia’s most trusted names in market research, helping both global brands and government agencies turn complex data into confident action.
- 📌 Deep expertise across segmentation, brand health, VOC, and advertising effectiveness
- 📌 Industry Fellow and educator, regularly teaching with The Research Society and guest lecturing at UNSW and Sydney University
- 📌 Recipient of multiple industry awards for excellence in research, presentation, and commercial impact
Angela Orsaris
Managing Director, The Market Intelligence Co
Angela Orsaris is the Managing Director of The Market Intelligence Co., where she’s spent over 25 years leading deep-dive research for B2B and industrial sectors. With more than three decades of experience in qualitative, quantitative, desk, and hybrid methodologies, Angela brings unmatched precision and curiosity to every engagement.
- 📌 Specializes in complex B2B environments, helping clients decode customer, industry, and stakeholder dynamics
- 📌 Known for going beyond the numbers, and focusing on the drivers and motivations behind data
- 📌 A go-to partner for organizations entering new markets or seeking a clearer read on their competitive position
James Organ
Managing Director, Fifth Quadrant
As Managing Director of Fifth Quadrant, James Organ has spent over 30 years helping organizations turn insight into foresight. His approach blends human-centered design, advanced methodologies, and AI-driven tools to deliver research that’s not just descriptive, but predictive.
- 📌 Leads a future-focused, insight-led firm dedicated to embedding customer needs into strategic decision-making
- 📌 Known for transforming data into clear, context-rich stories that drive smart action
- 📌 Helps clients across sectors anticipate change and uncover what truly matters in rapidly evolving markets
Seán McNally
Managing Director, Eris Strategy
Seán McNally is the Managing Director and founder of Eris Strategy, a full-service insight and strategy consultancy he launched in 2013. With over 25 years of experience spanning agency and client-side roles, Seán combines deep academic expertise in consumer behavior with a passion for delivering actionable insights that drive real business change.
- 📌 Specializes in uncovering market development and service improvement opportunities across sectors including consumer goods, financial services, and education
- 📌 Renowned for developing evidence-based strategies and innovative live reporting tools that help clients adapt quickly
- 📌 Committed to collaborating closely with clients to translate complex data into clear, outcome-driven strategies
Ellen Baron
CEO, Ruby Cha Cha
As founding director of Ruby Cha Cha, Ellen Baron leads a thriving Australian market research and strategic planning consultancy established in 2008, with offices in Sydney, Melbourne, and London. A trained psychologist with over 30 years of experience, Ellen excels at decoding consumer behavior, emotions, and motivations to help multinational and local clients unlock brand growth and customer engagement.
- 📌 Expert in strategic planning, innovation, and ideation, with a strong focus on brand development and workshop facilitation
- 📌 Advises senior executives and boards on consumer sentiment, customer loyalty, and growth frameworks across diverse sectors like healthcare, media, finance, and local government
- 📌 Accomplished public speaker and mentor, known for translating complex behavioral economics into actionable business strategies
Raj Ravindran
Managing Director, Researchify
Raj Ravindran is the Managing Director of Researchify, a Sydney-based market research agency specializing in online data collection, community building, and research consulting. With nearly two decades of experience in data-driven marketing, Raj has played a key role in founding and growing Researchify into a trusted partner for innovative, high-quality insights solutions.
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- 📌 Hands-on leader with a strong track record of operational excellence and revenue growth within global, cross-functional teams
- 📌 Oversees all commercial and operational aspects, driving the agency’s mission to solve complex insights challenges
- 📌 Focuses on delivering agile, data-rich strategies through community engagement and advanced online methodologies
Gerry Guinan
Founder & Managing Director, So What? Research
As the Founder and Managing Director of So What? Research, Gerry Guinan has piloted the healthcare market research agency established in 2008 to help brands uncover actionable insights that truly drive growth and improve patient lives. With over two decades of experience, Gerry is known for his signature question, “So what?”, digging deep to translate data into meaningful, strategic outcomes.
- 📌 Specializes in both qualitative and quantitative research for healthcare, delivering insight-led growth and customer-first marketing
- 📌 Has led over 700 projects across 120+ healthcare brands in Australia, Asia-Pacific, and Europe
- 📌 Trusted for asking the critical questions others miss, ensuring insights lead to real-world impact and big-picture thinking
Nichola Quail
Founder & CEO, Insights Exchange
Nichola Quail is the Founder and CEO of Insights Exchange, a groundbreaking global marketplace connecting businesses with on-demand market research and data specialists. With over 23 years of experience studying human behavior, shopper trends, and customer insights, Nichola is a trailblazer in evolving how research is done, especially in response to today’s fast-changing landscape.
- 📌 Created Insights Exchange as a rapid, innovative solution to the pandemic’s impact on research delivery
- 📌 Passionate about consumer technology and regularly presents at leading industry conferences across Australia and New Zealand
- 📌 Has worked with major global brands including Xero, Walt Disney Co., Dentsu Aegis, and Panasonic
David Donnelly
Owner & Head Australian Consulting Team, Instinct and Reason
David Donnelly is the owner of Instinct and Reason and has led the Australian consulting team for nearly 20 years. With extensive experience advising Top 100 companies, government agencies, and nonprofits, David is a trusted expert in segmentation, positioning, communications, and new product development research.
- 📌 Played a key role in positioning major brands like St George Bank and Australia’s International Education brand
- 📌 Led strategy and concept testing for landmark projects including ING Direct’s Living Superannuation and Australia’s first global tourism campaign for the Three Capes Track
- 📌 Committed to research that balances business goals with societal impact, currently pursuing a PhD on rural adaptive capacity linked to lifestyle migration
Why These Experts Matter (and Why Digital Reference Is Watching)
These Sydney-based consultants aren’t just excellent researchers, they’re strategic advisors, community builders, and catalysts for innovation. Whether you need insights to build, grow, or pivot, this list is full of allies who bring more than data.
At Digital Reference, we’re dedicated to connecting you with the brightest minds in market research, professionals who combine deep expertise with fresh perspectives to drive real business impact. Whether you’re seeking strategic guidance, innovative methodologies, or trusted partners to elevate your insights, we make it easy to find the perfect fit.
🌟 Ready to unlock smarter decisions? Let’s connect and bring your research goals to life.
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