Best Market Research Consulting Services in Australia

Best Market Research Consultants in Australia

Australia is a vibrant hub where culture, innovation, and sharp business minds collide to shape a uniquely powerful research ecosystem. From the hustle of Sydney's business district to the innovation hubs of Melbourne and Brisbane, the country is rapidly becoming a global epicenter for insightful, data-led decision making. At the heart of this transformation is market research consultants, decoding consumer behavior, dissecting brand sentiment, and driving data-led growth across every industry imaginable.

From regional specialties in tourism, agriculture, and mining to sophisticated tech startup landscapes, Australian consultants don’t just follow trends; they shape them. That’s why at Digital Reference we decided it was time to highlight the absolute best in the business, and have curated a list of founders who are building the future of insights across the country.

Australia is home to some of the most innovative, insightful, and human-centric market research providers in the world. From coast to coast, these professionals don’t just collect data, they capture the soul of a region through the lens of its consumers, communities, and businesses. At Digital Reference, we’re powered by radical authenticity and unfiltered transparency, not just in hiring, but in how we champion exceptional service providers across industries.

💡 Looking for other leading consultants? Check out our feature on Top Market Research Services in the U.S. and the UK.

💡 Interested in key information necessary to succeed in the modern hiring process. Explore our guides to professional references and video resumes.

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Meet Australia's Top Market Research Consultancies

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Square Holes

What they do:
Square Holes helps leaders make smarter decisions through deep understanding of people, culture, and behavior.

Who they work with:
Government, business, and industry organizations shaping cities, services, and communities.

Operating model:
Cultural insight, behavioural science, and tech-enabled research delivered through long-term partnerships.

💡 Why they stand out:
✨ Deep expertise in culture and human behavior
⚡ Strong public sector and community focus
🎯 Long-term, future-facing insight delivery
💬 Values-driven, curiosity-led research

Jason Dunstone — Founder & Managing Director

Jason Dunston is the founder and Managing Director of Square Holes, leading the company for over 20 years with a passion for “real people.” With a background in econometrics, psychology, and strategy, Jason has built a team delivering insights that drive growth for brands, businesses, and communities. Recognized as a Fellow of the Australian Research Society, he brings deep expertise in cultural insight, brand growth, B2B, education, and public sectors.

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JB Market Research Services

What they do:
JB Market Research Services is a boutique research facility based in South Melbourne, delivering high-quality qualitative research environments and end-to-end project management for international and Australian clients.

Who they work with:
Global brands, agencies, and research firms requiring reliable, flexible qualitative research execution across Australia.

Operating model:
Full-service qualitative support with strong national networks, offering everything from traditional focus groups to VR testing and mock retail environments.

💡 Why they stand out:
✨ Extensive qualitative capabilities, including usability testing, taste testing, and mock stores
⚡ Trusted project management for complex, multi-market research projects
🎯 Strong nationwide reach across major Australian cities
💬 Flexible, hands-on support for unconventional and bespoke research needs

Maureen McCunnie — Founder

Maureen McCunnie is the founder of JB Market Research Services and a seasoned leader in the industry with over 20 years of experience. Known for her detail-oriented approach and commitment to client success, she has built one of Australia's most respected boutique research facilities. Her work spans international markets, managing end-to-end project delivery for major clients, and supporting innovative, often unconventional, research needs with professionalism and creativity.

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Lynnette Griffiths Market Research Services

What they do:
Lynnette Griffiths Market Research Services is a boutique recruitment agency specializing in high-quality respondent recruitment for qualitative and quantitative research projects.

Who they work with:
Research agencies and brands across metropolitan and regional Australia seeking reliable, confidential, and precise participant recruitment.

Operating model:
Founder-led, in-house recruitment supported by a large, annually refreshed database and a strong social media presence.

💡 Why they stand out:
✨ Extensive respondent database across Australia and New Zealand
⚡ No external contractors — all recruitment handled in-house
🎯 Recruitment expertise across all research genres
💬 Strong confidentiality standards and precise respondent matching

Lynnette Griffiths — Founder

Lynnette Griffiths has over 30 years of experience in market research recruitment and is a member of AMSRS/The Research Society. She personally manages all recruitment to ensure high-quality respondents perfectly matching project criteria. Lynnette’s strong social media following and wide networking help maintain an up-to-date and reliable respondent pool.

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THINK Global Research

What they do:
THINK Global Research is a strategic insights agency combining traditional market research with design thinking to deliver actionable, business-shaping insights.

Who they work with:
Organizations seeking research that directly informs go-to-market strategies, innovation, and measurable ROI.

Operating model:
Collaborative, consultative research engagements blending qualitative and quantitative methods with interactive, real-time reporting.

💡 Why they stand out:
✨ Design thinking-driven research frameworks
⚡ Deep integration of insights into business strategy
🎯 Interactive, engaging reporting formats
💬 Strong focus on implementation and ROI

Kristy Ihle— Founder

Kristy Ihle is a behavioural scientist and clinical psychologist with 13 years of experience in clinical, organizational, and marketing research. She founded THINK Global Research to innovate market research methodologies using digital and interactive technologies such as virtual customer simulations and mobile research. Kristy’s expertise includes moderating over 200 focus groups, analyzing big data, and integrating qualitative and quantitative insights with a focus on delivering practical, evidence-based business solutions.

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Honeycomb Strategy

What they do:
Honeycomb Strategy is a modern customer insights agency blending market research, behavioural science, and AI to accelerate business growth.

Who they work with:
Australian and global technology, retail, and service brands navigating complex brand and product challenges.

Operating model:
Bespoke, analytical research engagements combining qualitative, quantitative, and behavioural science methodologies.

💡 Why they stand out:
✨ Integration of behavioural science and AI
⚡ Bespoke, insight-led research solutions
🎯 Strong focus on product-market fit and go-to-market strategy
💬 Trusted by leading Australian and global brands

Renata Freund— Founder & Director

Renata Freund is the Founder and Director of Honeycomb Strategy, leading an agency built for modern business needs. With a background in senior roles at Nature Research and Millward Brown, Renata brings extensive experience in delivering innovative and bespoke insights to top-tier Australian and global clients. Her leadership focuses on integrating behavioural science with traditional market research to solve complex brand and product challenges effectively.

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Harvest Insights

What they do:
Harvest Insights delivers consumer-centric insights for FMCG, CPG, and retail brands, supporting strategy, innovation, and growth.

Who they work with:
Food, beverage, retail, and consumer brands seeking clarity across brand, product, and shopper decision-making.

Operating model:
A combined qualitative and quantitative toolkit, including ethnography, segmentation, advanced analytics, and in-house choice modelling.

💡 Why they stand out:
✨ Deep FMCG and retail expertise
⚡ Advanced analytics paired with compelling storytelling
🎯 Strong focus on diversity, perspective, and innovation
💬 End-to-end insight from ideation to execution

Darrell Collins & Amy Tildesley — Co-Founders

Darrell Collins brings 15 years of commercial research experience across the UK and Australia with a passion for food and beverage markets. Known as a compelling storyteller, Darrell excels at connecting shopper and consumer insights to drive disruptive product and service innovation. Amy Tildesley, an advanced analytics expert, co-founded Harvest Insights and is recognized on multiple prestigious lists including AFR’s Fast Starters. Amy combines brand strategy and consulting expertise with a passion for data-driven growth, helping clients navigate complex market challenges with precision and impact.

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Q&A Market Research

What they do:
Q&A Market Research is an independent, Australian-owned data collection and processing provider delivering best-practice fieldwork nationwide.

Who they work with:
Government, commercial, and social research organizations requiring scalable, reliable data collection.

Operating model:
Nationwide fieldwork services including CATI, online, face-to-face, recruitment, audits, and data processing.

💡 Why they stand out:
✨ Large-scale national infrastructure and workforce
⚡ Flexible, agile fieldwork solutions
🎯 Strong focus on ethical, meaningful research participation
💬 Trusted delivery across complex research environments

Michael Harding — Managing Director

Michael Harding is the Managing Director of Q&A Market Research, bringing over two decades of leadership in data collection and research services. He combines deep industry expertise with a passion for leveraging research to drive meaningful business outcomes.

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Sprout Strategy

What they do:
Sprout Strategy is a behavioural science-led consultancy helping organizations unlock growth through deeper human insight.

Who they work with:
Large organizations seeking transformative strategy grounded in behavioural science and emerging technologies.

Operating model:
Integrated research, strategy, and design thinking powered by neuroscience, AI, and social listening.

💡 Why they stand out:
✨ Exclusive neuroscience tools like MindSight®
⚡ Deep integration of science and strategy
🎯 Focus on transformation, not just insight
💬 Global thinking applied to Australian markets

Elisa Adams— Founder

Elisa Adams is the founder of Sprout Strategy and a passionate behavioral science leader with over 30 years of experience studying Australians and consulting with some of the country’s largest organizations. She brings global insights and the latest thinking in research, strategy, behavioral science, and technology to Australia.

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Veracity

What they do:
Veracity simplifies consumer research and strategy into clear, actionable insights that businesses can easily understand and apply.

Who they work with:
Marketing and product leaders seeking clarity across advertising performance, brand strategy, and customer experience.

Operating model:
Insight-led strategy engagements focused on accessibility, clarity, and application.

💡 Why they stand out:
✨ Research made simple and actionable
⚡ Strong expertise in advertising and marketing effectiveness
🎯 Award-winning creative and strategic thinking
💬 Clear frameworks for decision-making

Erin Core— Founder

Erin Core launched Veracity in 2020 to simplify consumer research and strategy into clear, actionable answers. With extensive experience across advertising campaigns, insights, creative strategy, and customer journey mapping, Erin supports marketing and product leads in making sense of insights and applying them effectively. She has worked with top Australian brands and her creative strategies have won multiple industry awards in positive and social change categories.

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Metrix Consulting

What they do:
Metrix Consulting is an insights and strategy firm helping businesses connect data from multiple sources to see the full picture.

Who they work with:
Organizations navigating complexity across marketing, business strategy, and growth.

Operating model:
A ‘multi-lens’ approach integrating diverse data sources into clear, decision-ready insights.

💡 Why they stand out:
✨ Multi-source data integration
⚡ Strong strategic marketing expertise
🎯 Award-winning consultancy with national presence
💬 Trusted advisors to growing businesses

Marquis Pohla — Founder

Marquis Pohla founded Metrix Consulting and has grown it from a small home-based operation into a thriving, multi-city business recognized for innovation and growth. Marquis is a strategic marketer and entrepreneur known for building strong client relationships, nurturing talent, and delivering exceptional results. He is also a respected mentor and leader within the business community, serving as Past President of the Entrepreneurs Organization (EO) Perth.

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The Future of Market Research in Australia

From boutique consultancies to national agencies, these leaders don’t just power decision-making, they redefine it. Each one is a reflection of what makes Australia’s insight economy so compelling: diversity, creativity, and relentless curiosity.

Here at Digital Reference, we’re proud to spotlight these visionaries. And as we revolutionize the talent ecosystem with tools that bring transparency and human nuance into hiring, we know that great insight drives great people and vice versa.

We’re committed to shining a light on the brightest minds in the industry, because at Digital Reference, we’re dedicated to creating a smarter, more transparent future for the world of work. Ready to join us? Get started here.