New 2010/11 SAMRA Council
The new Southern African Marketing Research Association (SAMRA) Council, were duly elected at its recent AGM.
The newly elected Council is as follows:
| Chairperson | Elsa Thirion-Venter |
| Chair Elect/Treasurer | Rob Powell |
| Immediate Past Chair | Salomé Barnard |
| Johannesburg Chair | Marna Kirchner |
| Cape Chair | Stina van Rooyen |
| Pretoria Chair | Sanchen Henning |
| KwaZulu Chair | Peter Highley |
| Namibia Chair | Cornelius D'Alton |
| Fieldworkers Forum Chair | Claudette Dearnaley |
| Research Users Forum (RUF) Chair | Neil Govender |
| SAMRA Corporate Chair | Lydia Rolando |
| Professional Practice Chair | Elaine Alder |
| Membership Chair | Jan Wegelin |
| Communications Chair | Kathryn Ann Robinson |
| External Communications Portfolio Chair | Anina Maree |
| International Communications Portfolio Chair | Leonie Vorster |
| Membership Diversity | Mzwandile Khanya |
| SAMRA Journal Chair | Dion van Zyl |
| Conference and Awards Chair | Kim Larsen |
| Yearbook Chair | Cletus Dube |
| Accreditation Chair | Alex Kessel |
| Training and Education Chair | Noluvuko Mathibe |
| Code of Conduct Chair | Shirley Harding |
| Services Seta Chair | Margaret Constantaras |
Forthcoming goals
Says SAMRA chairperson Elsa Thirion-Venter, "High on our agenda is to increase membership numbers among individuals and companies involved in the marketing research industry, as well as among students as potential future marketing researchers." Other goals are:
- Increase visibility and awareness of SAMRA at universities
- Entice more marketing research users to join SAMRA by strengthening the Research Users Forum (RUF) to better represent the interests of users
- Assist in training of young researchers through SAMRA training courses and the SAMRA bursary scheme
- Promote and uphold professional, ethical and sound research practices
- Continuously drive to eliminate unethical research practices and to stimulate an ongoing passion for superior quality and standards.
- Encourage co-operation between industry stakeholders and interdisciplinary co-operation
- Actively encourage and promote the SAMRA Accredited Researcher programme.
Go to www.samra.co.za for contact details of the new council.
