AURA is run for its members by its members. Five of them lead AURA's Council, which is supported across various workstreams by sub-committees of AURA member volunteers. The team is completed by three paid contractors who look after events, marketing and membership, all of whom were former clientside researchers and/or AURA Directors. This means we are close to the needs of our membership and, importantly, can keep membership costs really low.
Here's everything you ever wanted to know about each of them, including where they stand on condiments.
Hello, I'm Steven Darby. I’ve worked in Research for nearly ten years in both B2B and B2C markets and currently lead the Leeds Building Society research department, working with leading partners and agencies across the industry to bring the needs of the customer to the heart of the organisation through CX, Segmentations, Market Trackers, Community Panels, Qualitative research and all the other things you’d expect in the life of a researcher.
I joined AURA when I first entered the industry to open up my access to the knowledge and best practice of those with far more experience than me. Little did I know that a few years later I’d join the council and eventually become AURA Director of Events and Awards and now, from earlier this year, Vice Chair. It amazes me that even now every time we meet or attend a webinar, I still learning something new or make another network connection. I’m currently responsible for delivering the webinars, seminars, conference content (Quirks) and the AURA awards. So, any feedback, content ideas or general opinions please let me know.
And the answer to the question is brown sauce with bacon - always, but mayo with everything else!
Hello, I'm Viv Harrison. I’ve looked after research and insights at the Caravan and Motorhome Club for several decades - and amazingly still find things to be curious about!
For me as a 1-person team, AURA is like having an extended team of like-minded people, always happy to share, inspire and help each other - an invaluable asset.
I meet and greet at F2F London events, and am increasingly involved with keeping members engaged, happy and sticking with us.
Red sauce every time (brown is work of devil IMO)
Hello, I'm Ruth Hinton. My job is Group Head of Customer Experience and Insight at Vue International, working with our leadership teams and marketing colleagues across Europe, to promote and improve the big screen experience for our customers.
As currently a one-person research and insights function, I benefit from the examples, ideas, inspiration and agency recommendations I get from AURA, and I’ve been a member for many years.
My role for AURA at the moment is Chair, supporting the Council to define and deliver our strategy and brand, liaising with other insight sector leaders, and currently I’m focusing on recruiting new member companies.
I'm going to sit on the fence when it comes to condiments: with chips it’s mayo and ketchup, but with bacon or sausages it’s got to be brown sauce!
Hello, I'm Louise Sharpe and I currently lead the Go To Market Insight team at BT Group. I have been lucky enough to work at a range of great companies since I started my research career, including ITV, Sky, Tesco and Virgin Media.
I first joined the AURA council around 10 years ago and have really valued being part of such an engaged network of fellow research professionals. AURA’s seminar and webinar programme is a great way to learn about new tools, techniques and capabilities whilst the awards offer a platform to showcase and celebrate amazing work. I currently lead the industry outreach programme for AURA.
Rather controversially I have no strong views on red or brown sauce – it is salad cream all the way for me
Tim Steere, was until recently Chair of AURA. The day job is at Leeds Building Society. More about Tim and his views on sauces to follow soon
Hello, I’m Richard Drury. I work for AURA looking after membership and finance things. I help to set up new organisations and members, look after any changes or requests you might have about your current subscription, and you’ll hear from me about your annual invoice. Previously I worked client-side leading research teams at Boots and HSBC. During that time, I was an AURA Director and its Chairperson for four years. I’m a Fellow of the MRS
Hello, I'm Tom Kerr. I've held senior roles on both agency and client side, including Kantar, GfK, Bank of Scotland, NatWest Group, Sainsbury's Bank and Tesco Bank.
I was a member of the AURA Council for many years, before joining the support team and am currently the lead on the AURA events programme. I have also contributed to the MRS training programme including 10 years as a tutor and co-convenor of the MRS Summer School.
For me, there is no debate over brown or red sauce. It is brown sauce every time.
Hello, I'm Suzanne Lugthart. I'm a clientside researcher with over 20 years under my belt, during which time I've worked with some amazing people at ITV, eBay and Rightmove amongst others ... and won a few awards along the way, including a couple of AURAs!
I went freelance to give me time to develop my jewellery design business and I now combine that with working with a lot of start ups and clientside teams who need a spare pair of hands for a research project or two. Going freelance meant I had to give up my AURA Directorship. But they very kindly asked me to help out with marketing and growing the organisation.
Like Ruth, condiment context is important to me. Red sauce in my Easyjet bacon roll every time but, if I was honest, I would have hot horseradish sauce with every meal if my husband would let me.