New team to take SAARF into next decade

"It has taken SAARF a long time to finalise the appointment of the new technical team that will have to take SAARF into the next decade, but it has been worth the wait," says SAARF's CEO, Dr Paul Haupt. "I have high expectations of the new team, and I am confident that they will make a big contribution to joint industry research.

"The next few years will be extremely challenging, as we expect even more change during the coming decade than we had in the past one," he says. "SAARF now has the young minds which will be able to meet these complexities head on, and ensure that all the SAARF surveys adapt and stay relevant."

Other side of the fence

Raganya has come over from Tiger Brands, where he worked as a research manager. He has also worked for one of SAARF's AMPS/RAMS contractors, African Response, where, as a senior researcher, he was responsible for researching FMCG, government departments, media, financial services, the motor industry, the fuel and energy industry, and cellphone service providers. He has also worked at ACNielsen Customised Research, as a research executive.

Raganya's experience includes time on the other side of the fence, working in the field as a contract fieldworker for Mictert Marketing Research and the HSRC, Pretoria, making him familiar with the nuts and bolts of research. He holds a Masters degree in Research Psychology from UNISA, and is a qualified psychologist.

Milne joins SAARF from Nielsen Media Research, where she worked on SAARF AMPS/RAMS and SAARF's new electronic outdoor measurement, OHMS. She has a Masters in Research Psychology and Internship from Rhodes University. Milne has been involved in several research projects, including conducting the South African phase of the African Media Development Initiative study on behalf of the BBC World Service Trust.

Media leadership

Her work experience includes a position as research associate and project manager at Rhodes University's Sol Plaatje Media Leadership Institute, a media management training organisation which researches aspects of media leadership. While studying, she also worked at Rhodes' Centre for Applied Social Research and Action (CASRA).

Boehme, who heads up the new team, has a PhD in Sociology, and 13 years of research experience with various research companies, including Nielsen Media Research, where she was the TAMS senior research executive. She has also worked as a sampling and demographic specialist at Research Surveys.