Marketing News South Africa

SAMRA elects 2011/12 council

At the recent Southern African Marketing Research Association (SAMRA) AGM in Johannesburg, the new council for 2011/12 was announced, with Prof Adré Schreuder to take over from Elsa Thirion-Venter as chair. The new council will assume their portfolios on 1 September 2011 and serve until 31 August 2012.
SAMRA elects 2011/12 council

The new council is as follows:

NameGroupPortfolio
Prof Adré Schreuderdirector chair
Jan Wegelindirector chair elect/treasurer
Elsa Thirion-Venterdirector immediate past chair
Marna Kirchnerbranch chairJohannesburg branch chair
Juliet van Zylbranch chairCape branch chair
Elsa Thirion-Venterbranch chairPretoria branch chair
Peter Highleybranch chairKwaZulu chair
Liza Burmeisterbranch chairNamibia chair
Tania Scateschairman's council fieldworkers forum chair
Grand Lindhorstchairman's council research users forum (ruf) chair
Shirley Benneychairman's council SAMRA corporate chair
Elaine Alderchairman's council professional practice chair
Kobus Badenhorstchairman's council membership chair
Anina Mareechairman's council communications chair
Salome Barnardcommunications portfoliointernational communications portfolio chair
Monique Greenlandcommunications portfoliointernal communications portfolio chair
Schalk van Vuurenmembership portfolioSAMRA journal chair
Kim Larsenmembership portfolioconference and awards chair
Mzwandile Khanyamembership portfoliomembership diversity
Cletus Dubemembership portfolioyearbook chair
Alex Kesselprofessional practice portfolioaccreditation chair
Noluvuko Mathibeprofessional practice portfoliotraining and education chair
Leonie Vorsterprofessional practice portfoliocode of conduct chair
Leonie Vorster professional practice portfolioconsumer protection act
Ronelle Colynprofessional practice portfolioSevices SETA chair

Thirion-Venter reviewed the past year and, with SAMRA facing a number of industry-related as well as legislative challenges, Schreuder spoke about the way forward in terms of the association's focus areas and activities in the coming year:

  • to ensure a well-regulated research industry through maintaining enhanced professional standards, creating increased awareness and providing quality information;

    Jan Wegelin, Elsa Thirion Venter and Prof. Adré Schreuder
    Jan Wegelin, Elsa Thirion Venter and Prof. Adré Schreuder

  • to enhance the credibility and reputation of all SAMRA members (re-establish the relevance and credibility of professional marketing research) among existing and new research users;
  • to position SAMRA as a credible authority and industry body representing members in regulatory challenges and relevance of the Consumer Protection Act (CPA) and the anticipated Protection of Private
    Information Act;
  • to increase participation and alignment with relevant industry organisations such as DMASA, ASA and other marketing related bodies;
  • to diversify the membership base of SAMRA through a review of member categories and aggressive marketing efforts among researchers, users, academics and students;
  • to finalise and obtain member buy-in of the SAMRA 2011 strategic plan;
  • to implement and continuously measure progress of the 2011 strategic plan;
  • to investigate the introduction of a fulltime secretariat (appointment of CEO) in SAMRA;
  • to evaluate all functional portfolios in SAMRA and updating the SAMRA structure;
  • to develop policy and operational guidelines for each portfolio;
  • to offer a new updated conference format;
  • to active canvas more research users and promote client attendance at annual conference;
  • to enhance the quality of conference papers as a means to draw a wider and more diverse audience of delegates; and
  • to investigate the further enhancement of the SAMRA researcher accreditation programme

The AGM was hosted by TNS Surveys in Randburg, Johannesburg.

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