The Team

Ben Marks, MD and Founder

Ben set up Opinionpanel in January 2004. He has seven years' experience in sales but for the last nine years has worked in market research at Hobsons (Research Manager) and Client Knowledge (Research Director). Ben is a graduate of Manchester University and City University (MBA), is a full member of the Market Research Society (MRS) and a Fellow of the RSA.

Email: benmarks@opinionpanel.co.uk

Becky Lewis, Research Director

Becky is currently on maternity leave.

Becky oversees all projects. She is an experienced researcher and project manager and full member of the MRS. She has ten years of social and commercial, ad hoc and continuous research experience. Previously she worked at BMRB (for clients such as The Home Office, NSPCC, Sainsburys and Le Mridien) and client-side at London Underground. At Opinionpanel she has worked with clients across all sectors from HEIs, graduate recruiters, brands to other research companies. She has been instrumental in ensuring quality guidelines are adhered to and developing the panellists experience. She has a first degree (Society, Economy and Social Policy) and a Masters degree (Applied Population Research) from the University of Exeter.

Email: becky@opinionpanel.co.uk

Philip Crofts, Research Director

Phil oversees all projects to ensure that they meet or exceed clients needs and are run to the highest quality standards. Phil has over twenty years experience in research and insight gained in research agencies (including BMRB, TNS and Research International), plus ad agencies and clientside. He has worked with a wide range of major clients, including PepsiCo, Toyota, Camelot, Unilever, Cadbury, plus some key public sector bodies. Phil has particular experience in ad and brand tracking, innovation and customer satisfaction research. Phil has developed innovative approaches in quantitative, qualitative and panel research. Phil believes that creativity and attention to detail make a great combination!

Email: philip@opinionpanel.co.uk

Martin Collins, Chairman Non Executive

Martin is a Fellow and former Chair of the Market Research Society. He is a Fellow of the Royal Statistical Society and former Professor of Marketing Research at City University (now Cass Business School).  He has unrivalled experience in commercial and academic market research and is a pre-eminent authority on survey sampling. He has published widely and speaks frequently in the UK and abroad.

Email: martin@opinionpanel.co.uk

David Roberts, Non Executive Director

David is a Managing Partner at The Knowledge Partnership. He has 18 years’ senior consulting experience, largely in HE. He is former Chief Executive of Heist and he led the development of MaXimizE – the widely adopted evaluation and benchmarking system for student marketing, funded by HEFCE. He regularly advises on strategic marketing for higher education institutions and government education bodies, working with senior managers and vice-chancellors as well as marketers.

Email: dave@opinionpanel.co.uk

Eleanor Simmons,
Associate Director, Higher Education

Eleanor is currently on maternity leave.

Eleanor has seven years of experience in social and education research, having worked as a researcher at the Learning and Skills Network, the Home Office, the Office for National Statistics and the Hansard Society. Eleanor has quantitative and qualitative skills and has led the way in moderating online qualitative groups at Opinionpanel. Having set up bespoke panels for individual clients, Eleanor also has expertise in panel recruitment methods. She has a first degree from the University of Sussex and a Masters degree in Social Research Methods from the London School of Economics.

Email: eleanor@opinionpanel.co.uk

Kyla Steenhart,
Senior Project Manager, Higher Education

Kyla has over five years experience in the education sector, having worked in research, policy and project management roles. From 2003 to 2006, Kyla worked as a Policy Analyst for the New Zealand Ministry of Education. She spent the next 18 months at UKCISA: the UK Council for International Student Affairs and at Hobsons plc as a Project Manager and then a Senior Research Executive. Kyla joined Opinionpanel in 2008 and has already worked with several universities on topics from bursaries and scholarships to image and perceptions of universities. She is the day to day manager of the Higher Expectations Survey. A member of the MRS, she is currently studying for the MRS Advanced Certificate. She has a degree in Japanese and Political Science from the University of Canterbury, New Zealand.

Email: kyla@opinionpanel.co.uk

Chris Martin, Project Manager

Chris has over three years' research experience. He joined Opinionpanel in 2008 from Synovate where he managed large international projects. At Opinionpanel, as well as working with many of our student brands he has managed the Student Bank Account syndicated surveys producing several important sector reports. Chris is an Associate Member of the MRS. He has a Philosophy, Politics and Economics degree from Oxford University.

Email: chrismartin@opinionpanel.co.uk

Thomas Dainty, Project Manager

Thomas joined the team in 2007, where he was pivotal in setting up guidelines for our in-house coding. Thomas has worked with many of our student brands and HEIs, notably in writing and editing over 20 customised institution reports for Higher Expectations. An associate member of the MRS, he is currently studying for the MRS Advanced Certificate. He has a degree in Economics and Politics from the School of Oriental and African Studies.

Email: thomas@opinionpanel.co.uk

Hannah Paton, Trainee Research Executive

Hannah joined Opinionpanel in November 2008, having recently graduated from the University of Exeter with a BA in Psychology. Hannah has previous work experience in advertising and PR, as well as working as a telephone researcher at DataBuild in Birmingham. She is an Affiliate Member of the MRS and is working towards the MRS advance certificate.

Email: hannah@opinionpanel.co.uk

Samantha Burton, Trainee Research Executive

Samantha joined Opinionpanel in November 2008. She graduated from the University of Warwick with a BSc degree in Economics in 2007. Prior to joining the Opinionpanel, Samantha worked at the Financial Services Authority. She is an Affiliate Member of the MRS and is working towards the MRS advance certificate.

Email: samantha@opinionpanel.co.uk

Samantha Williams,
Marketing, Communications and Panel Manager

Sam joined Opinionpanel in August 2005 after a year's sabbatical post at Kings College London where she was Vice President Media and Publications of the Student Union. Sam oversees the management of our panels and has primary responsibility for the panellist experience. Communications include regular newsletters, feedback from surveys, updating of details and movement from one panel to the next. Sam graduated from Kings College London with a degree in Business Management. She is an associate of the Market Research Society.

Email: sam@opinionpanel.co.uk

Michael Virks,
Data Processing and IT Manager

Michael joined Opinionpanel in 2008 with over 12 years of experience in the market research industry. Michael has worked in various data processing, development and management roles at Infratest Burke, NFO WorldGroup, TNS, GfK NOP and ESA Market Research. As well as management and coaching experience he has script-writing, tabulation and programming expertise in a wide range of software packages. At Opinionpanel he has been instrumental in expanding DP quality procedures and guidelines, ensuring IT security systems are in place and the panel is efficiently and proactively managed. He holds an HN Diploma in Social Research and Statistics from Metropolitan University.

Email: michael@opinionpanel.co.uk

Joyce Obanishola, Senior DP Executive

Joyce Obanishola, Senior Data Processing Executive Joyce joined Opinionpanel in November 2007 with over 17 years Data Processing (DP) experience including expertise in data tabulation, conversion and manipulation (Quantum and Merlin), script-writing, training and consulting. She has worked in DP at Perspective, Ipsos, GfK, ORB and Infratest Burke. At Opinionpanel she has carried out the analysis and produced tables and data for our most complicated syndicated projects. Joyce has a PG Diploma in Intelligence Systems from Brunel University and a BA (Hons) in Psychology from Middlesex University.

Email: joyce@opinionpanel.co.uk

Chris Yorkston, IT and Data Executive

Chris joined Opinionpanel in January 2008. He has two years previous work experience; as a product developer at WCN e-recruitment software and as a network engineer at Lahti University in Finland. At university Chris was selected to participate in the prestigious Shell Technology Enterprise Programme (STEP) which involved a funded work placement. At Opinionpanel he has been responsible for developing question styles to keep our panellists engaged and has developed sophisticated checks to ensure the validity and uniqueness of all our panellists. Chris has a Computer Science degree from the University of Sheffield.

Email: chris@opinionpanel.co.uk

Jay Serrao, Financial Accountant

Jay joined Opinionpanel in May 2008. He holds a first degree in Business Management and a Masters degree in International Business Management from the University of Westminster.

Email: jay@opinionpanel.co.uk