AUSTRALIAN DATA AND INSIGHTS ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES WINNER OF 2026 RESEARCH GOT TALENT COMPETITION

Four finalists. Four charities. One winner heading to the world stage. 

The Australian Data and Insights Association (ADIA) today announced the Australian winners of its 2026 Research Got Talent competition. Hans Buddhasiri and Hannah Scholes, fromFiftyfive5, part of Accenture Song, and their entry: “Work Doesn't Work – Redesigning workplace support to combat loneliness” in partnership with Friends for Good has taken out the competition.

The winners were selected from a pool of talented finalists, including; Tara Forde from Painted Dog Research, who partnered with The Kids Hub for a project looking at the barriers preventing parents from seeking help; Anastasia Spratt and Emi Hemphill from Starburst Insights, who partnered with Teach Us Consent to explore smart glasses, consent and tech-facilitated abuse; and Georgia Mcfarland and Emily Hendry-Follows from Verian Group Australia, who worked with The Cancer Council on a project to understand the remaining gap in HPV vaccination among Australian parents and adolescents.

The Australian Research Got Talent competition is a joint initiative of the ADIA and the global industry body, Esomar. Now in its seventh year, it encourages young professionals to use research and insights to support local charities and NGOs to overcome pressing social issues. 

This year, entrants were required to deliver a relevant, innovative and impactful research project that addressed change in a range of important areas, including gender inequality, access to justice and education, integration and diversity, environmental issues, and climate change. Research proposals could adopt traditional research methods, as well as new methods including data analytics and analysis.

Buddhasiri and Scholes said: “We're absolutely thrilled and honoured to have been chosen as the 2026 winners. A huge thank you to ADIA, ESOMAR, Fiftyfive5 and Friends for Good for their support and this incredible opportunity. Loneliness is a pressing global health threat, affecting millions of Australians and carrying serious health consequences. We're really passionate about this project and grateful for the chance to turn insights into action, helping Friends for Good reach more working Australians with the right support, earlier.” 

Friends for Good Co-founder and CEO, Patricia Lauria, said: “We are delighted to have support for this project to build the evidence base about loneliness in the workplace. We know it exists and we know it’s costly, personally and for employers. The learnings from this research will garner new insights so we can develop tailored responses.”

Buddhasiri and Scholes will now compete in Esomar’s global competition in 2027, showcasing the best and brightest young researchers from across the globe. They will also receive a complimentary one-day pass to the 2027 ADIA Leaders Forum, set to be held in Melbourne, return airfares to the 2027 Esomar Congress, free Congress registration, an Esomar Research World article, and a Young Esomar Society membership.

ADIA CEO, Sarah Campbell, said: "Research Got Talent continues to uncover the incredible young talent shaping the future of our industry. It’s a privilege to see these emerging researchers apply their skills to causes that make a difference with the potential to have real-world impact. I want to congratulate all this year’s entrants and finalists - the passion, creativity and professionalism brought to this year’s submissions was exemplary. We are proud to be part of this important global initiative and its work in recognising and celebrating the next generation of researchers. Research Got Talent is the ideal platform for showcasing the power of research, data and insights to drive positive change and help build a better tomorrow.”

Luma Research CEO and Australia’s Esomar representative, Sally Joubert, said: “The judges were genuinely impressed by the exceptional quality of this year’s entries. Each project tackled a meaningful social issue with rigour, creativity and heart. The outstanding quality and diversity of entries reflect the depth of talent within our profession and the bright future of Australian research.

“I want to thank all the ADIA and Esomar member employers for supporting this valuable initiative. Research Got Talent continues to be a vital program for our industry, both nationally and globally, fostering the next generation of research talent and celebrating innovation in our sector.”

ADIA and Esomar thank our judges and sponsors for supporting this important industry initiative.