Three new Fellows
20 May 2015

Thomas Kerr, Simon Patterson and Trish Stuart Parker receive their MRS Fellowships on 12 June

Tom Kerr has held a variety of client-side research roles, most recently as Head of Research for Tesco Bank. He now runs his own consultancy, Thought Research. He has made a significant contribution to the professional development of researchers via long-standing contributions to MRS training and development programmes, as well as working with AURA and AQR. 

On receiving his Fellowship Tom says “I feel truly honoured to have been awarded this Fellowship. I have met, worked with, and learned from, some extraordinary people throughout the years. They have been my inspiration. I hope I have done them justice and if in any way I have inspired others to seek for better then it is testament to the legacy of my teachers. I count myself lucky to be working in the field of Market Research and I will endeavour to further contribute to the industry to the best of my ability in the years ahead."

Simon Patterson has been an MRS member for over 30 years, for many of which he worked at CRAM before founding QRi Consulting in 2010. He has made a significant contribution to the development and understanding of qualitative research practice, including a wide range of presentations and written articles, and has had a long-standing involvement with AQR.

"I would like to thank the MRS very much for the coveted honour of being awarded a Fellowship," he says. "I have been a member for 30 years and value everything that it stands for. Throughout my career I have been lucky enough to work with and alongside many inspiring and dedicated people for which I will be eternally grateful.”

Trish Stuart Parker is passionate about the development of young research practitioners, and the improvement of the image of research as a profession. She leads the MRS University Roadshow and is the driving force behind the AQR Mentoring Scheme, as well as being CEO of Discovery Research.

Trish says "There’s no profession that offers so much diversity, creativity and such joie de vivre as qualitative market research. It’s been an honour to be involved in the industry, and it’s been the nature of the work and the people involved that has made me a real evangelist for research across 30 years. Now the ultimate accolade – Fellowship of MRS. Thank you so much. I feel very humble."

Our three new Fellows will be presented with their certificates by President of MRS Dame Dianne Thompson at the Excellence Awards.