News 2026

It was surely a tough choice for some: the All-England Championships, the Football World Cup or the Research Network Summer Party? But on Wednesday 1st July, over 60 members and guests chose to spurn the sport and enjoy instead the party atmosphere at Doggetts Coat & Badge.

Over 100 invited guests attended the Archive of Market and Social Research Summer Party, at Kings College, London on Monday 29th June to celebrate its 10th Anniversary.

Congratulation to Research Network member Tariq Mirza, who is included in the recently published MRS list of new Fellows for 2026.

We returned to one of our regular venues for this year’s Research Network Spring Lunch. Ev is a restaurant focusing on Anatolian cuisine and is popular with our members

Our wonderful new Champions were out in force at our Spring Lunch this week, bringing with them a record number of guests and new members.

The famous opening to LP Harley’s novel The Go-Between was beautifully reflected in the latest of the Network’s NED Talks delivered by Peter Bartram on 24 March. Peter drew on over 60 years’ involvement in research, as both a supplier and a client, to produce a fascinating litany of ‘then vs now’ comparisons.

Friends and former colleagues of Liz Nelson gathered on Wednesday 18 March to celebrate her life, at an event organised by AMSR in association with the MRS and the Research Network.

Research Network member Elaine Francis is one of four newly elected members of the MRS Executive Board. She is a Fellow of the MRS and a trustee and board member of the MRBA.

We are delighted to announce that Sheila Byfield will be joining the Steering Committee and taking responsibility for the management of the Oral History programme.

Bidding is now open for the MRBA Auction 2026. This runs from 9:00am on Wednesday 4th March to 9:00pm on Thursday 19th March 2026.

There is still time to donate to the MRBA 2026 fundraising auction, which launches on Wednesday 4th March. No item is too small, and every contribution helps make this event a success. Some amazing prizes have already been donated.

We are excited to welcome Diego Correa to the Steering Group. He will take over as Head of Membership from Jane A’Court and Paul Russell.

According to Research Live, “despite a good-natured debate in Westminster, the stakes are high for future of the research sector”. The motion for the debate, organised by the MRS in partnership with The Debating Group, was that “We no longer need to speak directly to people to understand them”.

The MRS has announced that its new President is to be Baroness Deborah Mattinson. A researcher and political strategist, she takes over the role from Saj Arshad as his 4-year term comes to an end, and as the MRS approaches its 80th anniversary.

Congratulations to Network member Bob Qureshi FMRS, who has been awarded the MBE for services to business, charity and cricket in the New Year’s Honours list.