|
AFS 'Smart Askers' is Australia's fastest growing and most trusted research data collection organisation. AFS pioneers the use of the information technology to collect high quality, in-depth data for market research and stakeholder consultation; providing researchers with access to respondents in the most efficient, engaging and responsible manner.
AFS 'Smart Askers' has become the first choice for a number of the top 10 Research Organisations in Australia as well as too a select and growing list of international clients.
AFS 'Smart Askers' also specialises in growing and maintaining dedicated panels of specialist consumer and professional audiences – clients work with AFS because we offer innovative market research solutions backed with an unparalleled dedication to high quality service and support. Above all AFS 'Smart Askers' has the reputation for delivering data collection services on budget, on time and on spec.
Experience
AFS 'Smart Askers' has developed survey methodologies over 13 years that allows clients to reference previous projects. With the level of national and international work covering a broad range of fields means we're adding to the knowledge of what works all the time, putting AFS 'Smart Askers' at the leading-edge of data collection.
Accuracy
AFS 'Smart Askers' arguably sets far higher standards of quality and performance than industry mandated measures (ISO90252/ESOMAR). We have a well-documented track record that demonstrates the accuracy of our survey methods and quality in comparison to other data collection companies when run head to head. It is this demonstrable superiority in terms of accuracy, frankness and depth of response – as well as speed and cost effectiveness, which has made AFS 'Smart Askers' the partner of choice.
> Management Team
Drew Le Grand
Chief Executive Officer
Drew acquired AFS ‘Smart askers’ then known as Australian Fieldwork Solutions in early 2007 and has set about modernising and improving the business using his many years of experience at the sharp end of the corporate world. As a result the business is now a leader in data collection industry across Australia & New Zealand.
As the CEO, Drew loves the challenge of finding ways to innovate and improve the data collection process and then applying that insight to each client’s unique requirements. Often the result is a radically different approach to the project that greatly improves the outcome for the end client.
“Excellence in fieldwork is a rare alchemy of talented people, natural curiosity, sophisticated technology, smart systems, thorough training and great management….and we have it all at AFS.”
Drew graduated from the University of Melbourne with a Bachelor of Commerce and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (FAICD) and a Senior Associate of the Financial Services Institute of Australasia (SA Fin). He is also a director and chairman of a number of companies and not-for-profit organisations.
Malcolm Slinger
Director
Malcolm Slinger has a corporate background specialising in finance and marketing including organizational change and human resource development.
He initially spent 20 years with Coca-Cola Amatil, and as such has been a significant user (buyer) of market research over the years. Accordingly, he fully understands and appreciates the importance of market research when making key business decisions.
After leaving the Coca-Cola system in 1985, he held several CEO positions with a number of leading Australian companies where he spent 17 years restructuring these businesses in order to improve their "bottom line" performance.
Having decided to leave the corporate world, Malcolm established Cadre Management Services in 2003, a management consulting company specialising in corporate re-structuring, business development, as well as providing management solutions to a select list of clients.
He joined the market research industry in 2007 when he, together with his business partner, acquired Australian Fieldwork Solutions.
Malcolm is a graduate of The Harvard University–Advanced Management Program, and also holds the following qualifications:-
-
Qualified Accountant (ACA)
-
Qualified Company Secretary (ACIS)
-
An Associate member of the Institute of Company Directors (ACID)
-
An Associate member of the Institute of Human Resources (AIHR)
Sandhya Le Grand
Chief Operating Officer
Sandhya came late to market research fieldwork. Raised and educated in the UK where she graduated as an industrial chemist, Sandhya moved to the land of Oz where she took up roles within the financial services industry managing some of the country’s most challenging call centres over a 20 year period. She has brought that experience to AFS where she initially held the position of CATI Manager and now runs all of the company’s field operations.
Sandhya’s favourite assistant in her challenging role is her Border Collie, Max, who comes to work each day and entertains visitors and staff with his curiosity, good nature and rugged good looks. AFS is a dog friendly work place.
Richard Arnheim
Healthcare Director
Richard is the GM of a new division in AFS which is devoted to data collection within the healthcare segment, having been brought into AFS in June 2009. Richard is also the owner of an international call centre which is dedicated to the healthcare segment, R.A.I.M Group Ltd.
Prior to establishing R.A.I.M Group Richard had been employed by several leading market research companies multinational corporations, including management roles in Pfizer (Spain), Gallup Israel, MIL (UK, which is now part of GFK) and Mattel Toys. As well as being a lecturer of International Marketing for the European University campus in Madrid Spain.
Richard has a vast depth of experience in the market research industry understanding the needs of clients in numerous industries, including Healthcare, Telecommunications and Industrial Products. It is his knowledge of research methodologies and their application that has placed Richard on the cutting edge of data collection techniques.
Richard graduated with honours from the David Syme School of Business (Monash University) with a Bachelor of Business (Marketing).
Vishal Kiran
Data Processing Manager
Vishal began his career in the business consulting arena developing a unique perspective of the business services industry. A bachelor’s degree in commerce and an MBA from Monash gives him a strong foundation in business practices, accounting and commerce. Straight out of college he was offered a position in Deloitte Consulting, as a business analyst. His 3 years at Deloitte gained him valuable exposure to a wide spectrum of businesses. During this time he worked on numerous projects involving analytical and research work and was recognized for his contributions. He soon moved up to a managerial role and was seconded as an on-site team leader at client locations in eastern USA.
In 2003 he joined Siemens Shared Services, the core professional services division of the Siemens group of companies. Here, Vishal was involved in transitioning critical processes from member companies to the shared office locations. This experience provided Vishal with an appreciation of process implementation and human resource management. Having completed his assignment with the Siemens group, he then returned to university to study business management. In July 2006 Vishal completed his MBA from Monash University.
In 2007 Drew Le Grand and Malcolm Slinger assumed control of AFS and offered Vishal a position in the data processing team under the guidance of Nadeen Spratling, one of Australia’s most respected data analysts and an expert in SurveyCraft.
Vishal’s role includes coordinating data processing and programming resources within AFS. This includes the programming of questionnaires in SurveyCraft, Sample management and processing of output.
Robert Paterson
Client Services Executive
Rob has 30 years of marketing and management experience, which includes over a decade of field management experience in the market research industry and is considered by many of his peers and superiors as one of the best market research operations managers in the country.
Rob has a marketing degree and worked for many years in senior marketing roles within Australia Post where he developed and managed several important projects and initiatives, all of which embraced extensive market research. He was solely responsible for the creation of the Postpak packaging range and prior to leaving Australia Post, was overseeing an extremely sensitive issue involving the development of a database of all Australian addresses.
He left Australia Post to take a field management role with Quantum Market Research for several years before joining AFS some 7 years ago.
At AFS, Rob has been responsible for managing large scale research studies covering diverse issues with many different quotas and requirements. He oversees all projects from the time of commissioning, during fieldwork and in providing data output. During fieldwork, he provides clients with a daily performance appraisal which includes sample results and achievements against quotas.
He manages a highly experienced and professional team of telephone interviewers who have an ability to capture sensitive information from senior executives. On this project, Rob will play a pivotal role in ensuring the information collected by interviewers is meaningful, current and complete.
Angela Magoga
Client Services Manager
Angela has over 5 years experience in market research, specialising in managing F2F / Intercept surveys in all states of Australia. Angela currently managers a field staff in excess of 100 interviewers around Australia and also in New Zealand.
It is her particular attention to detail, personnel skills, and client communication that ensures each F2F project undertaken by AFS is successfully completed to the client’s satisfaction and specifications, no matter how difficult the challenge may be, notwithstanding the project may require the deployment of field staff to be located in capital cities or regional and more remote locations around Australia
Mandy Adamo
Account Manager
Mandy first joined AFS as a Project Manager in the field division after 9 years as an Operations Manager for a healthcare recruitment firm.
Mandy has a Bachelor of Media Communications and Business Marketing, a Post Graduate Diploma in Front Line Management and a Certificate 4 in ISO Accreditation Lead Auditing.
Mandy has adapted her previous experience, skills mix and knowledge base to the diverse market research industry. Mandy takes the care and has the talent required to support her clients and provide solutions.
Mandy prides herself on her interpersonal skills, client communication & attention to detail (she attributes this to the fact she is a Capricorn).
Outside of the office walls, Mandy is busy planning for her and her partner Andy’s wedding in December. The plans have had to step up a gear with the news that Prince William and Kate Middleton are trying to steal her ‘wedding thunder’. Mandy is also the proud mother of a beautiful black cat called Hades, a handsome German Shepherd called Koby, 30 plus birds and 4 tanks of tropical fish (all of which have individual names – next time you speak to her I am sure she would love to go through each and every one with you).
Jenny Alamaris
Data Processing Manager
> For International Researchers
Following the change in ownership in 2007, AFS 'Smart Askers' has established itself as one of the leading data collection (fieldwork) company's operating within the Australian market, as well as undertaking a range of challenging projects for researches on behalf an expanding list of international clients located in various countries throughout Europe, North America and Asia.
Australia is a unique environment to undertake research, geographically challenging and culturally diverse. It has taken time to be able to offer an extensive network of interviewers to conduct research in all parts of the country. Experience means we can confidently help clients to navigate the intricacies of Australian society.
Instant Online Reporting
We can save you time and money by providing high quality quantitative data and real qualitative understanding through our online capabilities. The AFS 'Smart Askers' model also allows you to get international results faster and more cost-effectively than traditional methods, with no compromise on quality; AFS 'Smart Askers' has always been at the forefront.
> Managing Real World Data Collection
When AFS 'Smart Askers' conduct a survey, the first step is to assess the level of representativeness available. We then create a proposal outling the risks involved and steps to manage the project risk, recommending the most appropriate methodology.
A dedication to responsiveness means even complex hybrid CATI and face to face projects can begin within 24 hours. AFS provides complete project transparency and client's decide for themselves the level of participation they'd like, provided with immediacy the essential information to make changes to improve quality and performance.
When data collection is complete, the raw data is coded and presented – report ready, and to specification. AFS 'Smart Askers' understand that while collection is important, the usefulness of the data for the researcher and the client is the ultimate measure of research success. The data team work to achieve this in a number of vital ways, the utility of their table presentation is peerless, as is their dedication to being responsive 24/7 to improvements and further interrogation.
> Memberships
AFS 'Smart Askers' is a long term, committed partner of research industry professionals and research users; it's natural then that we take a leadership role in developing industry standards.
In this light AFS 'Smart Askers' was one of the first market reserach companies in Australia to qualify for ISO 20252 accreditation.
While this standard forms the foundation for our internal procedures we quickly found it necessary to improve on this standard to satisfy the level of quality and performance we were demanding from ourselves.
From the very beginning to the very end of each research project, we aim to exceed on every "measure" of our clients expectations. Importantly, our organisation is actively invloved in industry issues through its association with AMSRO, AMSRS and ESOMAR; working to improve the quality of service of other members.
> AMSRS Code of Conduct
The AFS 'Smart Askers' staff are AMSRS members and we ensure that our research work is carried out in accordance with the association’s Code of Conduct. This Code is designed to provide assurance to everyone involved in the research process, whether they are a client, a respondent or a researcher. To our clients and panel members, this means they can be sure that the research work carried out is conducted in a professional and ethical manner with integrity of data being preserved at all times.
Return to Top
|
