Ipsos Australia today announced the appointment of two research executives to complement the growing national team, including an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander research specialist.

Sharon Barnes (left) joins Ipsos as director in public affairs for the Ipsos Social Research Institute, Indigenous Research Unit.

This newly-created national position will specialise in research with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations and communities and work closely with Winangali, Ipsos’s strategic partner for Indigenous research projects.

Barnes has previously worked with the Department of Social Services as the assistant section manager for the “Footprints in Time” longitudinal study of Indigenous children since 2003. In that role, she was responsible for data collection, community engagement, study content and survey design.

Prior to that, Barnes has worked in various roles at Aboriginal Hostels Ltd and the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS). She is a member of the Australian Bureau of Statistics roundtable on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Statistics and has a strong reputation for guiding the development of survey methodology, ethical conduct of research and associated cultural protocols.

In the Ipsos Brisbane office, Sandra Bienayme (right) joins as research executive in the public affairs team. She recently graduated with a Master’s degree in International Business from HEC Paris. Prior to her studies, Bienayme was a market research assistant at French agency QualiQuanti.

During her studies, Bienayme had a brand management internship with Danone’s dairy business in the UK working on brands Activia and Shape.

Ipsos Australia and New Zealand managing director Simon Wake said, “We are delighted to welcome Sharon and Sandra to the team. Sharon is our first appointment since we announced our unique research partnership with Indigenous communications and research company Winangali last December to jointly conduct Indigenous research studies.”