WHO is futurefact

futurefact Associates

futurefact is a research and conference project coordinated by a team of well-known researchers. We see it as an opportunity to work with other interesting and respected researchers on a non-competitive basis, to combine our talents and experience and to come up with findings that are really exciting and stimulating and which benefit our clients. futurefact is a truly “virtual” organisation in that it has no full-time employees.

JOS KUPER: Jos Kuper is a research professional of more than 30 years experience and heads Kuper research, a consultancy specialising in media, marketing and socio-political analysis. Her focus is on the development of new entrants on the media playing field, the reinvigoration of existing media products, country and corporate perception audits, and the development of communication strategies. The emphasis is on innovative and insightful research processes, surveys and segmentations in order to facilitate relevant and meaningful interventions in the areas of concern. She lectures on an ad hoc basis to Masters and Honours level media studies students at the University of the Witwatersrand, has presented several papers at international conferences, and is a member of the Steering Committee of Transparency International.

PENNY HOETS: Penny is an independent researcher, consultant and writer specialising in the socio-political and economic environment. In 1976, while with Market Research Africa, she developed and launched Sociomonitor, a highly innovative survey which segmented South Africans according to their values, beliefs and attitudes and linked them to lifestyle, product and media usage. She spent several months in Switzerland working on the Research Institute on Social Change’s ACE (Anticipating Change in Europe) programme. Penny has worked as a research consultant since 1989 with a particular interest in social research, futures research and scenario development. Aside from research, Penny was commissioned by Wilderness Safaris to write a book on their exclusive camp in the Botswana: ‘Mombo, Okavango's Place of Plenty’.

DEBBIE MILNE: Debbie is an independent researcher with expertise in the areas of consumer, market, business and socio-political research. Her degree in Social Work has given her a long-term interest in people’s underlying motivations and psycho-social needs, and their subsequent influence on consumer behaviour. She specialises in the presentation of data and in developing market segmentations that provide creative and exciting perspectives for strategy development. Debbie has also been involved in the development of an organisational health monitor, which aims to offer organisations an inexpensive look at employee satisfaction and the overall health of their company.

LAUREN SHAPIRO: Lauren has over 15 years experience working in marketing and media research. Her experience lies in marketing services, media research, media planning and client service. She has a BA degree in anthropology and psychology. Lauren runs her own media and research consultancy. Her services include working on and managing research projects, both quantitative and qualitative, running training workshops, and applying her experience and expertise where applicable. Previously she was the client service director at Telmar Media Systems. Lauren has extensive experience working with research and has a deep understanding of the processes and needs of implementing sound research with an ability to analyse and understand the results presented.