๐ช๐บ What a privilege to host a day like this!
On May 12th, the Esomar Citizen Insights Summit brought together around 75 remarkable people at the European Parliament in Brussels โ researchers, policymakers, civil society leaders, and public affairs experts โ united by one urgent and necessary question:
๐๐ผ๐ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ป ๐ฑ๐ฎ๐๐ฎ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ถ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐๐ ๐ต๐ฒ๐น๐ฝ ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐บ๐ผ๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ ๐๐๐ฎ๐ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐น๐ถ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐๐ต๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ด๐ต ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฑ ๐๐ผ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฎ๐น ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ต๐ป๐ผ๐น๐ผ๐ด๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐น ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฎ๐ป๐ด๐ฒ?
Over the course of the day, our conversations moved across a remarkable range of territory โ from the role of evidence in defending democratic institutions, to how Europe’s ageing population is reshaping the social contract; from NATO’s use of behavioural insights to counter disinformation, to the ways validated AI and qualitative-at-scale research are transforming how governments listen to their citizens. Fresh research across Europe brought new evidence on how trust, participation, and environmental attitudes are evolving โ and what that means for the institutions meant to serve them.
What struck me most, sitting in that room, was not any single finding or presentation. It was the quality of the conversation itself. The willingness to engage seriously, across professional and institutional boundaries, with questions that do not have easy answers.
That is exactly what ESOMAR exists to make possible.
Rigorous research and genuine citizen insights are not technical luxuries. They are democratic necessities. And days like this remind me, with real force, why our profession matters โ and what it can contribute when it steps into the space where evidence meets policy, and where data meets human lives.
I was delighted to be invited to a pre-event meeting chaired by Xabier Palacio and organised by Esomar Legal Affairs Committee. We discussed mid and long-term industry dynamics and how Esomar can be a convenor for dialogue with institutions.
Thank you for offering the opportunity to open this day, you can find my speech here.
My deepest thanks to the Programme Committee who shaped such a rich and thoughtful day: Dr. Roland Abold, Tanja Kimova, Femke De Keulenaer, and Kim Smouter.
A very warm thank you to the ESOMAR team who made it all happen with their characteristic dedication and care: Federica Pizzuti, Rhiannon Bryant, Marina Roman Herrera, Muna Hazam, Jules van Vlokhoven, and the wider team.
And to every speaker who gave their expertise, their time, and their thinking so generously: Michelle Harrison, Adam Nyman, Amy Lecomber,ย Simon Taylor, Nicolas Becuwe, Ray Poynter, Gaรซtane Ricard-Nihoul, Daniel Fazekas, Cody Dodd, Kieran O’Leary, Ennio Armato, Monika Alpoeggerย โ thank you.
Until next time. ๐
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