Esomar President’s report for June 2026

Dear Esomar Members, dear Global Insight Community,

Summer is upon us, and with it comes a moment to pause, reflect, and look ahead. This is my last report before we all gather in Valencia for our Annual Congress in September (1st to 4th), a milestone I know many of us are eagerly anticipating. Before we get there, let me share with you what has been a particularly productive and inspiring month for our association.

Council Meeting, Strategy 2030 & Member Value Workshops

In June, your Council came together in Amsterdam for a working session that went well beyond our usual agenda. We dedicated workshops to enhance our membership value and to the development of a practical playbook for our Members on Strategy 2030. Our ambition is clear: Strategy 2030 should not remain a document on a shelf, but become a living guide that helps every Member, from global companies to individual researchers, navigate the transformation of our sector. The playbook will translate our strategic pillars into concrete actions, tools, and opportunities that can be applied by our community. We look forward to sharing the first outcomes of this work with you in Valencia at Congress.

AI Taskforce Update

We also received an update on the work of our AI Taskforce, presented by Aurélie Reynier, responsible at Esomar for Data, AI and Innovation. Artificial intelligence continues to reshape how insights are generated, validated, and used, and the Taskforce is doing essential work to ensure our community stays at the forefront of these developments, with quality, ethics, and thought leadership firmly at the centre. The discussion with Council was rich and forward-looking, and it reaffirmed how vital it is that Esomar leads the conversation on responsible AI in research and insights.

Dinner with the Professional Standards Committee

After a full and intense day, the Council and part of the HQ Team enjoyed dinner with the Professional Standards Committee, chaired by Ray Poynter, who presented their plan for 2026/2027. Professional standards are the bedrock of our profession and the foundation of the trust that brands, insights agencies, and the public place in our work. The Committee’s plan is ambitious and thoughtful, addressing the evolving challenges our industry faces while safeguarding the principles that define us. I want to thank the Committee members for their dedication and for a truly engaging evening of discussion.

CEO Forum – Amsterdam, 30 June

On 30 June, we hosted our CEO Forum in Amsterdam, bringing together 40 CEOs from different countries across the globe. It was a remarkable gathering of leadership and perspective. The conversations covered the state of our industry, the opportunities and disruptions ahead, and the role Esomar can play in supporting leaders through change. The energy in the room was a powerful reminder of the strength of our global community and the value of bringing its leaders together face to face.

See You in Valencia