Cian is Co Managing Director of nfpResearch alongside Tim Harrison-Byrne. Cian and Tim are responsible for all aspects of nfpResearch's work. Cian oversees all of nfpResearch's bespoke research, helping charities frame, understand and resolve their research questions around brand, audiences, fundraising, communications, stakeholders and more.

Cian is an expert in quantitative research design and analysis and takes the lead on a range of client projects, from proposition and message testing, to audience research and attitudinal segmentation. He is also responsible for ensuring the quality of our research across the board.

Cian is a frequent speaker on a number of charity topics and has spoken at the International Fundraising Congress, The Wheel's Annual Conference, The Irish National Volunteer Management Conference, the Institute of Fundraising Scottish Conference and Trust Fundraising Conference, as well as multiple CharityComms events. He has also authored reports on a range of topics including charity brands and media spend, global fundraising and charity finance.

As well as working at nfpResearch, Cian has previously worked at the British Red Cross in the Fundraising Strategy department, and at the Charities Advisory Trust

cian.murphy@nfpresearch.com

Tim is Co Managing Director of nfpResearch alongside Cian Murphy. Tim and Cian are responsible for all aspects of nfpResearch's work. Tim oversees all of nfpResearch's trend research, helping charities engage more effectively with their public, political and key stakeholder audiences. Tim advises clients on how perceptions of their brand have changed over time, as well as what broader societal trends mean for charities.

Tim has delivered projects ranging from campaign and brand evaluations to stakeholder audits and strategy development. Tim leads on nfpResearch’s tracking research with the general public, MPs, journalists and healthcare professionals, and regularly presents to various internal teams within charities.

Tim is a frequent speaker on a number of charity topics and has spoken at the International Fundraising Congress, The Wheel’s Annual Conference, the Institute of Fundraising’s National Fundraising Convention, UCL’s Global Citizenship Programme and multiple CharityComms events. He has also authored reports on trust in charities and donors’ perceptions on GDPR.
Before joining nfpResearch, Tim worked in corporate research for three years, and prior to that worked for an MP.

timothy.harrison-byrne@nfpresearch.com

Anne-Sophie joined nfpResearch in May 2017. She currently works across teams to streamline processes and improve client experience. 

Before joining nfpResearch Anne-Sophie worked for three years in market research agencies focusing on brand and communication research, tracking and segmentation projects. She holds an MSc in Quantitative Marketing /Market Research from the IAE of Grenoble (France).

In her spare time, Anne-Sophie enjoys travelling and exploring new places, getting lost in translation, yoga, and occasionally fails at baking healthy cakes.

anne-sophie.liv@nfpresearch.com

Ben joined nfpResearch in April 2022 and manages our marketing, media output, and communications.

He is a graduate from the University of Nottingham, receiving a BA in English in 2016 with a specific focus on language in advertising. Having worked as a marketing administrator for the university, he then spent time working in PR and communications at London based agencies supporting the property sector, specialising in supporting tech start-ups.

Ben spends his spare time volunteering with his local food-bank, attending and (on occasion) participating in comedy nights, and is a lover of film.

ben.roberts@nfpresearch.com

Berni first joined nfpResearch as an Admin and Finance Officer in July 2015, providing admin support to the Business Team as well as completing the company's book-keeping. As Head of Finance and People, she continues with her finance role, which now includes the company payroll, as well as working in the HR dept and acting as office manager. 

She has a Professional Executive PA diploma from Pitman Training and a Level 2 Accounting qualification from AAT (Association of Accounting Technicians).

In her spare time, she is aiming to complete an AAT Level 3 Accounting qualification and is an avid theatre goer. 

berni.white@nfpresearch.com

Chanda joined nfpResearch in April 2024 as a Data Officer after working as a consultant in the financial sector and training in data analytics. 

She graduated with a Master’s in Social and Cultural Anthropology from University College London (UCL) where she focused her interdisciplinary research on the impact of conservation projects on indigenous peoples in the Amazon jungle. Prior to this, Chanda completed a BSc in Accounting and Finance at the University of York where she first began working with data.

Between her Master’s and her first job Chanda spent over a year travelling where she volunteered working on sustainability, bio-construction and women’s empowerment charity projects.

In her spare time, Chanda enjoys practicing and teaching yoga, skateboarding and travelling to places where she can surf and scuba dive.

chanda.lamb@nfpResearch.com

Eva primarily works on our general public tracking research for charities as part of the Public Audiences team. In particular, Eva leads on the development of our international public audience research, including the delivery of research in Canada (nfpPublic Canada), which offers unique insight into Canadian's views on charities. Eva also manages a range of quant and qual research projects and has worked on applicant perception projects for some of the sector’s most influential grant-making foundations.

Before joining the nfpResearch team, Eva graduated from the University of Warwick with a degree in French and Linguistics, during which she spent a year in France teaching English as a second language. In her spare time Eva has taken up illustration, enjoys playing the guitar and considers herself an enthusiastic but mediocre plant mum. 

eva.spencer@nfpresearch.com

Hanaka joined nfpResearch in March 2024 as a Research Assistant for the Public Audiences Team.

She graduated with a degree in BSc Social Sciences from University College London in 2023 where she developed a range of social research skills. In her final year of study, she qualitatively explored mental health help-seeking behaviour in East Asian university students.

Hanaka is passionate about using research to give voice to the underrepresented. She regularly volunteers at Body&Soul Charity in her spare time and is currently working on their project to decolonise Dialectical Behavioural Therapy. She also enjoys walking around London to find new dog and cat friends, crocheting and playing tennis.

hanaka.ikeda@nfpResearch.com

Heather joined nfpResearch in 2016 and heads up our Influencer Audiences team, helping charities evaluate and strengthen their engagement with politicians, journalists and healthcare professionals.

She holds a Masters in International Politics MA (Res) from the University of Manchester where she focused on public attitudes towards immigration. She also has a BA (Hons) in Politics with International Relations from Lancaster University. During her studies she volunteered with several Refugee Charities and worked as a tutor for a not for profit aimed at reducing the attainment gap. A supporter of Amnesty International, Heather was the secretary of her local group for a number of years. Prior to working at nfpResearch Heather worked for the NHS and has an interest in health.

Ian Scott has a background in both anthropology and statistics and is hugely experienced in both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies.
 
Ian spent many years in senior roles with some of the world’s largest market research companies, managing multi-million pound accounts, conducting specialist analytics and hands-on qualitative research (focus groups etc.). He then spent time in HR consultancy with the Hay Group and following that had responsibility for legacy income with Cancer Research UK.
 
In recent years Ian has for worked as a freelance consultant providing support to organisations in technology, media, the not-for-profit sector, and to high end golf-clubs.
 
Amongst the organisations he has worked with recently are Amazon Web Services, Royal Troon Golf Club, Kings College London, the Scottish Green Party, and BBC Children in Need.
 
Ian has degrees in Social Research Methods, and Social Anthropology and Sociology

Isobel joined nfpResearch in March 2024 as a Research Assistant for the Public Audiences team.

She graduated with a BSc in Psychology from Nottingham Trent University in 2023, with a focus on mental health and clinical neuropsychology. Her independent research project exploring female undergraduates’ experiences of safety on nights out and its impact on wellbeing ignited her passion for research.

Before joining the nfpResearch team, Isobel worked as Lead Researcher on a project investigating student mental wellbeing at Anglia Ruskin University, particularly in diverse student populations.

In her spare time, Isobel enjoys attending dance classes and performing in a local dance group, as well as travelling to new places.

isobel.kane@nfpResearch.com
 

Jemma has been in the research industry for over 20 years since leaving University and has worked across numerous industry sectors specialising in Charity and Consumer research.

In 2015 Jemma started her own research consultancy specialising in turning vast amounts of data into meaningful insights and joined nfpResearch in September 2016 as a part time data processor.

In her spare time, Jemma enjoys walking her beloved dog Frank, caravanning and exploring new places. She has recently taken up growing her own vegetables with varying amounts of success.

jemma.smith@nfpresearch.com

Joe Saxton founded nfpResearch (formerly known as nfpSynergy) in 2002. He stepped down from his role as Driver of Ideas after selling the company to colleagues Cian and Tim in Autumn 2021. Joe still works on a range of specific projects, especially those that look at strategic advice on fundraising or communications, or wider organisational issues. He has co-authored over 70 reports on charities from branding to trusteeship and organisational strategy.

Joe was chair of the Institute of Fundraising from 2005-2008. He was co-founder and chair of CharityComms from 2006 to 2013, and chair of the student environment and development campaign group People & Planet from 2005 to 2015. For six years he was a trustee of the RSPCA and chair of both the Public Affairs and International committees. He is now chair of the Parentkind which has over 14,000 members and aims to develop parent engagement with schools.

He was in the top ten of the most influential people in UK fundraising for over a decade, including four years in the top spot. In 2007 and 2008, he was named one of the 1000 most influential people in London by the Evening Standard. In 2009, PR Week named him as the 2nd most influential person in voluntary sector PR and communications. He was highly commended in Third Sector’s trustee award in 2013.

Before nfpResearch, Joe was Director of Communications at the RNID, Britain’s largest charity for deaf and hard of hearing people. At RNID he was responsible for PR, disability consultancy, lobbying, campaigning, policy, information and membership. He was also with Brann, the world’s largest direct marketing group, for five years and has worked with numerous charities. He co-founded the Journal of Non-profit and Voluntary Sector Marketing.

Joe lives in Keswick in the Lake District and is married with three children.

To contact Joe, email him at joe.saxton@nfpresearch.com, or call on 07976 329212.

Katharina joined nfpResearch in February 2020 and now oversees our project work. She has worked with clients across different charity sectors on bespoke projects understanding brand perceptions, audience segments, and the needs of service users. Katharina previously supported our influencer audiences research working on the government and parliamentary monitors and tracking with journalists and healthcare professionals.

Before joining nfpResearch, Katharina worked as a researcher in academia and in the research team of a local mental health charity in London. She holds a degree in Psychology from the University of Koblenz-Landau (Germany) and a PhD in the field of Personality and Social Psychology from the Technische Universität Darmstadt (Germany).

katharina.zistler@nfpresearch.com

Logan joined nfpResearch in April 2023 as a Research Assistant for the Public Audiences Team after completing their Master's in Sociology (Media and Culture) at the University of Cambridge. There they explored mixed methods research to understand how Trans and Non-binary people use social media to inform their identities.

Before their Master's Logan spent a year teaching as an English Language Teaching Assistant in Madrid. This followed their completion of Bachelor's degrees in Public Relations and Journalism at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina.

In their spare time Logan loves playing football, cooking, and baking.

logan.difranco@nfpResearch.com

Maia joined nfpResearch in October 2024 as a Researcher in the Public Audiences team working on numerous monitors and leading on nfpBrand. With a strong foundation in market research, Maia previously worked at another agency where she developed a keen understanding of audience insights and brand strategy.

Her diverse background includes living abroad in countries including Canada, Australia and France. She holds a degree in Business and French from the University of Manchester, where she developed a strong grasp of market dynamics and research theory.

Outside work, Maia is deeply committed to community engagement. Her longstanding interest in the charity sector has driven her to volunteer consistently over the years. She currently assists in refugee-run cookery classes and assists an inclusive theatre company with their fundraising efforts by conducting research. In her spare time Maia enjoys reading, running and travelling.

maia.coehlo@nfpResearch.com

Mhairi is an experienced researcher specialising in the voluntary and social purpose sector, who has worked client and agency-side and across quantitative and qualitative research. She has experience in survey design, data analysis, depth-interviews and focus group moderation, and brings high quality analysis and reporting, tailored to audience, to her project work.
 
Mhairi previously led on research, monitoring and evaluation at Into Film, the national youth arts education charity funded by the British Film Institute, where she managed funder monitoring responsibilities, external evaluation programmes and supported internal evaluation and research competencies. She also worked at nfpResearch for many years first as a senior researcher across tracking programmes and bespoke client projects, and then heading up the Charity Awareness Monitor (CAM) on behalf of over 60 charity clients.
 
Over the years Mhairi has worked with non-profit clients including ACEVO, Action for Children, Age UK, Alzheimer’s UK, ACEVO, Care International, CLIC Sargent, London Music Masters, Macmillan, Parentkind, RSPB, Time’s UP UK, and Water Aid. She has a First-Class History degree from the University of Glasgow and an MPhil and DPhil in International Relations from the University of Oxford, where she researched policy discourses on asylum and migration in the years following 9/11.

Naomi joined nfpResearch in August 2022, working primarily with the Influencer Audiences team.

She graduated with a degree in BA Geography from the University of Manchester in 2021 where she focused on studies of migration, politics and (environmental) health. Naomi has done voluntary work in the UK and overseas, notably in sports and refugee charities.

In her spare time, Naomi enjoys cycling, football, listening to music and getting out into the countryside.

naomi.croft@nfpresearch.com

Nick is a qualitative researcher and strategic consultant. He has worked on projects with nfpResearch since 2008.
 
Nick has extensive experience in researching complex and sensitive issues, such as health, finances, identity, exclusion, bereavement; and in talking to diverse stakeholder audiences to inform strategic and brand decision-making. Nick combines his work in the not-for-profit sector with projects for government and commercial clients.
 
Nick has volunteered for NHS and community projects. Over the past 20 years, he has spent time living and working in rural East Africa; and he helped to establish an education charity that supports secondary schools across Kenya & Uganda.

Peter joined nfpResearch in June 2018, and has worked both with our Influencers and Publics teams. He graduated from the University of Strathclyde in summer 2017, receiving an MSc in Political Research with his dissertation focusing upon the impact of increasing levels of secularisation on public attitudes to strands of social policy. Having previously obtained a BA in Politics from the same university in summer 2013, he also gained experience working as an intern with Skills Development Scotland’s Evaluation & Research department in Paisley. This followed his time as a Project Officer for a small community charity in the north west Highlands, researching development opportunities within the region. He has also carried out voluntary experience working for Citizens Advice Scotland as well as in the heritage and creative arts sectors.

During his spare time Peter is a keen runner, enjoys listening to music (including playing guitar) and stressing himself out supporting Liverpool FC!

peter.dawson@nfpresearch.com

Rachael Walton has over 25 years’ experience as a researcher. As a qualitative insight specialist, she has managed 100s of research projects and conducted 100s of focus groups and depth interviews. Rachael is a Certified Member (CMRS) of the Market Research Society.

Rachael has a breadth of experience across different sectors - charity, not for profit, government, tourism, automotive, retail. Rachael has been an associate for nfpResearch for twelve years, providing qualitative research support and training. She has researched subject areas such as fundraising, communications, legacies, attrition and retention, branding, product and service provision.

Rachael lives in North Wales, close to the mountains of Snowdonia. She enjoys the great outdoors with her partner and dogs.

Rachael has a degree in Social Sciences, majoring in Psychology from Middlesex University and spent a year at the Institute of Education. After a stint travelling abroad which included voluntary work in Peru, Rachael became interested in the concept of Responsible Tourism and completed an MSC in Responsible Tourism Management at Leeds Metropolitan University.

Rosie joined nfpResearch in January 2020. She works on our general public tracking research for charities, as well as a range of bespoke audience projects, helping our clients to better understand their key stakeholders. She leads on the delivery of nfpBrand, measuring perceptions of brand personality and drivers of support. She has also worked extensively on applicant perception projects for some of the sector’s most influential grant-making foundations.

Before joining nfpResearch, Rosie worked as a Research Analyst and Project Assistant on the Catalyst Project at the University of Essex, where she also obtained her BA and MA in Politics. She has experience in research and policy roles with charities including Citizens Advice, CPRE and Asthma UK.

In her spare time Rosie is an avid reader and enjoys being in the countryside or by the sea.    

rosie.burrells@nfpresearch.com

Sarah has over fifteen years of experience in research and the not for profit sector, working with a range of charities and public bodies. As an Associate for nfpResearch, she focuses primarily on desk research and analysis, using various types of evidence and data to tackle a range of topics, such as the extent to which charity lotteries are linked to problem gambling; whether charities should charge beneficiaries for services; and issues around measuring philanthropic giving in the UK. Clients have included the Institute of Fundraising, the Lotteries Council, British Heart Foundation and Macmillan Cancer Support. She has also co-authored a number of freely available reports published as part of nfpResearch’s commitment to working for the health of the not-for-profit sector.

Prior to this, as a Senior Researcher for nfpResearch Sarah gained experience in all stages of the research process from proposal writing to dissemination of findings, conducting bespoke qualitative and quantitative projects for a range of clients. Sarah has worked and volunteered for several charities, working on homelessness, poverty, supporting ex-offenders and health. She has also worked in impact evaluation and research management for universities, as well as enjoying academic study – holding qualifications in philosophy, science and religion, criminology and research methodology.

Sarah joined nfpResearch in October 2021. She works primarily on the Public Audiences team, which includes the delivery of our general public tracking research (nfpPublic); she also leads on the delivery of public research in the devolved nations, offering unique insight into the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish general public’s view on charities. Sarah also works on a range of bespoke audience projects and on nfpFunders, helping funders to create better partnerships across the sector.

Before joining nfpResearch, Sarah graduated from Manchester Metropolitan University with a First-Class degree in International Relations. She enjoyed developing her research skills at university and through collaboration with the charity Gingerbread working on impact evaluation data collection.

In her spare time, Sarah enjoys going rock climbing and hiking.

sarah.nathan@nfpresearch.com

Sofia joined nfpResearch in September 2024 as a research assistant on the Public Audiences team.  

She graduated from the London School of Economics and Political Science summer 2024, receiving an MSc in Development Studies with her dissertation focusing upon the challenges of United Nations peacekeeping. Having previously obtained a BA(H) in International Relations and Global Studies from Nottingham Trent University in 2023.  

While she was studying, she was President of the politics and international relations society, and undertook various internships, such as a summer internship for the UK based charity Think Pacific, and a part time work experience for Ruth Edwards, Member of Parliament for Rushcliffe. 

In her spare time, Sofia enjoys exploring the different neighbourhoods of London, travelling, and socialising.