As a researcher working across cultures, one of the biggest challenges I’ve faced is surfacing the nuances of everyday experiences without letting dominant narratives – or my own assumptions – drown them out. At intO, our global structure and commitment to deep contextual insight helps counter this. But navigating language, cultural distance and the need for speed in commercial timelines remains a constant tension. It’s taught me that real inclusion isn’t just about who’s involved in a project, it’s about how their voices are heard, prioritised and translated into action. 

I believe the next big shift will be around participant data in the context of equitable AI. As AI becomes more embedded in research and product design, we’ll need to grapple with whose data we’re training models on, and who gets represented in decision-making. Researchers must advocate for transparency, fairness, and cultural specificity, especially when data is abstracted and scaled. At intO, we’re already working on methods that protect participant agency and challenge bias in datasets. I see this as not just a technical issue, but a moral one, and a major frontier for research innovation. 

I’m inspired by researchers and organisations who actively challenge the global echo chamber, and work to decentralise assumptions and elevate overlooked perspectives. At intO, our local researchers remind me every day how vital it is to embed lived context into innovation. They show me that progress doesn’t come from louder voices, but from more diverse ones. It’s their dedication to depth, honesty and relevance that keeps my work grounded and gives me extraordinary hope for the future of our industry. 

• The full MRS Research Heroes list for 2025 can be found here.