MRS Unlimited Webinar - The European Accessibility Act (EAA) and Future of Accessible Market Research Tech

Join us for an insightful and actionable panel discussion exploring how the European Accessibility Act (EAA) is set to transform the world of market research technology, and for the better if we let it. This unique webinar brings together industry leaders and subject matter experts to unpack the EAA’s implications, compliance requirements, and exciting opportunities for strategic growth through accessible tools and inclusive research practices.

Key Topics:

• Overview of the European Accessibility Act (EAA): Understanding the new regulation who and what is in scope and how it may impact market research agencies.
• Compliance Requirements: What is needed for EAA compliance?
• Opportunities for Growth: How accessible tools and inclusive research practices can drive strategic growth.
• Practical Advice: Steps to enhance accessibility and positively navigate the EAA in market research.

The primary aim of this webinar is to equip people in the research sector who work in or with clients or research participants in the EU with a clear, practical understanding of the European Accessibility Act's implications for research tech, practices and client considerations. This includes those using, creating, selling or buying online research tools, and those working with clients where inclusive research will now be more strategically important.

This session is designed to benefit a broad range of professionals from the market research and customer insight sectors. Participants will gain valuable insights into the EAA’s requirements and opportunities for strategic growth through accessible tools and inclusive research practices.

What you will learn:

• Timely Insight: The EAA is now in effect (since 28 June 2025). This session provides timely guidance for leaders and practitioners who need to adapt their technology, workflows, and procurement strategies to meet the new regulations.
• Strategic Opportunity: Learn how compliance can be more than box-ticking—accessible tech and research practices can drive deeper reach, richer data, and differentiated growth.
• Expert Panel: Benefit from the candid insights of experienced professionals who are actively shaping the future of accessible research.
• Interactive Q&A: Bring your questions and challenges to the live session for real-time feedback and advice.

The webinar will consist of a pre-recorded panel discussion, followed by a live Q&A session to address audience questions in real time.

Webinar Chair

Christine Hemphill

Christine is a disability and age-inclusive inclusive researcher, designer, and innovator. She founded and leads Open Inclusion, based in the UK and operating globally. Open is a global leader in market, social, design and innovation research that includes disabled and older participants. Open helps clients better understand the impacts of functional human diversity to inform better decisions and empower better solutions. They work with governments, academia, large commercial organisations, NGOs, accelerators and entrepreneurial start-ups to help them understand their target markets / audiences more broadly and completely to identify, design and deliver more valuable outcomes.

Reginé Gilbert

Regine Gilbert is a user experience designer, educator, and author. She the James Weldon Johnson Professor at New York University Tandon School of Engineering and has recently been based in Paris working on accessible tech, including understanding the implications of the EAA across a range of industries. She is also a consultant for large and small brands.

Regine is the author of Inclusive Design for a Digital World, Designing with Accessibility in Mind, published by Apress. She believes in making the world a more inclusive and accessible place. Her areas of research focus are digital accessibility, inclusive design and immersive experiences.

Trixie Cartwright

Trixie Cartwright is the Global Head of Strategic Initiatives at Ipsos Operations.  One of the key focuses of this role is understanding how research can be more inclusive through the questions asked and the samples provided.  She collaborates across countries to understand the cultural nuances, language and legal implications to help understand how to best address the needs of underserved communities. 

She is an active member of the management team for Ipsos Operations and also works closely with industry bodies including the ESOMAR professional standards committee, and as a member of the Representation in Research steering group for the MRS.

Mark Walker

Mark Walker is Head of Marketing at UK Charity AbilityNet, which has been a global leader in digital accessibility for the past 25 years. 

abilityNet works with a wide range of global brands and other organisations to enable them to deliver accessible digital services and products that improve customer experience and meet legal requirements.

Mark’s recent work includes hosting a series of webinars about the EAA which helped over 1,000 organisations understand the requirements of the Act and what they need to do about it. AbilityNet also published guide to how to meet the requirements of the EAA - available for download on the AbilityNet website.

Mark also organises AbilityNet’s annual TechShare Pro conference, held in London in November. Now it’s ninth year Europe’s largest accessibility event is supported by  Microsoft, Google, HSBC, Sony, Barclays and many other global brands.