RAP RESEARCH FORUM 2025

Technological Trends in Research:  AI Revisited

The theme of the 2024 RAP Research Forum was AI in Research: Convergence Points, which focused on a theoretical discussion of how generative AI was impacting stages of the research process. Given the speed of change in AI development and use, the 2025 version of the Research Forum would like to revisit the theme of AI, but through the lens of real-world applications in marketing or social research, coupled with a discussion about the type of AI specific skills that emerging research analysts will need to be career-ready.

Panel Speakers

Kevin Hare

Executive Vice President, Dig Insights

Kevin is an Executive Vice President with Dig Insights. He leads a group of client-facing research teams that design custom research for clients across a range of industries including financial services, consumer packaged goods, telecommunications and food and beverage manufacturers. Prior to joining Dig, he led research for Rogers Communications including Insights for the communications, enterprise and media business units. He has been a featured presenter at numerous conferences including Quirks, MRIA National Conference, Association for Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM), Cable & Telecommunications Association for Marketing (CTAM), and as a guest speaker for Special Olympics Canada.

Kevin will be sharing Dig’s perspective on AI called Building for the Future: Unlocking AI’s Potential. His talk will explore how AI is being integrated into the research process, highlighting key areas of impact and sharing practical examples of AI tools currently in use at Dig that will include part of a case study of Dig’s work with Labatt. 

Scott Boyer

Executive Vice President & Partner, BrandSpark International

Scott Boyer is the EVP & Partner at BrandSpark International, a Toronto-based research and consulting firm. Scott is also partner with Best New Product Awards Inc. Scott is a seasoned market research professional and entrepreneur with over 25 years in consumer insights, trust research, and strategic brand positioning. As the managing director of the research division at BrandSpark Inc, he specializes in uncovering actionable insights to help clients build and maintain consumer trust, optimize brand strategies, and drive measurable growth.

Scott’s interest in AI lies in gathering meaningful insights efficiently while streamlining the research end to end process, and actively integrating AI into his workflow to quickly explore new analytical angles for strategic brainstorming and creative problem-solving.

Felicia Colasanto

Director of Research, BrandSpark International

Felicia Colasanto is a Research Director at BrandSpark International. Felicia has over 6 years of experience leading qualitative and quantitative market research, focused on helping brands grow their market share via strategic brand differentiation and consumer-centric communication. Felicia’s expertise in messaging optimization and brand strategy empowers brands to connect more effectively with their audiences and enhance growth.

Felicia’s interest in AI lies in streamlining day to day research tasks efficiently, to free up time for insight and storytelling development.

Scott and Felicia's presentation will focus on AI in survey analysis and a live demonstration of an application of a GPT assistant.

Networking Hosts

Elizabeth Nowicki

Director, Product & Segment Insights, People, Culture and Brand | CIBC

Tasala Tahir

Research & Evaluation Coordinator | MLSE Foundation & MLSE LaunchPad

Ben Arhen

Research & Evaluation Coordinator | MLSE Foundation & MLSE LaunchPad

Daniella Tolentino

Senior Survey Administrator, Employee Listening, People & Culture | Lululemon