Whereto Research is based primarily in Melbourne and focuses on public policy and government communication evaluation.

The acquisition complements Ipsos Australia’s existing research focus in Australia, particularly its public affairs business in the country.

Ipsos currently has more than 200 people working in Australia based in offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth.

Simon Wake, chief executive officer at Ipsos Australia, said: “In an era of accelerated societal change in Australia, and globally, rigorous evidence-based research and advisory is an essential service to government and all organisations.

“Whereto’s team brings additional scale to our existing government and social research teams to help our clients navigate this complex environment and make better decisions.”

Ben Page, chief executive at Ipsos, added: “Whereto Research’s expertise in public sector and federal research in Australia, combined with Ipsos’ international presence in this space, will allow us to offer a broader range of solutions to our Australian clients.

“We look forward to collaborating with the Whereto Research teams to build the best business in Australia serving national and state governments’ research and evaluation needs.” 

Catherine Boekel and Penny Burke, co-directors of Whereto Research, also said: “Joining Ipsos is a tremendous opportunity for Whereto Research. Integrating into a leading international market research group will enable us to accelerate our development and offer our clients global solutions.

“We share the same passion for excellence and innovation with Ipsos, and we are convinced that this collaboration will create value for our clients and employees.”