Scaling research impact in 2025: AMA with Kate Towsey
In 2025, scaling research is no small feat. As demand for research grows, so does the need for smarter systems, stronger influence, and sustainable ways of working.
In this live Ask Me Anything (AMA) session, hosted by Rachel Zhang, ResearchOps pioneer Kate Towsey will take your biggest questions on structuring, scaling, and sustaining research systems that do more than just keep up with change—they help shape it.
Kate has spent over a decade embedding research systems inside some of the world’s biggest organisations, and she’s here to share what actually works, what doesn’t, and what’s coming next.
What you’ll learn:
🔍 Scaling research without scaling headcount—how to do more with less
🔍 Avoiding burnout while making research a must-have, not a nice-to-have
🔍 The smarter way to build sustainable research systems that last
🔍 Why research teams struggle to measure impact—and how to fix it
This session offers a unique opportunity to engage directly with Kate, gain practical advice, and learn how to enhance your ResearchOps practices.
💡 Have a question for Kate? Submit it during registration! We'll begin by addressing the most common pre-submitted questions before opening up the live AMA.
Tune in to learn more about the Masterclass: Scaling & Systematising Research with Kate Towsey on the 14th of August is the Manly, Sydney.
Want to transform research into a scalable insights-generating engine? Join this one-day masterclass with Kate Towsey, research operations guru and author of 'Research That Scales' (Rosenfeld, 2024). These leadership-level masterclasses are in-person, small by design, and include pre-work and asynchronous coaching. You'll leave with a brain full of new ideas, well-defined strategic priorities, and a custom roadmap for revolutionising research in your organisation.
📌 Can’t join live? Register to receive the session recording straight to your inbox!
Meet your speakers
Kate Towsey
Research operations advisor, author, and Founder of the Cha Cha Club
Kate Towsey is an independent ResearchOps advisor and author of Research That Scales: The Research Operations Handbook (Rosenfeld, 2024). For more than a decade, she has been at the forefront of ResearchOps. The inventor of the widely used acronym PWDR (pau·duh) for “people who do research,” Kate also wrote some of the earliest blog posts about setting up research operations, founded the ResearchOps Community, and launched the #WhatisResearchOps movement, putting ResearchOps on the map. In 2019, she stepped back from the ResearchOps Community and started the Cha Cha Club. Over twenty years, Kate has delivered operations in ecommerce, education, government, retail, and tech. Kate now advises companies worldwide on scaling and systematising research. Connect with Kate on LinkedIn.
Rachel Zhang
Founder at Ro&Co Studio and Certified Askable Researcher
Rachel is an experienced Experience Strategist with over 15 years in leading digital enterprises, including Google, Telstra, and Accenture.
Her portfolio includes major projects like the redesign of the Parliament of Victoria experience and future-focused research for WorkSafe Victoria’s digital Inspector’s tool.
As a design leader, she has managed cross-functional teams and created in-house mentorship programs to address skill gaps. Currently, she serves as an expert-in-residence in User Experience at Academy Xi, dedicated to mentoring future digital innovators. Connect with Rachel on LinkedIn.