Leapfrog Research

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End-to-end research solutions for real impact.

We are your partners in research. Each organisation we work with has unique challenges – so we make it our business to understand you well. Our insights empower you to make informed decisions, drive meaningful results, and shape a brighter future.

Together, we help you take confident leaps forward.

OUR STORY

More than 25 years ago, we began our journey when Jo Watts founded Leapfrog Research. Since 1998, we have taken a clear and thorough approach to tackling complex challenges. We believe that collaborating closely with our clients leads to the best insights — a belief that has earned us their trust and respect time and again.

As a professional research provider, we deliver evidence-based insights that drive strategic decisions and fuel social impact. In 2017, we joined forces with Juntos Marketing. This collaboration enhanced our strategic capabilities and deepened our commitment to delivering purpose-driven solutions for our clients.

Our work goes beyond data collection. We use research to empower vulnerable communities and address societal challenges and have earned national recognition for driving meaningful change.

Leapfrog Research is a long-term member of The Research Society, Australia’s respected professional body for market researchers. Our Director Carolyn Loton is a Qualified Practicing Researcher, the highest accreditation available for researchers in Australia.

Our Research Approach

  • End-to-end research: from initial desk research and literature reviews to full mixed methodology projects with comprehensive reporting and recommendations
  • Real impact and tangible outcomes: solutions that ensure you meet your needs and that the final research supports your organisation’s goals and growth needs
  • Flexible solutions: to meet your needs, whether your requirements and budget are modest or large-scale
  • Knowledge translation: taking research reports and recommendations and helping translate these into digestible, compelling communication and assets

What makes us different?

  • Strategic, practical insights​We deliver research solutions that are both strategic and grounded in real-world applications, empowering impactful decisions with demonstrable results.​
  • Customised, Responsive & Experienced​Working closely with you, we tailor our approach to your unique needs. Our responsive, experienced researchers ensure all research aligns with your vision and goals.​
  • Inclusive and culturally aware​Experienced in engagement with hard-to-reach communities, we are able to gather insights within wide cultural and social contexts when needed.​
  • Purpose-driven impact​​Committed to doing good for people and the planet, we integrate ethical practices and customer-focused engagement into everything we do.
MEET THE TEAM

Carolyn Loton

Director

My Story

Joanne Pillai​

Senior Researcher

My Story

Juntos Marketing

The Leapfrog Research team work closely with our parent company, Juntos Marketing. Juntos Marketing is an award-winning marketing agency based in Camperdown as well as a certified B-Corp,  committed to social and environmental impact. By being part of Juntos Marketing, Leapfrog Research has access to the wider team’s extensive marketing, content and campaign understanding and experience. We access and apply this expertise to all Leapfrog Research projects, so our clients benefit from real-world, actionable recommendations.

Find out more

Carolyn Loton

Director

Carolyn Loton is the Director of Leapfrog Research and Juntos Marketing. She leads a specialised team focused on research, marketing, and communications initiatives that drive meaningful results  in complex areas like health promotion, behaviour change, and sustainability.

Carolyn’s background as an Occupational Therapist equips her with a deep understanding of consumer behaviour, which she combines with strategic marketing expertise to deliver effective, co-designed solutions. As a Qualified Practising Researcher, Carolyn has successfully managed numerous high-impact projects across government, non-profit and private sectors. Her notable contributions include strategic engagement and qualitative research for organisations such as the University of Sydney, NSW Food Authority, Moir Group, and the Department of Health and Aged Care.

Beyond her professional work, Carolyn is a passionate advocate for climate action and biodiversity protection. She co-founded Professionals for Climate Action, a network of over 500 experts dedicated to climate advocacy, and serves as the Chair of the Nature Conservation Council of NSW. Carolyn is also a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and is an active member of the Public Health Association of Australia and the Australian Marketing Institute.

Joanne Pillai​

Senior Researcher

Joanne has over 20 years of expertise in market and social research, specialising in research design, analysis, reporting, client engagement, project management, and operations. Her versatile skill set enables her to deliver actionable insights that amplify diverse voices across a variety of projects.

At Juntos Marketing and Leapfrog Research, Joanne has led a range of qualitative and quantitative research initiatives. She has facilitated focus groups, in-depth interviews, workshops, and user testing for prestigious clients such as the Department of Health and Aged Care, the Australian Human Rights Commission, Rozetta, Primary Health Networks, Accountancy Insurance, and the University of Sydney.

Joanne is particularly skilled at engaging hard-to-reach populations, utilising both in-person and remote research methods. Her ability to build rapport with a wide range of community members is complemented by her expertise in quantitative research. She regularly oversees surveys focused on satisfaction, service effectiveness, tracking, and campaign evaluation, providing clients with deep insights that inform decision-making.