Data Analysis Australia

STRATEGIC   INFORMATION   CONSULTANTS

Featured Articles

Hockey Sticks, Climate and Statistics

Everyone has an opinion on climate change.  How has that opinion come about and what is it based on?  Climate change has become a public debate putting pressure on scientists and politicians alike.  However the main point may well be in the risk of acting or the risk in not acting.  John Henstridge looks at the climate change debate from a fresh angle.  He discusses some of the background data and how statisticians can provide another level of understanding. 

Is the Price Right and How Do You Choose?

How do consumers decide what they want?  Is it brand, colour or price or a complex combination of many things?  Determining the drivers of consumer decision making requires careful consideration of sampling, questionnaire design and modelling.  Much market research is aimed at this field using tools such as contingent value analysis, conjoint analysis, modal choice analysis or trade-off analysis.  At Data Analysis Australia we understand the underlying mathematics behind these concepts and are able to apply the correct modelling procedure to the specific requirements of the client.  It is our combined strength in mathematics and the understanding of market research objectives that gives Data Analysis Australia the edge.

Data Analysis Australia is the leading strategic information consultancy in Australia. Our exceptional skills in mathematics, statistics and data management provide a strong background for work that is often used for strategic decision making purposes. Our reputation has been built on our ability to provide workable solutions to difficult problems across all industries.

Applied Statistics	Survey Design and Analysis
Forecasting	Modelling, Simulation and Optimisation
Spatial Analysis and Mapping	Business and Risk Analysis

The strength of Data Analysis Australia lies in our flexible approach to integrating the above areas of expertise to provide cost effective and applicable solutions for clients.

Company News

We are proud to announce that Professor Cheryl Praeger, a director at Data Analysis Australia, has been named Western Australia’s 2009 Scientist of the Year.  Cheryl is the Winthrop Professor of Mathematics at UWA and is Australia's most highly cited pure mathematician.  Cheryl is also known internationally for her research into group theory, algebraic graph theory and combinatorics.

In Professor Praeger’s acceptance speech she stated that, “The percentage of Australian students graduating with a maths or stats major is less than half the OECD average, while demand by Australian employers for maths graduates continues to outstrip the supply.”  Cheryl highlighted the need for more young people in Australia to study maths which also underpins skills in other areas such as medicine, engineering and technology. 

Science and Innovation Minister Troy Buswell, who announced the awards, said that Professor Praeger’s work had resulted in findings that have led to new thought being adopted by mathematicians worldwide.  Professor Praeger thanked her colleagues and was thrilled that this award had brought mathematics to the forefront.

In January, Dr John Henstridge was the keynote speaker at the Third International Statistics Conference organised by the Applied Statistics Association of Sri Lanka (ASASL), in Colombo. John spoke on the use of statistical models in assessing risks in finance and energy planning. If you would like to view John's presentation, please visit our Presentations page.

Data Analysis Australia strongly supports the promotion of statistics to undergraduates and recent graduates by offering work experience placements, giving students the opportunity to be involved in real world projects. Our first students for 2010 were Alexandra Pearce from the University of Tasmania and Sylvia Soltyk from Curtin University, who we hope gained valuable insight by being shown the variety of work offered in a commercial statistical company.

 Data Analysis Australia would like to welcome and introduce our two newest Consultant Statisticians, Mai Tanimoto and Yuichi Yano. Mai has recently moved to Perth from Brisbane. Prior to her commencement at Data Analysis Australia, Mai was working as a fisheries population modeller at Queensland Primary Industries and Fisheries. Mai has five years experience in marine resource modelling and simulation.

Yuichi graduated from Edith Cowan University with majors in Mathematics and Physics and has recently completed a Masters Degree in Mathematics. Yuichi gained experience in geostatistics, mathematical and statistical modelling and analysis of various data through his studies. 

Data Analysis Australia is proud to have sponsored the WA Junior Mathematics Olympiad held at UWA at the end of October 2009.  The Olympiad is a WA high school competition with teams of four students (Year 9 or below) representing their schools.  The aim of the competition is to identify the most gifted students in Mathematics.  This year a record number of students entered the Olympiad with more than 340 participants.  The enthusiasm of the students was matched by the remarkable achievements by the winners.  The photo at left shows John Henstridge awarding the Data Analysis Australia Award of Excellence to Dimityrio Sisi (Aquinas College) who came equal third.

Our latest newsletter was posted in February. If you are not already on our mailing list and would like a copy to be sent to you, please contact Carole or Angela at Data Analysis Australia.

Updated February 18, 2010