Prof. Diana Derval wins 2026 Insights Professional of the Year

Prof. Diana Derval won the 2026 Insights Professional of the Year Award on the agency side from the Data & Insights Network, recognizing her work in neuroscience, microbiome research and machine learning. The award highlights her growing influence in the Benelux insights community as DervalResearch prepares a new neuroscience and machine learning platform.

Why it matters: - The award puts Prof. Diana Derval in a top industry spotlight for work that connects consumer insights, neuroscience and business strategy. - The recognition underscores how physiological research is increasingly being used to explain behavior, improve product decisions and support human-centered innovation. - DervalResearch says the win reflects a broader mission focused on research for good, with applications that reach beyond marketing into health and society.

What happened: - Prof. Diana Derval won the 2026 Insights Professional of the Year Award on the agency side. - The Data & Insights Network announced the result after judging a field of tough competition. - The award came in Derval's first nomination. - She had just returned to the Netherlands after expanding DervalResearch from Asia to Africa. - The award ceremony was hosted by D&IN, the data and insights community in the Benelux.

The details: - The jury said it was impressed by Derval's presentation, her unconventional thinking and her ability to connect ideas in surprising ways. - The jury credited her research in the microbiome, hormones and even space-related work as part of the winning case. - The judging panel included Sandra van Vemden, Marloes Flink of Rabobank, Dennis Hoogervorst of DPG Media, Ronnie van Diemen-Teeuwen of Schiphol Group, Lisanne Janssen Andeweg of Bol, Brigitte van Buggenum of UWV and Onno ‘t Sas of Samsung. - The award honours people who show analytical rigor, conceptual creativity, communication excellence, industry impact, sustained drive and inspirational leadership. - DervalResearch says its approach began with a neuroscience study on coffee preferences. - That research helped brands tailor assortments to local tastes. - The same work later led to a clinical study with the US NIH and Amsterdam's OLVG hospital on taste perception and possible new avenues for type II diabetes prevention. - DervalResearch now uses gut microbiome enterotypes to predict consumer behavior. - The firm also advises space agencies through a newly created Derval Space department focused on human factors in extreme environments. - DervalResearch has been re-certified as a B Corp™. - Prof. Diana Derval teaches neurosciences at the IAE Sorbonne Health MBA and international marketing at CIEE Amsterdam. - Derval has authored 12 books in English, French and Chinese. - Her book "The Right Sensory Mix" was a finalist for the AMA Berry Award and was endorsed by Philip Kotler. - DervalResearch cites clients including Sephora, Michelin, Sofitel, Philips and L'Oréal in its work with major brands.

Between the lines: - The award signals strong demand for research that blends hard science with commercial insights. - Derval's positioning around hormones, microbiome and machine learning shows a move away from standard survey-driven insight work toward more biological and predictive methods. - The B Corp™ recertification reinforces the company's effort to frame commercial research as socially responsible. - External praise from clients and partners suggests Derval's influence extends across both strategy and innovation work.

What's next: - DervalResearch plans to release a neurosciences and machine learning platform. - The platform is designed to help brands check product consistency, identify hidden explanatory variables and predict market priorities. - Derval also continues public-facing work through teaching, masterclasses and workshops. - The company points readers to more information and its available tests, including Microbiot®, the Hormonal Quotient® and the Derval Color Test.

The bottom line: - Prof. Diana Derval's win crowns a research model built on neuroscience, physiology and machine learning, and it signals that the insights industry is rewarding deeper scientific approaches to understanding people.