Market Access was formed in 1996, to harness the innovation, creativity and drive of Dean McDonald and Michael Murphy. Dean McDonalds firm MAC Research focussed on development and utilisation of methods based on psychological processes in complex and high involvement purchase processes to develop business and marketing strategy for private sector organisations. Michael Murphy Social Research focussed on research into difficult to change behaviours for health, government and community organisations, particularly in relation to communications strategies to change or re-enforce behaviour.