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Rise launches first-ever AV Elevate Programme to empower next generation of women leaders in AV

Rise AV, the advocacy group championing gender diversity and professional development in the AV sector, has announced the delegates and mentors for its first-ever Elevate Programme. This pioneering six-week initiative is designed to accelerate the growth of high-potential women in the AV sector, equipping them with the skills, support, and confidence to step into leadership roles and thrive.

In an industry where women remain underrepresented, failing to invest in their development isn’t just a missed opportunity; it’s a business risk. Companies that ignore diversity stagnate, lose innovation, and fall behind. Elevate provides the antidote: a structured programme that strengthens leadership pipelines, nurtures ambitious women, and builds a resilient, future-ready workforce.

Delegates will embark on a journey that blends immersive learning with real-world application. Highlights include:
- Interactive Learning Day: Covering leadership authenticity, communication, conflict resolution, motivation, and finance fundamentals
- Industry Challenges: Small-group challenges tackling real business problems, supported by experienced mentors
- Final Event: Presentations, coaching, and opportunities to sharpen collaboration and impact
- Toolkit: The delegates will develop practical resources that they can apply immediately in their role.

Beyond skills, Elevate is about building networks and breaking cycles of self-doubt and burnout by creating a supportive community of peers and leaders.

Rise welcomes 25 outstanding women from across the AV sector:

Beky Cann, Director of Global PR, Peerless-AV

Kelli Neve-Read, Director of Media Relations, Bubble Agency

Zoe Deighton-Smythe, Senior Copywriter, The Inside Story

Sophie Whitthread, Sales Support Manager, Pioneer Group

Elizabeth Callens, Product Manager, Barco NV

Kate Farrelly, European Head of Marketing, Nuvias UC

Sara Sane, Senior Account Manager, AV Magazine

Anna Shahin, Application Support Manager, Audiologic

Teresa Juncosa Umaran, Freelance System Design & Project Engineering Consultant, Kado Audio Visual

Victoria Bishop, Managing Director, BishopSound Manufacturing & Design

Harriet Balshaw, Head of Sales, Ascentae

Andreea Timis, Account Director, The LED Studio (EMEA)

Jo Sunners, Technical and Production Planning Manager, BAFTA

Meinir Jones, Solutions Manager, BBC

Georgina Austin-Smith, Sales Director, Major Bids & Strategic Relationships, Diversified

Jo Hall, Deputy Head of Scenic, Light Fantastic Production Services

Sarah Maclaren, Senior Manager, Customer Services, Shure

Sally Oates, Deputy Operations Manager, Light Fantastic Production Services

Hayley Middlehurst, EU Distribution Manager, Sony Europe

Manuela Schramm, Global Account Director, Kinly

Jolanta Modelska, Programme Manager, Kinly

Hanieh Motemedian, Business Development Manager, Pure AV

Shreya Hyde Smith, Director, Ivista 

Mariela Petkova, Senior AV Technician, Royal College of Physicians

Lydia Box, Head of Engineering, Project AV

Mercedes Friedrich, Product Manager, Sennheiser.

Part of the programme will see the delegates split into Active Learning Sets (ALS) for the Real Life Challenges (RLC). Each group will be supported by a “Jedi”, a senior AV leader who brings decades of experience and insight. Their role is to provide guidance and help participants navigate the challenges of leadership with clarity and resilience.

The “Jedis” are Jane Hammersley, Queen of Collaboration, Blue Touch Paper; Daryl Clark, Matrix Mentoring and CCO and Chairman, Workplace Vision; Martine Dodwell Bennett, European Sales Director, Absen; Rebecca Knight, VP of Sales EMEA, Disguise; and Gary Keene, Head of Audio Visual, University of the Arts, London.

“Elevate is a major step forward for the AV industry”, says Rachael Hamilton, Managing Director at Rise AV. “It is so much more than upskilling. It’s about unlocking potential, building confidence, and showing women in AV that they are truly valued. I don’t want anyone to suffer in silence and feel like they are in constant survival mode, like I did when I was progressing up the career ladder, and programmes like this are a step closer to achieving this.”

Global Headline sponsor is QSC, Gold Sponsors are Audiologic, Diversified, Midwich and Sennheiser. Silver Sponsors: Aura, AV User Group, Shure, Epson, Iiyama, Yorktel and Northamber. Bronze Sponsors: Faye Bennett Consultancy Services, LTSMG, Unicol, Nuvias UC, Uniguest, Peerless AV, Project AV, Hewshott, Exertis, Kinly, ProAV and Woop Jobs.

The Elevate Programme launches on November 3, 2025, and will run for five weeks, culminating in a final showcase event. If you would like to apply, or if you have a woman on your team you would like to support, for the 2026 cohort starting in October, Rise encourages you to plan ahead and include this in next year’s budget. You can also register your interest at www.rise-av.com.

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