Rise Launches First-Ever AV Elevate Programme: Empowering the Next Generation of Women Leaders in AV

Rise AV, the advocacy group championing gender diversity and professional development in the AV sector, is proud to announce 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.

The full agenda can be found here: 

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

Introducing the Elevate 2025 UK Cohort
Rise is proud to welcome 25 outstanding women from across the AV sector, including:

• 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

Full details and biographies of the delegates can be found here.

The Jedis
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.

• 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 from Disguise, VP of Sales EMEA
• Gary Keene, Head of Audio Visual, University of the Arts, London

“Elevate is a major step forward for the AV industry. It is so much more than upskilling. It’s about unlocking potential, building confidence, and showing women in AV that they are truly valued,” said Rachael Hamilton, Managing Director at Rise AV. “We’re incredibly proud to launch this programme, it is one incredibly close to my heart. 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.”

Rise AV extends its thanks to our Global Headline sponsor, QSC, Gold Sponsors, Audiologic, Diversified, Midwich and Sennheiser. Silver Sponsors, Aura, AV User Group, Shure, Epson, iiyama, Yorktel and Northamber and 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 3 November 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, we encourage you to plan ahead and include this in next year’s budget. You can also register your interest here.