Rise AV launches North America Regional Council ahead of...

Rise AV, the global not-for-profit organisation dedicated to attracting, supporting and retaining more women in the audiovisual industry, has announced the launch of its North America Regional Council, marking an important next step in the organisation's global expansion.

The expansion into North America has been made possible through the continued support of Rise AV's global partners QSC and Neat, whose backing is enabling the organisation to establish its regional presence and deliver the mentoring program free to participants.

Wayne Mason, VP of EMEA, Neat says: Having been personally involved with Rise AV as a mentor on its Mentoring Programme and a Jedi on its Elevate management development programme, I've seen first-hand the impact its work can have. Supporting the development of women and creating opportunities for diverse talent to progress is incredibly important to us at Neat. We're proud to now become a Rise AV partner and help support the launch into North America, bringing these opportunities to more women and helping to build a stronger, more inclusive AV industry.

The Council brings together experienced professionals from across the North American AV industry who will help Rise AV build its regional community, develop local partnerships and ensure its programs reflect the needs and realities of the market.

The announcement comes ahead of the launch of Rise AV's first North America Mentoring Program, with applications opening in December 2026 and the six-month program beginning in May 2027.

The inaugural North America Regional Council includes:

Gina Sansivero, Vice President, Marketing and Communications, AtlasIED (Council Chair)

Scott Josephson, Senior Support Consultant, Google

Siobhan Stewart, Account Manager, National Audio Visual

Steve Samson, President Americas, Turtle AV

Jeremy Elsesser, President & CEO, Level 3 Audiovisual

Lainie Mataras, General Manager - Planar

Meg Sciarini, Worldwide Events & Experience, Apple

Noreen Esson, Client Success Manager, Diversified Canada

Sadie Groom, Founder and CEO of Rise Diversity (Rise AV and Rise Broadcast) and Bubble Agency says: Rise AV follows in the footsteps of Rise Broadcast, which has successfully been delivering mentoring programs across the globe supported by some of the industry's leading advocates. Bringing Rise AV to North America is an important step in our global growth and, more importantly, gives us the opportunity to build on that experience and reach more women working across the AV industry. We are excited to work with our new Regional Council and the wider industry to create programs and events that are locally relevant, genuinely useful and help more women build careers they want to stay in.

Working alongside Rise AV's global leadership team, the Council will provide local insight and industry expertise, while helping to build relationships with women, businesses, organisations and potential partners across North America.

Council members will support the development of the mentoring program, help connect Rise AV with the regional industry, identify opportunities for events and professional development, and contribute to the growth of a community that can continue beyond the six-month program.

Gina Sansivero, VP of Marketing and Communications at AtlasIED and Council Chair says: Ive spent my career watching talented women leave this industry because they didnt have the right person in their corner at the right moment. Rise AV gives us a real structure to fix that mentorship, skills, and a community that supports each other well after the program ends. Im proud to help bring that to North America with a group of stellar council members. Research from the Anita Borg Institute found women in technology with mentors are 77% more likely to still be in the industry three years later. Thats the kind of proof I wanted behind this program, and why I think it's important to bring it to NA now. A structured mentorship model works because it gives women a vetted, experienced person in their corner, practical skills for career advancement, and a committed community.

Vanessa Tolisano, CTI, will also join Rise AV as North America Program Coordinator, supporting the delivery and day-to-day coordination of the mentoring program across the region. Vanessa will report to Carla Maroussas, Rise AV's Global Mentoring Manager, who leads the design and development of all mentoring programs.

This regional delivery structure brings together local knowledge and relationships with Rise AV's established global program expertise, ensuring consistency across the organisation while allowing the North American program to respond to the needs of its own region.

Launching our North America Regional Council is a really important step for Rise AV, says Rachael Hamilton, Managing Director of Rise AV. We've already seen the difference mentoring can make through the women we've supported in the UK and APAC helping them build confidence, develop new skills, navigate career changes, step into leadership and, importantly, feel more supported in their careers.

That support really matters. We don't just want to help women progress; we want to help them build careers they enjoy, feel valued in and want to stay in. If we can give women the confidence, connections and support to navigate the challenges they face, we have a much better chance of retaining great talent in AV.

The mentoring program is designed to help women build confidence, develop their careers and strengthen their connections. Whether participants want to raise their profile, navigate a career transition, step into leadership, develop new skills, expand their network or simply find a community that understands their experiences, the program provides the support and tools to help them take their next step.

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