Rise AV Launches North America Regional Council Ahead of 2027 Mentoring Program

Rise AV, the global not-for-profit organization dedicated to attracting, supporting and retaining more women in the audiovisual industry, has announced the launch of its North America Regional Council.

The expansion into North America is supported by Rise AV's global partners QSC and Neat, enabling the organization 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 program and a Jedi on its Elevate management development program, 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. 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 and experience, Apple; Noreen Esson, client success manager, Diversified Canada.

Sadie Groom, founder/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."

Sansivero says: "I've spent my career watching talented women leave this industry because they didn't 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. I'm 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. That's 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. She will report to Carla Maroussas, Rise AV's global mentoring manager, who leads the design and development of all mentoring programs.

"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 six-month program brings together three connected elements. Participants are matched with an experienced industry professional who provides guidance, perspective and support around their individual career goals and challenges. Expert-led professional development focuses on practical skills that can affect career progression, including communication, public speaking, personal branding, leadership, resilience, networking and career planning. Participants build connections with others in their cohort through a dedicated community, creating a space to share experiences, ask questions, celebrate achievements and learn from one another.

"Global sponsors are critical to making this possible," says Hamilton. "QSC and Neat have both recognized that the future of AV depends on attracting and retaining great people, and their support means we can take Rise AV into new markets while keeping the mentoring program free for the women taking part.

"We're incredibly grateful for their backing and excited about what we can build with the North American industry."

Key dates:
December 1, 2026 - Applications open
January 31, 2027 - Applications close
March 2027 - Mentor and mentee pairings announced
May 2027 - Six-month program begins

Applications will open at www.rise-av.com/mentoring.