Following the success of its UK launch in January 2025, Rise AV, the global not-for-profit initiative dedicated to supporting and advancing women in AV, is proud to announce the mentor–mentee pairings for the inaugural 2026 Rise AV APAC Mentoring Programme.
The launch of the APAC programme has been made possible through the vital support of Rise AV’s Global Headline Sponsor, QSC, whose commitment has enabled the initiative to expand into the region and deliver meaningful mentorship opportunities for women across APAC the region.
Duncan Savage, VP and GM, Q-SYS APAC at QSC said; “The launch of Rise AV in APAC is an important step for the industry. The region continues to demonstrate active growth and innovation across the AV landscape. Through our involvement in the Rise AV regional council, QSC is pleased to participate in and support local collaboration focused on skills development and inclusion across the AV community.”
We are also grateful to our Silver Sponsors, Lightware and ROE Visual, whose continued support helps the organisation provide impactful development opportunities and drive positive change across the global AV sector.
Marking a significant milestone in the organisation’s global expansion, the APAC programme has been launched in response to growing demand across the region. With the support of Rise AV’s esteemed Regional Council, the initiative has successfully reached professionals across Asia-Pacific, with applicants predominantly based in Hong Kong, Australia, Singapore, and India. 31 mentees have been paired with 31 mentors, demonstrating both the need and enthusiasm for structured mentorship opportunities in these markets.
This year’s APAC cohort brings together an inspiring mix of emerging female talent and experienced industry leaders from across a wide range of disciplines, including sales, engineering, marketing, events, project management and beyond. Mentors from globally recognised organisations such as JLL, MGM Macau, JPMorgan, and Meta are playing a key role in shaping the programme and supporting participants. Reflecting the geographic diversity of the region, the programme has been designed with a flexible, primarily virtual format, ensuring accessibility while maintaining meaningful engagement.
Over the course of six months, participants will benefit from a comprehensive development framework, including:
- One-to-one mentorship, providing personalised guidance and support
- Virtual networking opportunities to foster cross-regional collaboration
- A blend of global and region-specific training sessions, covering areas such as public speaking, active listening, personal branding, and LinkedIn training
- Culturally tailored workshops addressing local nuances across APAC markets
- Select in-person networking opportunities and industry engagement, including partnering with key user events in Australia and Singapore, participation at InfoComm Asia, and exclusive site visits such as MGM Macau
The 2026 Rise AV APAC Mentor and Mentee pairings are as follows:
- Aditi Bansal, Samsung Australia, will be mentored by Pujan Doshi Dowsett, IAG
- Cassie Fong, AVI-SPL Hong Kong, will be mentored by David McKinney, Generation AV
- Chenxi Li, Samsung Asia, will be mentored by Cong Wei, QSC
- Chermaine Gan, Kayreach System, will be mentored by Azrina Abdullah, Midwich Asia
- Chris Pang, AVI-SPL Hong Kong, will be mentored by Vivian Zhao, L-Acoustics
- Cora Xue, Brompton Technology, will be mentored by Dina Menon, Electronics & Engineering
- Cynthia Chiu, QSC, will be mentored by Priscilla Chang, The Noise People / WOW! Media Resources.
- Hannah Hung, AVI-SPL Hong Kong, will be mentored by Peter Hunt, Hewshott
- Iris Teong, PTS Consulting Singapore, will be mentored by Leslie Goh, Samsung Asia
- Ivy Leong, Ideal Systems Singapore, will be mentored by Jason Tay, Netgear
- Jennifer Chuang, Samsung Asia, will be mentored by Sujith Sivaram, ESCO
- Jude (Xiuzhu) Lin, Brompton Technology, will be mentored by Darren Kopas, MGM Grand
- Kate Tang, Lightware Visual Engineering, will be mentored by Yun Leu, JLL
- Lauren Addison, DBS Consulting, will be mentored by Maureen Aw, Marina Bay Sands
- Lauren Hansom, University of Sydney, will be mentored by Ngaire O’Leary, Sydney Catholic Schools
- Mandy Tsui, Kinly, will be mentored by Piyanut Boonkhun, sAVe
- Marisa Macedo, Pro AV Solutions, will be mentored by Shanelle Stokes, Sony
- Marta Stanke, Electro-Voice, will be mentored by David Seow, Ideal Systems Singapore
- Mei Ying Ong, ESCO, will be mentored by Candice Siow, Lightware
- Melody Bilegt, Ideal Systems, will be mentored by Mavis Leung, Crestron
- Oleksandra Fil, Samsung Electronics, will be mentored by James Sheridan, Igloo Vision
- Penny Chang, LG Electronics Australia, will be mentored by Eamon Drew, Turtle AV
- Pooja Dhir, Sharp Business Systems India, will be mentored by Praveen Chandola, Talendor People Consulting
- Priscilla Ho, ESCO, will be mentored by David Claringbold, Claringbold Consultants
- Pui Kuan Hon, MGM Macau, will be mentored by Carla Sepulveda, Show Spectrum
- Rachel Jacob, Munro Acoustics, will be mentored by Mohan Subramaniam, META
- Rucha Deo, Intart Tech Solutions, will be mentored by Prashant Govindan, Generation AV India
- Scarlett Wang, Sennheiser Electronics Asia, will be mentored by Kagi Lau, Kinly
- Susie Yin, QSC, will be mentored by Alexis Figueiras, JPMorgan
- Vivi Chiang, Brompton Technology, will be mentored by Adrash Mohan, Vstream Asia
- Vruchi Satra, Generation AV India, will be mentored by Mustafa Rampurawala, Solutions India Systems
Peter Hunt, Chairperson, Rise AV APAC Regional Council, said, “Launching the APAC Mentoring Programme marks an exciting step forward in our mission to support women globally across the AV industry. The level of interest across the region has been incredible, and with the support of our Regional Council and global partners, we are proud to deliver a programme that reflects the diversity, ambition, and unique cultural landscape of APAC. By combining global best practices with local insight, we are creating meaningful opportunities for women to grow, connect, and lead.”
Rise AV is actively seeking additional sponsors across APAC and globally to support future cohorts and expand programmes into new regions. Sponsorship directly funds our programmes, enabling us to deliver mentoring, training, and development opportunities. Rise AV cannot exist without this vital support.
By partnering with Rise AV, organisations play a direct role in developing the next generation of AV talent, benefitting from more confident, skilled, and engaged professionals. Sponsors also strengthen their own leadership pipelines, improve retention, and foster greater diversity of thought and innovation across the industry.
