Rise AV reveals 2026 APAC mentor pairings

Rise AV has announced the mentor–mentee pairings for its inaugural 2026 APAC Mentoring Programme, marking an expansion of the initiative beyond its UK launch in 2025. The programme is designed to support women working across the professional AV sector in the Asia Pacific region, with participation from markets including Hong Kong, Australia, Singapore and India.

The APAC rollout has been supported by global headline sponsor QSC, alongside additional backing from Lightware and ROE Visual. According to Rise AV, the new regional programme reflects growing demand for structured mentoring opportunities, with 31 mentees matched to 31 mentors across a range of disciplines such as sales, engineering, marketing, events and project management.

Participants include professionals from companies and organisations such as Samsung, AVI-SPL, Brompton Technology, ESCO, Ideal Systems, LG Electronics Australia and Sennheiser Electronics Asia, paired with mentors representing firms including IAG, Generation AV, QSC, Midwich Asia, L-Acoustics, JLL, Marina Bay Sands, Sony and JPMorgan, among others. The pairings span a broad cross-section of the industry, connecting emerging professionals with experienced practitioners across the region.

The programme will run over six months in a primarily virtual format, with a structure that combines one-to-one mentoring, online networking and training sessions, alongside regionally tailored workshops. Additional in-person engagement is planned through selected industry events and site visits in locations such as Australia, Singapore and Macau.

Mentors from organisations including JLL, MGM Macau, JPMorgan and Meta are contributing to the programme, which has been developed with input from the Rise AV APAC Regional Council. The initiative forms part of a wider effort to extend the organisation’s mentoring framework globally, supported by its broader network and sponsorship model.

“Launching the APAC Mentoring Programme marks an exciting step forward in our mission to support women globally across the AV industry,” said Peter Hunt, chairperson, Rise AV APAC Regional Council. “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.”