Advisory Board
Supporting Rise AV will be a UK Advisory Board made up of industry leaders for their knowledge, expertise and passion for change. The Rise WIB Non-Executive Board will also support the business.
UK Advisory Board
Jamie Brothwell
Managing Director
Exertis Business
With over 20 years of experience in the Retail, IT, and audio-visual sectors, Jamie has held senior leadership roles at top organisations, including Midwich Ltd, Samsung Electronics, and Exertis UK, where she has spent the last decade. Known for her calm leadership and expertise in change management, she has successfully guided teams through major transformations during her 16 years in leadership.
Beyond her business success, Jamie passionately advocates diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Her dedication to fostering inclusivity earned Exertis three industry awards for leading Diversity and inclusion initiatives from Technology Reseller, CRN and at the AV Awards. In 2023, she delivered her first keynote speech at the EmpowHer event, sharing her inspiring journey in the tech industry.
Jamie holds multiple Diversity Advisory Board roles and is committed to driving positive change and promoting best practices in DEI. She is focused on expanding diversity within industry awards, attracting diverse talent, and creating more inclusive workplaces across the sector.
Daniel Lee
Managing Director
Hewshott UK
Having spent over 20 years in AV so far (in every role the industry has to offer!) Dan is now Managing Director of Hewshott. Dan believes an inspired and motivated team is directly linked to positive client experiences, seeding a culture where finding the right work-life balance is welcomed and encouraged. He is passionate about the AV industry and what comes next, or more importantly, who and where from!?
Jane Hammersley
Queen of Collaboration
Blue Touch Paper
Jane Hammersley, affectionately known as the "Queen of Collaboration," co-founded Blue Touch Paper with Jon Sidwick. She is passionate about leveraging technology to drive positive change and has established herself as a respected AV|IT|UC industry figure. As far back as 2007, Jane’s book, "Brilliant Meetings" advocated for improved meetings and collaboration - now called Hybrid work!. At Blue Touch Paper, she collaborates with vendors and distributors to tackle global complex GTM and channel challenges.
Jenny Hicks
Head of Market Intelligence
Midwich
Jenny has 17 years of experience in the AV industry, encompassing sales, technical, and leadership roles. She is part of the Group Commercial Management Team at Midwich Group PLC, a leading £1.3bn specialist AV distributor operating in 28 countries. Jenny oversees market intelligence and technology strategy across the Group and its venture capital fund. She is a regular speaker at industry events and covers market trends, sustainability, and emerging technologies. Jenny also serves on Avixa’s Sustainability Advisory Board.
Owen Ellis
CEO
AV User Group
Owen has worked in the AV industry since 1984 with various roles at system integrators and then for 18 years as an end user at Morgan Stanley. Owen became a member of and now runs the AV User Group, then launched the AV Consultancy Group. While running these, he has extended the group's internationally opening in multiple new locations from their London roots. His personal interests include drawing, cooking, walking & gardening.
Stephen Patterson
Sales Director, Europe + Africa
Biamp
With over 25 years of experience in the technology industry, Stephen's career is a testament to his passion and expertise. He began his journey in the realm of audio semiconductors then live production, where he honed his technical and commercial skills. Transitioning to the sales side of the industry, Stephen brought his unique insights to the manufacturer's perspective.
In 2010, Stephen joined Biamp, where he has since held a variety of international roles in distribution management and business development. For the past six years, he has been at the helm of the commercial team in Europe, driving growth and innovation. Stephen's enthusiasm for audio goes beyond technology; he believes in its profound ability to foster human connections. However, his true passion lies in building, mentoring, and developing the teams around him.
A dedicated advocate for the third sector, Stephen has served in various non-executive roles over the last 15 years. His commitment to promoting equality, support, and development in these areas underscores his belief in making a positive impact both within and beyond the industry.
Denise Hughes
Founder/Managing Director
WoopJobs
Denise founded WoopJobs! in 2008 with a vision to address the growing need for specialist recruitment in the evolving audiovisual (AV) industry. Over the last 16 years WoopJobs! has blossomed into a thriving business with a respected name in the AV industry. Denise’s commitment to building the company around a people-driven approach has been instrumental in connecting top talent with leading companies across the AV sector. Denise is the author of ‘Your Dream Job in Audiovisual’ published in 2024 - a guide to the AV industry, the first of its kind in the sector.
Katy Thorpe
Global People Director
Kinly
Katy is currently the Global People Director at Kinly with over 20 years of experience in people-centric roles, in retail, environmental services & technology. Over the last 5 years Katy has fostered her passion for diversity, equity & inclusion working in a predominantly male -orientated environment. She is always a cheerleader for women in the workplace particularly having had a very poor pre and post maternity experience, vowing never to see this happen to others. There has been a strong focus at Kinly on creating policies which enhance employment engagement and support employees through life changing events such as parental leaves, fertility & loss. In 2024, Kinly was shortlisted as one of 3 businesses at the AV Awards for their inaugural DEI initiatives award. It is important to Katy & Kinly that all those working within technology work towards growing an industry that attracts diverse talent, creates safe spaces & celebrates inclusion. Outside of work, Katy runs around after a very active 8 yr old and hopes she can keep up the pretence of being knowledgeable about football.
Anthony Olivier
Director of Business Development
AVI-SPL UK and Ireland
Sanjit Hurst
Director of Global Procurement
Diversified
Having worked in the industry now for 10 years I have seen many changes and recently a shift towards digitalisation, cloud-based solutions, increased integration of AI, and immersive technologies, resulting in more personalised and interactive user experiences. For me this diverse, exciting and unique industry is all about the people and having endless opportunities collaborating with great minds and meeting amazing people from all walks of life.
Libby Hooper
Managing Director
Sysco Productions
Libby is the Managing Director of Sysco Productions, a world class Audio Visual experience delivery company immersed in the relationship between engineering and storytelling. Libby has led the implementation of UK Research and Innovation initiatives with university partners and advanced sustainable exhibition design. Libby is also an advisory board member supporting the promotion of creative industries across Surrey and South Central England.
Ben Holmes
Director of Display Marketing
Samsung Electronics
Ben is an experienced tech industry individual, developed in both B2C and B2B. He has held leaderships positions across Product, Sales and Marketing and for the last 3 years has been the Marketing Director for Europe at Samsung Electronics. He’s passionate about creating high performing teams and creating a supportive environment that drives personal growth.
Non-Executive Board
Nicki Fisher
Rise Chair
As an active leader and STEM Ambassador, Nicki Fisher was formerly, prior to her retirement, EMEA Sales Director for Clear-Com. She was responsible for sales and pre-sales teams, selling and supporting Clear-Com products and solutions across the entire EMEA region. Prior to joining Clear-Com in April 2014, Nicki was the Sales Director for the Tektronix EMEA Video Business for 8 years, where she was responsible for sales of Video Analysis and Monitoring equipment into the Broadcasting, Postproduction and Telco markets. Nicki spent 11 years working for Agilent (formerly Hewlett Packard) in a variety of senior management and individual contributor sales roles, where she was the first Female Account manager for the UK Aerospace and Defence business and also European Regional Sales Manager for the Communications Test Business. Nicki gained a B.Sc. Hons in Physics from Liverpool University in 1989 and began her career as a Product Training Engineer at Marconi Instruments.
Sadie Groom
Bubble Agency and Rise Founder
Sadie founded Bubble Agency a PR, marketing and events company focusing on the entertainment technology, sports and AV business, in 1999 and is still very much the driving force. Using her 25 years of PR and Marketing experience she not only looks after the business side of things and client strategy but also promotes the role of women in the industries she works in through her work with Rise. Sadie is also on the board of the DPP and Buckinghamshire New University. A keen traveller, she travelled to 50 countries before she was 50 and would like to spend more time on the golf course.
Samantha Harrison
Sam is the Finance Director of the critical connectivity provider NEP Connect, part of the global media technology business NEP. Sam’s role includes helping shape the strategic direction and financial trajectory of NEP Connect as well as providing integrity, commercial insight, structure and good governance. Sam is also a STEM Ambassador, actively supporting secondary school students with careers advice, and promoting the vast career options in the broadcast industry and finance sector. Sam joined SIS LIVE (now NEP Connect) in 2012 as Head of Finance. She helped prepare the company for sale, was a key contributor to the IM preparation and due diligence process, and central to the transition of the business into NEP ownership during 2018-19. Prior to this, Sam held various senior finance roles in the banking, retail, leisure and hospitality sectors. Sam is a Fellow Chartered Accountant with the ICAEW, qualifying with PricewaterhouseCoopers in the mid-90s, and worked for a number of years in the Bahamas before settling back in the UK at the end of 2000. Prior to this, Sam gained a first-class BSc Hons in Accounting from Hull University (1992). Sam lives with her husband, daughter and two dogs in Milton Keynes and is delighted to serve as a Non-Executive Director for Rise.
Claire Da Silva
Claire is the Vice President, Production Services for DAZN, leading a global production estate and an on-going pipeline of dynamic, innovative solutions. She has built highly effective global teams and operating models in the Broadcast and Production space, driving productivity and efficiency of production capabilities. Claire was responsible for well timed virtual production offerings that enabled DAZN to create content from anywhere throughout the pandemic, and led to her being nominated for 40 under 40 Leaders in Sport. Prior to DAZN, she was a multi genre Post Producer for ITV, having started her career in Soho. Claire recently joined Chief, as a Founding Member in the UK. Chief is a private network focussed on amplifying the value and impact of women in senior positions, and paying it forwards to future generations- which she’s very passionate about as the mum of a young daughter.
Namata Sahmah
Namrata is the Chief Product Officer at INTO University Partnerships - a global Higher Education company. Previously, she was the CPO at iPlato Healthcare (myGP) where she worked closely with NHS Primary Care. She has worked in product leadership roles at Paramount, Babylon Health and a number of other exciting global companies. Namrata sits on the board of The Open University Business School, and is an Advisor at Antler - an early stage VC firm. She is an alumni of Manchester Business School, and is trained in global leadership from Harvard Business School. Namrata is the Founder of Women in Product (London) – a vibrant product community. She is also the founding member of Chief UK.
Tim Williams
Tim is an experienced business leader and Director who has worked in the Broadcast industry for over 30 years, starting with Tekniche in 1992, then moving to systems integrator TSL in 1996. In 2018 Tim joined Argosy as Operations Director. With a background in procurement and international logistics, Tim is equally comfortable being customer facing having spent several years working with clients on projects in the Middle East and Asia. Tim has also held Non Exec roles as Chair of a BID (Business Improvement District) group in Marlow and has acted as a mentor in the 30% club.
Charlotte Wheeler
Charlotte Wheeler is the Director of the Broadcast Tech & Sport Group and the Event Director of the UK’s only annual trade event, The Media Production & Technology Show. Charlotte has worked for MBI, the publishers of Broadcast, Screen International for nearly 20 years and started her career on the industry tradeshow , originally called The Production Show, and then BVE from March 2004. Charlotte has worked with many of the key manufacturers and brands within the broadcast technology markets over the years developing relationships as exhibitors and sponsors across a multitude of events. In her role at the Broadcast Tech & Sport Group, Charlotte manages a team of editorial, sales and marketing experts and has been part of many new successful launches over the last 5 years including the Broadcast Tech Awards, Broadcast Sport Awards, TechFest and Broadcast Sport events, all highly regarded by sponsors and media executives alike. Charlotte is passionate about being an advocate for women across all sectors and through her work in MPTS has been one of the only Media & entertainment focussed tradeshows to achieve a 50% gender split in her content programming and introduced a company wide, a no ‘man-el’ policy at their events. Charlotte has been an active advocate of Rise since its inception and has run a number of events celebrating women in the media industries, across the country.
Charlotte has been a mentor twice for Rise and an active member of the advisory board in recent years and looks forward to many more to come.