Rise Strengthens Industry Leadership with Appointment of Two New Non-Executive Directors

London, UK - 3rd June 2026: Rise, the award-winning advocacy group championing gender diversity and career progression across the broadcast and AV industries, announced today the appointment of two highly respected industry leaders to its board of non-executive directors: Purminder Gandhu and Daryl Clarke.

The appointments reinforce the organisation's depth of experience as Rise continues to expand its presence and influence across the global broadcast and AV sectors.

Purminder Gandhu joins the board with more than 30 years of experience in broadcast technology. Her career began at the BBC in live studio and outside broadcast operations before moving into advanced technology and strategic development through BBC R&D’s Edge group, where she helped shape pioneering industry initiatives around next-generation production workflows and 5G-enabled remote production.

Her contribution to IBC Accelerator projects formed part of a multi-award-winning collaborative partnership, including recognition with a prestigious NAB Best Paper Award. Today, Purminder leads her own consultancy, KAURWAVE, while remaining a highly regarded moderator, speaker and contributor across major industry events including IBC, NAB, MPTS and SVG.

Having supported Rise for more than six years as both a mentor and panel contributor, Purminder brings not only extensive industry expertise, but also a deeply personal understanding of the challenges many women continue to face within the sector.

“As a British South Asian woman who has navigated this industry through decades of change, I know talent has never been the issue,” said Purminder Gandhu. “The challenge has always been access, visibility and sponsorship. Rise plays a critical role in helping address those barriers, and I’m proud to join the board at a time when the organisation is making such a meaningful impact across the industry.”

Joining alongside Purminder is Daryl Clarke, entrepreneur, mentor and one of the audiovisual industry’s most respected commercial leaders. Over the course of his career,

Daryl has founded, scaled and successfully exited several businesses within the AV and integrated technology sectors, building a reputation for combining commercial growth with strong people leadership.

Formerly SVP EMEA at Diversified and founder of Digitavia, he has led international organisations through periods of significant transformation while maintaining a clear focus on innovation, culture and client experience. Alongside his commercial achievements, Daryl has become widely recognised for his commitment to developing emerging talent within the AV industry.

In 2024, he was named Peter Jones Foundation Mentor of the Year in recognition of his work supporting future business leaders. Through his involvement with Rise as a mentor, Daryl has become a passionate advocate for strengthening female leadership representation across the AV sector. He is also a recipient of the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade.

“Rise is creating meaningful long-term change by investing in people and leadership development,” said Daryl Clarke. “Building stronger and more diverse leadership pathways is essential for the future of the AV industry, and I’m excited to support the organisation as it continues to broaden its reach and impact.”

Sadie Groom, Founder and CEO of Rise Diversity, said: “We are delighted to welcome Purminder and Daryl to the board at such an important stage in Rise’s development. Both bring exceptional experience from across the broadcast and AV industries, alongside a genuine commitment to supporting and championing others.”

“As the organisation continues to grow, their insight and leadership will help strengthen the breadth of experience within the board while supporting our long-term vision for the future of Rise. They each understand the importance of creating opportunity, improving visibility and helping more women build sustainable, successful careers within our industries.”

“Rise has evolved significantly over the past few years, particularly with the expansion of Rise AV, and these appointments reflect the scale of ambition we have for the organisation moving forward.”

The appointments come during a period of continued momentum for Rise, following the successful launch of Rise AV and the ongoing expansion of its mentoring and leadership initiatives internationally. Through its programmes and industry partnerships, Rise continues to support women at every stage of their careers while helping address wider conversations around representation, retention and leadership across the sector.