Rise, the advocacy group for gender diversity in the broadcast media technology sector, has announced the pairings for its sixth annual mentoring scheme in the UK.
Due to demand and additional sponsorship, Rise has been able to deliver the programme in the UK twice in 2023.

Acceptance to the programme gives members a range of benefits including face-to-face networking events, workshops and seminars throughout the six-month programme.
Additionally, each mentor-mentee pairing provides a minimum of 12 hours of one-to-one time and personalised guidance. This diverse group of mentees from the UK were chosen from over 200 applications.
Carla Maroussas, Mentoring Manager, Rise said: “For the first time, we are delighted to be running a second mentoring programme in one year. This decision was largely made due to the amount of exceptional mentee applications received. We want to offer our programmes to as many women as possible, so it is an honour to be able to offer a second group of women this chance.”
The scheme’s industry sponsors for 2023/24 include Clear-Com, Calrec, Ross Video, EMS, Vubquity, Gravity, IMES, DAZN, Moov, ENVY, DPP, Sony, Cinedeck, SDVI, Deluxe, NetInsight, Avid, Sky, Dalet, NewsBridge, Pixelogic, NEP, M2A Media, Brightcove, Red Bee / Ericsson, Object Matrix, Telestream, Timeline TV Ltd and EVS Broadcast Equipment SA.
Mentee and Mentor Pairings:
- Ally Southern, Global Stage Manager, disguise will be mentored by Clare Butler, VP Marketing, Grabyo
- Annicca Prince, Radio Frequency Engineer, Arqiva will be mentored by Ian Wagdin, Senior Technology Transfer Manager, BBC
- Eloise Russell, Sales Enablement Executive, Ovyo will be mentored by Lauren Carter-Jones, Marketing Manager, Media Business Insights (MBI)
- Grace Pilsbury, Scripted Executive, Sky Studios will be mentored by Lesley Johnson, Global Director - Home Entertainment, BBC Studios
- Kerry Horton, Technical Producer, Aurora Media Worldwide will be mentored by Laurissa Yeung Shea, Business Analyst, Warner Media
- Lauren Kilby, Senior Production Coordinator, Timeline TV will be mentored by Vanessa Walmsley, Head of Global Customer Services, Vizrt
- Siobhan Greenfield, Playout Director, Red Bee Media will be mentored by Dave Gill, Chief Technology Officer, AE Live
- Bethany Lowney, Business Development Manager, Gravity Media will be mentored by Adam Hewes, Head of Product DCE, Publicis
- Nolene Torry, Operations Manager, Red Bee Media will be mentored by Abigail Hughes, Director of Sales Operations for Global Partnerships, ITV
- Natasha Jones, Technical Specialist, BT Media & Broadcast will be mentored by Barney MacDonald, GM Business Devs and Partnerships EMEA, Eluvio
- Amber Rowe, Distribution Technical Operator Equipment Scheduling, Warner Bros. Discovery will be mentored by Rebecca Moore, Director of Operations CNN, Warner Media
- Jemima Robinson, Resources, Timeline Television will be mentored by Amisa Saari-Stout, PR and External Comms Lead, Vizrt Group
- Camille Quitevis, Distribution Engineer, Warner Bros. Discovery will be mentored by Dara Urquhart, COO, Red Bee Media
- Anna Marie Jones, Account Manager, Sony will be mentored by Bea Alonso, Fraction Chief Marketing Officer
- Elizabeth Benson, Data Product Delivery Manager Senior Campaign Marketing Manager, Arqiva will be mentored by Heidi Shakespeare, CEO, Memmon
- Sarah Howgate, Manager, disguise will be mentored by Catriona Tate, Sales Director, UK & MEA Accedo TV
- Karen Carnegie, Senior Project Manager, Red Bee Media will be mentored by Mark Wynter, Client Services Manager, Picture Shop
- Molly Fletcher, Playout Director, Red Bee Media will be mentored by Amelia Rivas, Associate Director, ICP Search
- Abbie Milward, Multi-Skilled Operator, (SIS) Ltd will be mentored by Sue Farrell, Technologist, Channel 4

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