The Rise Awards honour the achievements of women, advocates and organisations from across the broadcast and media technology industry

Rise Awards

Gender diversity advocacy group Rise has announced the shortlist for the Rise Awards 2026. The winners will be revealed at The Troxy, London on Tuesday, 17 November. The awards honour the achievements of women, advocates and organisations from across the industry.

The shortlist for the 2026 Rise Awards is:

Advocate Award - Sponsored by Techex

Andreas Eriksson - Net Insight

Dave Adams - Warner Bros. Discovery

Matt Smith - Appear

Business Leader Award

Marianne van Meerveld-Delphin - Irdeto

Sarah Lewthwaite - Disguise

Sarah Willis-Zuurhout - Warner Bros. Discovery

Trish Carruthers - Switch Media / Planetcast Media Services

Business Operations Award - Sponsored by Encompass

Anna Marciniec - Nevion (a Sony Group Company)

Cindy Marie Leicester - Mediagenix

Kelly Pereira - Irdeto

Mariana Arrieta - Warner Bros. Discovery

Thalia Crone - Fremantle

Company Award for Investment in Women - Sponsored by Ross Video

Ateme

Media Business Insight

Women Behind the Camera

Influencer Award - Sponsored by Disguise

Carys Hughes - Sky

Lauren Shone - Accedo

Laurissa Yeung Shea - Warner Bros. Discovery

Lisa Spencer - Irdeto

Marketing Award

Alexandra Coulson - Disguise

Claire Hutcheson - Techex 

Leanne O’Donovan - Layercake 

Product Innovation Award - Sponsored by Warner Bros. Discovery

Beth Fairweather-Bloud - Sky News

Carla Perez Soriano - Disguise

Rojin Dashti - Volant Media UK

Production Support Engineer Award - Sponsored by Appear

Keri-Ann Read - Tyrell

Krystel Richards - Warner Bros. Discovery

Miriam Romitelli - Warner Bros. Discovery LATAM

Sarah Adams - Sky

Project Management or Delivery Award (End User) - Sponsored by BFBS

Alice Hawes - BBC

Deborah Williamson - Warner Bros. Discovery

Emer Conlon - RTÉ

Julie Robinson - QTV

Li Anne - Warner Bros. Discovery APAC

Shally Bandhu - Telstra Broadcast Services

Project Management or Delivery Award (Vendor/Service Provider) 

Caitlin Marron - BT

Diana Russo - Deluxe Media

Ilona Valent - M2A Media

Lisa Gamble - Arqiva

R&D Engineer Award - Sponsored by AWS

Maren Ytterdal Krogsrud - Nevion (a Sony Group Company)

Waleria Smirnova - Big Blue Marble Media

Zeineb Hamdi - Cuez

Rising Star Award - Sponsored by DXC Technology

Isobel Lennon - Sky Sports

Jade Warne - Yospace

Maddie Perkins - Warner Bros. Discovery

Mathilde Davidson - Sky Sports

Natalia Polychronopoulou - Caretta Research

Ope Onafadeji - QTV

Sales Award

Britni Bates - Haivision

Kirsty Tinnirello - Arqiva

Rebecca Knight - Disguise

Serena Harris - Pixitmedia by Datacore

Yvonne Picken - BT Wholesale

Student/Apprentice Award - Sponsored by SMPTE

Ani Nersesyan - NEP Europe

Finn Selman - Ravensbourne University

Gozde Sahin - Bitmovin

Technical Operations Award - Sponsored by Vizrt

Deirdre Temple - RTÉ

Eunji Choi - Disguise

Isabelle Moult - NEP UK 

Jyoti Yennam - Accedo

Kelly Taylor - Sky

Laura Mullan - Prime Video

Linnea Hosten - Warner Bros. Discovery

Tal Stone - NEP UK