MPTS 2026: The countdown is on to the 10th anniversary edition with a record number of female voices sharing insights across the seminar programme

Join the 10th anniversary of MPTS 2026, featuring diverse voices and insights in media technology, as industry leaders discuss challenges and opportunities.

Rise
Apr 27, 2026

With just 3 weeks to go until the doors of The Grand Hall Olympia London open for the 10th edition, the show’s largest seminar programme is almost complete, ensuring no stone will be left unturned as senior executives discuss and debate the current challenges and opportunities impacting all sectors of the media, production, broadcast and technology industry.

The programme features more than 190 sessions, 300+ speakers and eight theatres covering the breadth of the modern media landscape. From production and post-production to broadcast technology, audio, AI and the creator economy, the programme is designed to serve professionals from right across the industry.

Crucially, the sessions also reflect a continued commitment to improving representation across the industry. Of the speakers confirmed so far, 47% are women — a significant indicator of progress in a sector that has historically faced gender imbalance, and a clear signal of intent as MPTS enters its second decade. Its partnership with RISE continues to be important in achieving this and is reflected in the enhanced presence RISE has at the event.

For attendees, this adds another important dimension to the MPTS experience. Alongside technical insight, strategic discussion and product discovery, the event also offers a valuable opportunity to hear from a broad range of voices and perspectives. That matters not only in terms of representation on stage, but in shaping the kind of industry MPTS wants to support: one that is collaborative, forward-looking and open to a wider range of talent.

Throughout the two days attendees will be able to visit RISE’s stand (F10 on the show floor) to find out more about the work they do throughout the industry, sign up for membership, discuss sponsorship options, learn about upcoming events and mentor schemes, as well as network with like-minded individuals. The stand will also be the location for the popular RISE Networking Drinks Reception which will take place at 16:30 on 13th May at the back of the Grand Hall, opposite the Post Production Theatre.

RISE have also curated a session on the programme which will take place in the Broadcast Technology Theatre at 14:15 on the 13th May:

Pivot With Power: Reinventing Your Career in Broadcast Technology

Career pivots are never easy — but in the fast-evolving world of broadcast technology, they can feel especially daunting. From sales and operations to engineering and marketing, women across the sector are navigating restructures, shifting skill demands, AI disruption, and changing business models.

Sponsored by Rise and hosted on stage at Media Production & Technology Show, this empowering and practical session brings together women who have successfully pivoted within — and beyond — traditional broadcast tech roles.

How do you reposition yourself when the market shifts? What skills are genuinely transferable? How do you stay visible, confident and commercially relevant in uncertain times? And how can community and mentorship accelerate change

This session will deliver honest insights, practical strategies, and actionable advice for anyone looking to future-proof their career and pivot with purpose — not panic.

Chairperson
Deborah Cross, Director of Operations – Rise

Speakers
Melissa Carr, Principal Consultant - Consulting Cube
Laurissa Yeung Shea, Resource Bookings Application Manager - Warner Bros. Discovery
Lorna Garrett, Managing Director & Founder - Zest Technologies
Jesse Milverton, Broadcast Media Manager - Channel 4

RISE Speakers Announced (1)

Other 2026 Speakers include:

Cristina Gomila, Managing Director of Content Technology & Innovation, Sky
Lucy O-Brien, Head of TeChnical Delivery, Channel 4 News, ITN
Laura Helm, Head of Creative Industries, Digital Catapult
Nina Hartstone, Supervising Sound Editor, Cinphonic
Lauren Ellis-Jones, Managing Director, Home Post Production
Claire Feeney, Technical Operations Director, All3Media International
Jessica Richardson, Head of Production & Content, Digital, National Theatre
Paula Cuddy, Co-CEO, Eleventh Hour Films
Lucy Cooper, Managing Director, Union Visual Effects
Kelly Webb-Lamb, Founder & CEO, Mothership Productions
Libby Penman, TV Director & Wildlife Filmmaker
Emma Butt, Dubbing / Re-Recording Mixer
Rowan Bray, Managing Director, Clear Cut Group
Katherine Nash, Head of Studios, The Bottle Yard Studios
Sherry Knight, Series Producer, BBC Studios
April Sotomayor, Head of Industry Sustainability, BAFTA Albert
Chloe Dean, Senior Post Production Manager, Click Post Production Ltd
Morwen Williams, Director of Media Operations, BBC
Charlotte Layton, COO, Tanooki Technologies
Alexia Edwards, Chief Operating Officer, Expectation Entertainment
Melissa Lawton, Chief Content Officer, SailGP


Away from the content programme, the showfloor at MPTS 2026 will once again showcase the full production chain, from capture and workflow through to post, distribution and audio. Visitors can expect to see everything from broadcast infrastructure and post-production tools to AI-led solutions and creator-focused technology. More than a shop window for new products, it is a space built around discovery, learning and connection.

Feature areas such as the AI Media Zone and Creator Hub help bring some of the industry’s fastest-moving developments into sharper focus. These areas reflect how quickly the media landscape is evolving, and how MPTS is evolving with it. They also help create more accessible entry points for different audiences, whether established professionals looking to stay ahead of change or newer entrants exploring where the industry is heading.

Importantly, the showfloor also reinforces one of the biggest strengths of MPTS: the ability to bring different parts of the industry together in one place. Senior leaders, technical specialists, creatives, production teams, freelancers, students and emerging talent all come to MPTS for different reasons, but the event creates an environment where those groups can learn from one another and make meaningful connections.

That is one of the reasons the partnership with RISE feels so relevant. In an environment built around networking, development and visibility, the presence of organisations like RISE helps ensure that inclusion remains part of the conversation. It gives attendees the chance to engage with a community actively working to support women in the sector, while reinforcing the wider importance of representation across all corners of the industry.

As MPTS marks its 10th anniversary, it is doing so with a programme and exhibition that reflect both the complexity and the opportunity of the modern media business. The event is a showcase of innovation, but it is also a meeting point for the people driving the industry forward.

For women working in broadcast and media technology, that makes MPTS an especially valuable place to be. It offers access to insight, inspiration, practical ideas and professional connections, all within an environment that recognises the importance of inclusion as part of the industry’s future.

MPTS 2026 is not just about celebrating how far the event has come. It is about creating the conditions for what comes next — and ensuring that future is shaped by a broader, more connected and more representative industry.

 

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