This year we’re proud to present our Lifetime Achievement Award to the Managing Director of Niavac - Mr James Conlon. James is stepping back from the business after a 40-year career in the AV industry. He’ll remain involved but be passing the reins over to his son, Ciaran. From a young trainee to becoming the leader of one of Northern Ireland's most respected firms, James Conlon's journey is a testament to the power of perseverance, adaptability, and passion. His story isn't just about business - it's about overcoming adversity, embracing change, and leaving an enduring legacy.

A compact yet powerful amplifier that seemingly defies the laws of physics, the NOTA 142 impressed judges with its engineering innovation and feature-rich design. The submission was clearly written, creatively presented, and supported by a strong video that showcased its potential. The overall impact and versatility of the product were undeniable.

Max has made an outstanding start to his AV career, combining technical skill, service excellence, and a drive for continuous improvement that has delivered real business impact. From achieving an apprenticeship distinction to enhancing workflows and enabling new services, Max stood out as a clear and deserving winner in this category.

The judges praised our AV Professional of the year 2025 as a confident and capable leader, combining technical expertise with strategic vision as he guides Tateside forward. His journey from technician to company leader impressed the judges, showcasing both professional growth and strong leadership.

Turtle AV has burst onto the scene with impressive momentum, delivering innovative products that fill genuine market gaps while gaining major industry recognition typically reserved for long-established brands. Judges praised its user-focused design, ethical manufacturing approach, and a clear vision for sustainable, impactful growth, an outstanding debut from a company to watch.

Jabra’s submission stood out for its exceptional detail, structure, and clear demonstration of impact across customers, employees, and sustainability. Judges praised the company’s innovation, mature DE&I and sustainability programmes, and the strong alignment between internal culture and customer experience. With impressive testimonials and evidence-backed results, this was seen as a complete and high-performing entry.

This is a well-executed evolution of the popular PanaCast 50, now transformed into a fully integrated Teams and Zoom room system. Judges praised the strong design, user-focused features, and impactful video presentation, as well as thoughtful attention to installation and MDEP support. The product’s innovation, green credentials, and real-world impact were clearly conveyed through strong testimonials and supporting media

This is a simple yet impactful innovation, offering intuitive gesture control and enhanced accessibility that removes friction from everyday screen use. Judges saw strong user-focused potential. Well done Vogel’s Products!

The SP Grid impressed judges with its unified, platform-agnostic approach that reimagines control workflows from concept to live execution. The submission showcased strong innovation, removing barriers between creative vision and technical delivery. a

This project delivered a robust and sympathetic audio solution in a challenging heritage site, seamlessly integrating with the venue’s operational demands. Judges were impressed by the system’s flexibility, futureproofing, and enhancement of both visitor experience and commercial potential. A creative and unobtrusive installation that perfectly met the client’s needs.

Kinly demonstrated a mature and industry-leading DE&I strategy, with clear structure, strong results, and wide-reaching impact. Judges were impressed by the breadth of initiatives, from global ERGs and allyship training to external partnerships and workforce development. Backed by meaningful data and clever internal programmes, this entry reflects true ambition, accountability, and inclusivity.

Joan 13 delivers a simple yet effective solution to a common workplace challenge, offering an innovative way to manage meeting spaces from a single low-energy touchscreen. Judges praised its strong sustainability credentials, customer-driven design, and clear understanding of real-world user needs. It’s not flashy, but it’s smart, efficient, and makes a meaningful impact.

Audiologic impressed with a people-first culture, strong technical expertise, and a clear commitment to customer service and team development. Judges highlighted the company’s focus on diversity, care for the AV community, and an outstanding collection of testimonials and supporting materials. A thoughtful, well-rounded entry that reflects a dynamic and growing team delivering real impact.

A flagship project that impressed with its scale, complexity, and forward-thinking use of AV technology, all delivered within a remarkably tight timescale. Thoughtfully integrated and future-ready, it showcased clear educational and operational impact across a diverse set of spaces.

This entry stood out for its clear focus on user experience, with a passionate and dedicated team delivering impactful work across an organisation of 80,000 employees. Judges praised the team’s ability to maintain a people-first approach while supporting diverse business units at scale. A strong, heartfelt submission that showcased both technical excellence and genuine care.

GUDE impressed with its intelligent, compact power management solution offering individual outlet control, integrated metering, and remote access, all within a sleek 1RU rack-mount device. Judges praised its clear benefits, strong green credentials, and thoughtful user-centric design.

A truly monumental deployment, this entry showcased world-class execution across one of the most complex global events of the year, with scale, precision, and logistical excellence powering 140 conference rooms and services for 70,000 attendees. While the innovation was more in delivery than in new tech, judges praised the clear “why,” strong client endorsement, and seamless delivery on a global stage.

Beeblade Nexus is a standout innovation, redefining media server technology with modular design, powerful performance, and exceptional flexibility. Judges praised its real-world impact across live events and installations, with strong use cases, thoughtful engineering, and accessible high-end functionality. A game-changing product that sets a new benchmark for the industry.

d&b audiotechnik impressed with its strong B-Corp values and innovative use of XR technology, showcasing a dynamic evolution from manufacturer to system integrator. Judges appreciated the quality of projects presented and the clear emphasis on cutting-edge integration. Fantastic Work!

The Terrace is a standout example of innovative, multi-purpose AV design that redefines the modern fan zone experience. Judges were impressed by its blend of immersive technology, branding, and sustainability, all delivered with clear ROI and user impact. A landmark project that sets a new standard for stadium AV environments.

Q-SYS is pushing the boundaries of AV innovation with a platform-first approach that seamlessly integrates audio, video, and control, backed by modular architecture and AI-powered automation. Judges also commended the company’s strong culture, social responsibility, and commitment to education, accessibility, and industry-wide impact.

Inogeni impressed as a simple yet highly effective switcher designed for larger hybrid BYOM environments, combining affordability, ease of use, and strong sustainability credentials. Judges appreciated its real-world impact, excellent testimonials, and clear response to an evolving industry need.

This project impressed with its clear dedication to the client brief, successfully modernising meeting spaces with a user-friendly system that supports traditional, hybrid, and online sessions. This project delivered meaningful impact and delighted the client through thoughtful execution and practical upgrades.

SAP S.Mart stands out as a highly engaging and forward-thinking retail experience, seamlessly blending technology with real-world interaction to create an immersive brand theatre. Judges praised the compelling video and dynamic user experience.

Congratulations to our Rising Star of the Year 2025! Gabriele’s story moved the judges with its authenticity and resilience, reflecting a rising star who combines personal strength with professional excellence. From trainee to CTS-qualified systems architect, her rapid progression, leadership in process development, and impact on major projects made her a standout, fully deserving of this award.

Kinly impressed with a clear, data-driven, and people-focused approach to sustainability, showing genuine commitment from leadership through to frontline staff. From fleet electrification to hosting a sector-wide sustainability conference, the entry demonstrated meaningful, credible impact and industry leadership.

Sarner International delivered an impressive, immersive project with strong technical execution and a clear focus on sustainability through intelligent show control. Judges praised the attention to detail, thoughtful design, and the impactful experience created for visitors.

This was a standout and emotionally engaging entry, showcasing an impressive and immersive virtual production system with clear real-world impact. Judges praised the innovation, strong testimonials, and detailed narrative.

Sony’s Spatial Reality Display is a groundbreaking innovation, delivering accessible, real-time 3D content without the need for headsets and enabling sustainable, efficient prototyping workflows. Judges recognised its exciting potential and strong impact in retail and exhibition spaces.