The Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) and Audio Engineering Society (AES) have announced the promotion of two senior staff members to newly created Associate Executive Director positions, effective January 1, 2026. The appointments reflect both organizations’ commitment to strategic growth and enhanced industry engagement following their recent shared management arrangement. Brienne Willcock has been promoted to Associate Executive Director, Strategy, Standards, and Industry Engagement at IES. Willcock currently serves as Director of Education and Standards at IES, where she has been instrumental in advancing the Society’s technical excellence and educational programs.
Graham Kirk has been promoted to Associate Executive Director, Strategy, Events, and Industry Engagement at AES. Kirk currently serves as Director of Marketing and Business Development at IES and will bring his extensive experience in strategic positioning and event expertise from both AES and IES to his new role.
“Brienne and Graham have been invaluable in helping IES achieve significant milestones over the past several years,” said Colleen Harper, CEO and Executive Director of IES and Executive Director of AES. “These promotions recognize their leadership and expertise while positioning both organizations for continued innovation and growth. As we integrate our management structures, having leaders of their caliber focusing on strategy and industry engagement will be essential to serving our respective technical communities.”
“I’m excited to return to AES and help stabilize and grow an organization with such a rich legacy,” said Kirk. “AES has long been known for its exceptional educational events and publications, and I look forward to building on that foundation to serve the audio engineering community and strengthen the Society’s position as the leading voice in pro audio.”
“I’m honored to step into this expanded role and continue advancing IES’s work at the intersection of education, standards, and industry collaboration,” said Willcock. “As IES evolves, aligning our strategic initiatives with the needs of the lighting community is more important than ever. I look forward to helping guide that direction and ensuring our work remains both rigorous and deeply relevant.”
Both appointments support the strategic vision of IES and AES to maintain their distinct identities while leveraging operational synergies through shared management. The new roles will focus on advancing each organization’s strategic priorities, strengthening industry partnerships, and enhancing member value.
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