Architecting a Global Identity: Ellesse Fehlberg Named to CI 40 Under 40
Who is the kind of person who works tirelessly behind the scenes so everything else shines? What is more selfless than being the one who always coordinates the team photos, yet rarely appears in them? We are incredibly excited that these amazing, dedicated people are getting the spotlight they so richly deserve.
Commercial Integrator has officially released its 40 Influencers Under 40 list for the class of 2026. Ellesse Fehlberg, Director of Global Marketing for GPA, has been recognized as one of the rising stars blazing a trail across the AV galaxy. This prestigious list highlights professionals under 40 years of age who are actively shaping the industry’s future. We extend our huge thanks to the entire AV community and congratulate every single honoree on this year’s list for their incredible contributions.
A Decade of Strategic Global Impact
How does an executive navigate the complex, rapidly shifting world of enterprise technology? For Ellesse, the journey has been defined by continuous cultural engagement and a willingness to take on massive global challenges. With almost fifteen years of experience in the AV and UC industry, she has built a remarkable career focused on strategic alignment.
She spent nearly seven years driving national and global initiatives as a National Business Manager at the GPA Australia team in Sydney, Australia. From there, she stepped up to take the helm as GPA’s full-time Director of Global Marketing in January 2023.
In this highly strategic role, she does not just oversee campaigns; she acts as a cultural bridge for the entire organization. Her major career achievements include:
Architecting two major industry rebrands to unify the global GPA identity.
Strengthening strategic, executive-level relationships with leading global technology partners.
Driving significant business impact and brand positioning through premier industry events.
Elevating the overall GPA footprint by aligning the messaging of regional teams worldwide.
Despite her intense global travel schedule, she still calls Sydney home and finds balance by waking up early to watch the sunrise at the beach. This grounded, open approach to life translates directly into her professional leadership, driving continuous growth and cultural teamwork for our global family.
The Power of Community and Mentorship
Who helps shape the leaders of tomorrow? No true global leader reaches this level of industry recognition in isolation. In her response to the announcement, Ellesse expressed genuine shock and deep humility, noting she never imagined receiving such recognition when she first entered the AV industry.
She was quick to redirect the spotlight to the community around her. She attributes this milestone to the many mentors, leaders, and teammates who have guided, challenged, and encouraged her along the way. The global perspective, lasting friendships, and unique cultural experiences she gained during her past decade with GPA have fundamentally shaped her professional journey.
She noted that the AV space is filled with passionate, innovative, and generous people, and she is incredibly proud to be part of it. This commitment to lifting others is not just something she talks about online; it is a core part of her professional advocacy.
On July 15, 2026, Ellesse took the stage at InfoComm Asia in Bangkok as a featured panelist. She participated in the AVIXA Xchange LIVE fireside chat titled ‘Collaboration Over Competition: Women Supporting Women in AV’. Sharing the stage with other female industry leaders, she discussed how mentorship and authentic support help women thrive in the audiovisual space.
Defining the Frontier Workplace
What is the next big shift in collaboration technology? While AI is the current buzzword across the market, a global director must look past the hype to see the actual human impact. Ellesse recently shared a deeper executive perspective during an interview at InfoComm Asia.
She noted that GPA is heavily focused on the frontier workplace, which represents the true integration of AI and its direct impact on the daily user experience. When asked to describe AI in a single word, her immediate response was ‘complex’. Navigating this complexity for multinational corporations is exactly why enterprise clients rely on expert, unified integration to ensure their tools actually work.
Delivering Excellence Globally
Why does cohesive marketing leadership matter for our enterprise clients? It is all about communicating scale, reliability, and cultural alignment. Ellesse frequently highlights that the true power of GPA lies in our Regional Business Units. With over 30 RBUs spread across 55 countries and offices in more than 180 cities, maintaining a unified global voice is an incredible feat. It’s not telling everybody what they should do, but listening to what everybody needs and aligning it all.
Through rigorous design standards development, GPA ensures absolute consistency worldwide. Our expansive operational footprint allows us to deliver excellence globally by assisting enterprise customers with:
Streamlined global procurement and logistics
Unified program and project management
Complete installation and deployment across diverse regions
Ongoing, standardized global support services
We are so thankful for the dedicated professionals working behind the scenes to make this industry great. If you want to learn more about the team driving our global success, check out our GPA News Blog or contact our global integration experts today.
Congrats, Ellesse! 💚
