At NYControlled 2025, I sat down with Colleen Harper, CEO and Executive Director of the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) and Executive Director of the Audio Engineering Society (AES), to discuss the major news announced between the two organizations.
Harper revealed that after months of confidential discussions, IES has officially entered into a management agreement with AES, allowing IES to provide administrative and operational support to the audio-focused association. The agreement was formalized with a press release earlier today.
“There are a lot of synergies between the two organizations,” Harper explained. “When I left AES in 2022, I loved the community and stayed in touch with many of the leaders. When I learned earlier this year that AES might part ways with its management company, it felt like an opportunity for both organizations to share resources in a productive and efficient way.”
How the Agreement Works
Under the new structure, IES will manage AES as a client organization, similar to its existing relationship with the National Council on Qualifications for the Lighting Professions (NCQLP). AES will remain entirely independent, maintaining its own board of directors, branding, and website, while paying IES a management fee.
“The arrangement mirrors what we’ve done successfully with NCQLP,” Harper said. “Everything remains separate, but we provide association management and administrative services. AES retains full control of its governance and identity.”
The management transition will officially take effect December 16, 2025. AES, which had already been operating under an association management company since 2023, will now shift to a nonprofit-to-nonprofit model with IES.
Staffing and Operations
When asked about staffing, Harper confirmed that IES personnel will split their time between the two organizations based on expertise. “Our standards and education team will remain 100% focused on IES,” she noted. “Other staff will share responsibilities—some evenly, some at a 70/30 split—with the majority still dedicated to IES.”
She also credited Brienne Wilcock, IES’s Director of Standards and 2024 EdisonReport Person of the Year, for her role in supporting the initiative. “Brienne has been integral to this process,” Harper said. “She understands the technical foundation of IES and was key in ensuring this partnership could succeed.”
Future Collaboration Opportunities
Looking ahead, Harper acknowledged potential opportunities for collaboration between lighting and sound disciplines, including the possibility of co-located events to reduce financial risk and maximize shared resources. However, she emphasized that there are no immediate plans for a combined “light and audio” conference.
“We’ve discussed ways to strategically align events where it makes sense,” Harper explained. “But for now, AES will continue hosting its established, AES-branded conferences while we focus on making the management transition smooth and effective.”
Managing Growth and Workload
When asked about her growing workload, Harper was candid but confident. “It’s another active organization, and they have big goals,” she said. “But we know what we’re getting into, and we’re bringing on new staff to help distribute the work.”
AES is headquartered in New York City, and Harper noted that discussions about shared resources were already underway earlier this year during the Global Lighting Summit at the IES Annual Conference.
A Strategic Step Forward
As I concluded the conversation, I congratulated Colleen on what marks a bold step forward for IES. This partnership represents not only an operational expansion but also a strategic alignment between two leading professional societies—one that could strengthen both the lighting and audio communities in the years ahead.