The winners of the 2024 AIRAH Awards have been announced at a black-tie gala dinner held at Crown Aviary Melbourne on Thursday, November 21.
The awards celebrate outstanding achievements from across Australia’s HVAC&R building services industry. Around 200 guests attended to celebrate the groundbreaking work of companies and individuals within the sector.
AIRAH CEO Sami Zheng, Affil.AIRAH, says the AIRAH Awards play an important function in highlighting the work AIRAH’s members do and showcasing the role the industry has in moving to a net-zero future.
“HVAC&R is a ‘hidden’ industry,” she says. “Our industry’s leading people, projects and initiatives complete their work away from mainstream attention. The awards are a way for us to recognise some of these amazing achievements.”
The winners are:
Best HVAC Retrofit or Upgrade
Goondiwindi HVAC upgrade, NRG Services
This award recognises excellence in the retrofit of upgrade of an HVAC system, across all aspects of project delivery.
Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion
SP&R Group
This award recognises organisations and individuals who are leading the way in fostering diversity and inclusion in our industry.
Excellence in Sustainability
Joint winners: Sydney Airport International Terminal T1 chilled water plant optimisation, A.G. Coombs and Exergenics; and Woolworths Metro Gadsden CO2 WaterLoop system, Woolworths.
This award recognises Australian initiatives that have made clear improvements in the sustainability of HVAC&R systems or the HVAC&R industry.
Excellence in HVAC&R Research
Accelerating solar and thermal energy storage for HVAC decarbonisation, University of Wollongong
This award recognises research work towards improving HVAC&R systems.
Excellence in Innovation
Sydney Airport International Terminal T1 chilled water plant optimisation, A.G. Coombs and Exergenics
This award recognises significant Australian innovations in HVAC&R systems, plant, equipment or processes.
Excellence in Refrigeration
Woolworths Metro Gadsden CO2 WaterLoop system, Woolworths
This award recognises achievements in refrigeration across projects, plant or processes.
Future Leader
Bilal Babadagi, M.AIRAH
This award recognises emerging leaders in any facet of the HVAC&R industry.
Student of the Year – Trade
Jordan Hocking, Stud.AIRAH
This award is earned by an outstanding student at any level of the industry’s trade sector.
Student of the Year – Higher Education or Research
Poorya Shaghaghi, Stud.AIRAH
This award is earned by an outstanding student who is currently enrolled in a higher education program or is undertaking a research project.
Product of the Year
Thermal-XR
This award recognises excellence in product manufacture, taking into account innovation, energy efficiency, sustainability, originality, and industry need
WR Ahern Award
Striking a balance: planning and implementation considerations for natural gas removal – Simon Witts, M.AIRAH et al
The WR Ahern Award is awarded to the best technical paper by an AIRAH member published in Ecolibrium. Four papers are eligible for the 2024 award.
AIRAH thanks the event sponsors:
- Gala: Daikin
- Entertainment: Superior Training Centre
- Future Leader: A.G. Coombs
- Excellence in Innovation: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
- Student of the Year – Trade: LG
- Excellence in Sustainability: Construction Specialties
- Diversity and Inclusion: Standards Australia
- Best HVAC Retrofit or Upgrade: Superior Training Centre
- Excellence in Refrigeration: RMIT University
- Product of the Year: HVAC&R Search
- WR Ahern: Ecolibrium
- Community Grant: The Coca Cola Company
- Supporter: Fair Air
- Media partner: HVAC&R News
For more updates, visit the AIRAH Awards website.
