Celebrating the best in 2025

In 2025, AIRAH expanded its awards program to six states and territories, recognising outstanding apprentices and long-term contributions among HVAC&R professionals across Australia.

AIRAH has long held apprentice awards in Western Australia and South Australia. This year, the Institute expanded those awards to include Queensland, Victoria, New South Wales and the ACT.  

“The 2025 AIRAH State Awards provided the perfect opportunity to recognise the contributions of leading HVAC&R professionals and celebrate the outstanding apprentices who are driving our industry forward,” says AIRAH Events Officer Lukáš Skaife. 

“Across the country, we saw a strong turn-out from organisations and individuals who came to support the next generation of talent. In some cases, people travelled several hours to support their apprentices who had been nominated. 

“We’re looking forward to building on this momentum as we continue to expand our awards in 2026.” 

Award categories 

Awards in most states and territories were given across seven categories: 

• Technical Leadership Award: Given to the HVAC&R professional who has demonstrated excellence in technical skill and leadership 

• Industry Transformation Award: Given to the HVAC&R professional whose work has had the biggest real-world impact  

• Professional Development Award: Given to the HVAC&R professional who has demonstrated outstanding commitment to education and helping the next generation of talent achieve their potential 

• Community Building Award: Given to the HVAC&R professional who has shown the greatest dedication to fostering relationships and camaraderie between peers 

• Rising Star: Most outstanding first-year apprentice 

• Emerging Talent: Most outstanding second-year apprentice 

• Apprentice of the Year: Most outstanding third-year apprentice. Winners of this award receive a complimentary one-year AIRAH affiliate membership. 

Long-serving AIRAH members were also awarded membership recognition certificates at the events.   

Here are the winners from each state. 

Western Australia 

• Technical Leadership Award: Scott Whitmore, M.AIRAH 

• Industry Transformation Award: Darryl De Saran 

• Professional Development Award: Alan Venn-Brown 

• Community Building Award: Kim Cramer 

• Most Deserving Student in the First Year of Apprentice Training: Luke Bailey 

• Best Performance in the First Year of Apprentice Training: Renee Youngs 

• Most Deserving Student in the Second Year of Apprentice Training: Courtney Pipes 

• Best Performance in the Second Year of Apprentice Studies: Sean Van Der Brugge 

• Most Deserving Student in the Third Year of Apprentice Training: Lucas Yeeda 

• Best Performance in the Third Year of Apprentice Training: Benjamin Hargreaves 

• Airefrig Scholarship Award: Brenen Fisher 

• 2025 WA Apprentice of the Year: James Colin-Thome, Affil.AIRAH 

NSW/ACT 

• Educator of the Year: Paul Wright, Affil.AIRAH 

• Best Performance in Diploma Studies: Beau Kupris, Stud.AIRAH 

• Rising Star: Molly Mayall 

• Emerging Talent: Christopher Sebalj 

• 2025 NSW/ACT Apprentice of the Year: James Ferris, Affil.AIRAH 

Queensland 

• Educator of the Year: Carl Balke, Affil.AIRAH 

• Technical Leadership Award: Dr Claire Bird, M.AIRAH 

• Industry Transformation Award: Ken Thomson, F.AIRAH 

• Professional Development Award: Sonia Holzheimer, M.AIRAH 

• Community Building Award: Campbell Williams, M.AIRAH 

• Rising Star: Rylan Coonan 

• Emerging Talent: Brenton Ross 

• 2025 QLD Apprentice of the Year: Adam Attewell, Affil.AIRAH 

Victoria 

• Technical Leadership Award: Daniel Waack, M.AIRAH 

• Industry Transformation Award: Sean Maxwell, M.AIRAH 

• Professional Development Award: Andrew Pang, AM.AIRAH 

• Community Building Award: William Lane, F.AIRAH 

• Rising Star: Myfanwy Santwyk, Stud.AIRAH 

• Emerging Talent: Stewart Roberts 

• 2025 VIC Apprentice of the Year: Joshua Budd, Affil.AIRAH 

South Australia 

• Technical Leadership Award: Sonali Deshmukh, Stud.AIRAH 

• Professional Development Award: Nick Burston, M.AIRAH 

• Community Building Award: Chintan Mody, M.AIRAH 

• Airefrig Scholarship: Lane Talbot 

• Rising Star Award: Ali Clark 

• Emerging Talent Award: Anthony Jun 

• 2025 SA Apprentice of the Year: Jie Wang, Affil.AIRAH