Isabella has been working in HVACR for almost a decade and loves being part of an industry where the learning never ends. “HVACR sits at this brilliant intersection of physics, engineering, controls, construction and human behaviour, and no two buildings seem to have read quite the same rulebook,” she says. Isabella loves the investigative side of HVAC. “One problem can pull you through half a dozen different systems before finding a solution,” she says. She enjoys discovering older plantrooms, legacy controls, obsolete equipment, strange valve arrangements and old mechanical schematics and is passionate about preserving that history. “There is an enormous amount of expertise held by engineers, technicians and contractors who have worked with systems and technologies that younger generations rarely see,” she says. “Much of that knowledge was never formally documented; it was passed from person to person through experience and as older equipment is removed and people retire, there is a real risk that some of it disappears with them.” It is why Isabella wants to try to bridge the generation knowledge gap. “Every generation of the industry has already paid for lessons that the next one shouldn’t have to learn from scratch.”

Drisya has spent more than a decade in the HVACR industry initially working in the VRF business. After 10 years in VRF as an application engineer and product manager, she transitioned into the applied business. Put simply, her role contributes to converting engineering products into commercially successful products. Today she works with chillers and heat pumps. Drisya admits the Australian market is very project-driven and highly competitive. “Every project brings its own set of requirements and challenges,” she says. Drisya loves being part of an industry that is always evolving. “With HVACR playing a significant role in global energy consumption and emissions, I believe the industry has a responsibility to respond to climate change through more efficient, lower-impact and responsible solutions.” It also fits with Drisya’s long-term ambition to be a part of the transition towards a more sustainable built environment.

Skye has been on the tools for more than 25 years. She has a keen eye for fault-finding and is always mindful of deadlines and maintaining budgets while still delivering quality work. This makes her a great all-rounder and mentor to the younger technicians. “This isn’t a job it becomes a passion,” she says. “This job offers ample variety and there are so many different paths to take.” Skye says there are plenty of opportunities to meet new people and form long-lasting friendships. She loves being part of a team and the banter that comes with a close-knit group. Skye enjoys guiding the new generation of technicians and would love to see more women in HVACR. “Ultimately I would love to create a women’s work wear line that is durable and practical for working onsite in the elements,” she says.

When discussing leaders in Australia’s HVACR industry, the spotlight often falls on those working in technical, engineering or operational roles. Yet some of the industry’s most significant contributions are made behind the scenes. For more than 18 years, Sonja has been one of those people. Since joining Refrigerant Reclaim Australia (RRA) in 2008, Sonja has become an indispensable part of Australia’s national refrigerant product stewardship scheme. As financial controller, her responsibilities extend beyond traditional financial management. She supports importer participation, stewardship agreements, levy administration, reporting processes, national audits and the day-to-day systems that allow RRA to function efficiently. The work Sonja performs is critical to the success of RRA and, by extension, Australia’s refrigerant stewardship efforts. She is the quiet strength behind much of RRA’s success, a trusted colleague whose dedication has helped shape the organisation into what it is today.

Courtney oversees a team of 13 technicians, including apprentices, and is responsible for coordinating the day-to-day delivery of maintenance works, service callouts and breakdowns. She is part of a business that was established by her father in 1988. As a child, she recalls family road trips with her father taking service calls. “Without realising it at the time, I was growing up listening to customers describe breakdowns, technicians troubleshoot problems,” she says. Courtney admits it can be a challenge balancing the urgency of commercial refrigeration with the responsibility of leading people well.” She says commercial refrigeration is one of those industries that most people rarely think about until something stops working, yet it supports so much of everyday life – hospitality, food storage, clubs, schools, healthcare and so much more. “I want younger people entering the trade to see commercial refrigeration as an industry where they can build an entire career, not simply complete an apprenticeship,” she says. “I didn’t grow up thinking I would one day run the service department of our family refrigeration business. Now that I do, I don’t see it as a destination but the beginning of what I can build.”

Sade Elliott is South Australia’s first electrical apprentice training to become a BMS controls technician. In her role at Airmaster she supports BMS maintenance, controller upgrades, and sensor replacement across a wide range of commercial sites. Sade joined the HVACR industry after six years of on-and-off university study. She made a deliberate decision to walk away from that path in search of a more hands-on challenge. “This job is a constant challenge but there is something new to learn every day,” she says. Sade continues to thrive and admits making the transition into a male-dominated environment was far less intimidating than she expected. She has even encouraged other women to consider trade careers despite the stereotypes. This has led to another female apprentice following in her footsteps.

Jelena Franjic is a mechanical engineer and consultant working on the issues that matter in the HVACR industry. She joined the industry in 2017, just as the HFC phase down was set to begin. “It was a steep learning curve, I quickly discovered that this seemingly boring industry was a colourful zoo of complex technology, chemistry and regulatory frameworks to explore,” she says. Jelena describes the local market as dynamic with many variables which can make her role challenging. Jelena says it’s the people in HVACR that make it such a great industry. “Despite being very much a commercial market, there is a real sense of shared responsibility. Everyone understands just how vital refrigeration is to the functioning of our country, without it, Australia would quite literally stop,” she says. Looking ahead, Jelena is keen to help navigate this new era of AI technology and low GWP solutions.

Jasmine joined Cooldrive straight out of high school. She began her career in the warehouse and has worked her way up to the position of branch manager at Cooldrive’s Smeaton Grange store. She was appointed to the role six months ago after spending 13 months as 2IC at the Alexandria branch. Jasmine says the role keeps her busy and the rapid influx of electric vehicles coming into Australia is keeping her on her toes. “It is hard keeping up with the parts those vehicles need,” she says. Prior to her promotion Jasmine worked in a variety of sales positions across stores in Queensland and NSW. “I love meeting new people and the opportunities for career growth,” she says. “My plans are to continue learning and growing in my new role, building on my experience with fellow branch managers and superiors, and hopefully take the next step to becoming the first female regional manager for CoolDrive Auto Parts.”