AIRAH’s finest shine at WA awards event

AIRAH has hosted its 10th annual WA Members Lunch, combined for the first time with the WA Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Apprentice Awards.

The event was a collaboration between AIRAH, South Metropolitan TAFE, and the Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Industry Association of Western Australia (RACIAWA). A record crowd of nearly 200 people attended the lunch, which took place at Novotel Langley on Wednesday, September 18.

Winners are grinners

Newly elected AIRAH board member and event MC Chris Bong, M.AIRAH, got the formalities underway with the announcement of the 2024 award winners.

The award winners were as follows:

• Most Deserving Student in the First Year of Apprentice Training: Kyeisha Gordon, Stud.AIRAH
• Best Performance in the First Year of Apprentice Training: Jacob Tweedale
• Most Deserving Student in the Second Year of Apprentice Training: James Colin-Thome
• Best Performance in the Second Year of Apprentice Training: Ilijah Bellem
• Most Deserving Student in the Third Year of Apprentice Training: Lachlan Hodge
• Best Performance in the Third Year of Apprentice Training: Tyde Whareau
• Best Performance in Diploma Studies: Paula Drazniuk, Stud.AIRAH
• Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Apprentice of the Year: Brayden Walker
• Airefrig Australia Scholarship Award: Joel Brady
• Apprentice Employer Award: CMS Engineering.

AIRAH would like to thank the sponsors for the WA Members Lunch and WA Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Apprentice Awards:

• Major event sponsors: Frigtech and the Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Industry Association of WA (RACIAWA)
• Table sponsors: BAC, Daikin, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Air-Conditioners Australia, Centigrade, and Baker Refrigeration
• Display Sponsors: Systemaire and Turner Engineering.

First-class presentation

After lunch there was a captivating presentation by Furat Dawood, founder of the Hydrogen Economy Group (H2E Group). Dawood is also a steering committee member and the WA chapter leader of the Hydrogen Society of Australia, as well as a member of many energy societies, NGOs and research groups.

He has a PhD in Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, specialising in hydrogen-based power systems engineering design and operations, and is involved in many hydrogen projects in Australia and globally.

Dawood’s presentation – “Hydrogen Economy 101: The Role of Hydrogen in Decarbonising Energy Sectors” – explored the tremendous potential of hydrogen technology. He focused specifically on hydrogen’s capacity to store energy and function as a direct, emissions-free fuel source, and how this could revolutionise fields like the transport sector.

Dawood also touched on the challenges of working with hydrogen. While he pointed out that hydrogen is non-toxic and less flammable than fuels such as petroleum, some systems will require additional engineering controls – such as metal hydrogen embrittlement – to ensure they use hydrogen safely. And, of course, future generations of technicians and other relevant professionals will need safety training if they’re to work on hydrogen systems.

Decades of service

In her post-lunch address, AIRAH CEO Sami Zheng, Affil.AIRAH, presented certificates to WA members who have reached significant milestones with the Institute, including two who have made it to a remarkable 50 years of membership:

• 10 years of membership: Anastasia Alexandrova, Affil.AIRAH
• 10 years of membership: Ashley Fahl, Affil.AIRAH
• 10 years of membership: Jarrod Langdon, M.AIRAH
• 10 years of membership: Jason Logan, M.AIRAH
• 10 years of membership: Amjad Mallick, Affil.AIRAH
• 20 years of membership: Paul Jackson, F.AIRAH
• 50 years of membership: Rama Ramakrishnan, M.AIRAH
• 50 years of membership: Ian Curedale, Affil.AIRAH.

A legend departs

Zheng also honoured one of AIRAH’s longest-serving team members, Alison Mattes, who departs on October 11 for a position with Cancer Council WA. Alison has worked with AIRAH for nearly 15 as the Member Services Officer for Western Australia, and more recently as the Institute’s Partnerships Manager.

Under Alison’s supervision, AIRAH’s WA division has flourished, becoming one of the Institute’s most active and engaged groups of members. One measure of her success is the attendance at the Members Lunch, having grown from around 70 in its first iteration 10 years ago to nearly 200 attendees in 2024.

It is with mixed emotions that Alison leaves her long-term position, during which she was AIRAH’s sole staff representative on the ground in WA.

“I’m very excited about the change after 14.5 years, but also very sad to have to say goodbye to so many amazing members and people I’ve worked with,” Alison says. “I was greeted by many members with kind words and best wishes after Sami’s speech, so it was quite a special event for me.

“I am really proud of AIRAH and to have represented the Institute for so long. It has always been a pleasure dealing with members, sponsors, and industry stakeholders to further benefit the HVAC&R industry.

“I hope that I will cross paths with many of these people once again through Cancer Council WA and my new role in community engagement.”

AIRAH thanks Alison for her years of exceptional service and wishes her all the best for her next chapter.