Ready for RefCon25

René Le Miere, M.AIRAH, gives us a sneak peek at AIRAH’s 2025 Refrigeration Conference.

AIRAH’s 2025 Refrigeration Conference (RefCon25) will take place on Monday, March 24 at Rydges Melbourne.

René Le Miere, M.AIRAH, is a refrigeration engineer with SuperCool, a member of AIRAH’s Refrigeration Special Technical Group, and sits on the technical organising committee for RefCon25. He spoke with HVAC&R News about the big issues facing the Australian sector, approaches to addressing the shortage of trained technicians, and what to expect from the conference.  

HVAC&R News: What are some of the biggest issues facing the Australian refrigeration sector at the moment?

René Le Miere: The industry today faces a range of challenges, including selecting appropriate refrigerants, navigating licensing requirements, improving energy efficiency, maintaining a high level of skill, and making sound engineering design decisions. Additionally, meeting customer expectations while ensuring competitive pricing remains a critical concern.

There has been a lot of talk recently of skills shortages across the HVAC&R industry. Is this something you’ve noticed, and if so, how do you think it’s affecting the refrigeration sector in particular?

This is certainly a significant discussion point within the industry sector I am involved in. Our industry as a whole is becoming increasingly specialised, with some areas seeing a shift toward greater expertise while others experience a decline.

Historically, we recognised three main sectors: refrigeration, HVAC, and controls. However, this landscape has evolved, now encompassing a wide range of niche specialisations. These include experts in industrial process cooling using ammonia refrigerant, supermarket CO₂ specialists, refrigeration control professionals, computer room and process cooling specialists, hot water heat pump experts, hygiene and maintenance specialists, as well as those focused on smaller-scale applications such as back-to-back cool room systems – each requiring distinct areas of expertise.

We often describe HVAC&R as the hidden industry, and it seems that even within that acronym, refrigeration is often overlooked. Given how important refrigeration is to modern society, what can we do to increase the profile of this sector?

This is a complex issue that originates at the grassroots level. From a trade perspective, the three core professions – plumbers, carpenters, and electricians – serve as the foundation. As an HVAC&R technician or engineer, one must become proficient in these trades while also developing specialised expertise in HVAC&R.

Our field inherently combines knowledge from all these areas, and as such, certifications and degrees should formally recognise and encompass these diverse skillsets. In contrast, the traditional “big three” trades have stringent regulations that limit the cross-pollination of skills. It is also important to acknowledge that if professionals from other trades possess the necessary skills to work within our industry, they should be allowed to do so.

How important do you think events like RefCon25 are for raising awareness of the sector?

The significance of this issue is immense. It is crucial that we engage with all sectors of our industry, including engineering, trades, end users, and policymakers. Modern society cannot function without refrigeration. The cold chain industry is vital to our survival, ensuring the preservation of essential goods, while also supporting comforts such as keeping server rooms cool, enabling us to enjoy streaming services or play online games. The importance of refrigeration extends far beyond everyday conveniences – it is a cornerstone of both our economy and quality of life.

There will be some presentations focusing on natural and flammable refrigerants. Do you see a bright future for this technology given the need to move away from high-GWP refrigerants?

Based on the scientific data accumulated over many years, it is clear that global warming is occurring, and traditional refrigerants with higher global warming potential (GWP) contribute significantly to this issue.

From a philosophical standpoint, I am committed to leaving the planet in at least as good a condition as I found it, if not better, for future generations. Therefore, pursuing alternative refrigerant solutions is essential, even though some may present inherent hazards.

High-risk situations are present in many industries, but with the right design and operational procedures, these risks can be effectively mitigated. The fundamental principle here is ensuring that anyone working with newer technologies has received proper training and possesses the necessary skills to use them safely.

What are some of the sessions you’re most looking forward to at RefCon25?

I am particularly looking forward to the keynote presentation by Alexander Cohr Pachai, where he will discuss the global refrigeration and heat pump markets. The heat pump sector presents numerous commercial opportunities and is experiencing rapid adoption worldwide.

As with any emerging trend, there is a mix of good and poor design, and it is crucial for regulators, end-users, and the industry to take the time to understand the optimal solutions, as well as the best practices for design, installation, operation, and maintenance. I hope that Alexander’s presentation will offer valuable insights for businesses, shedding light on the direction of this emerging trend and sharing lessons already learned from the global market.

The coolest conference

RefCon25 will bring together leading international and local experts, practitioners, and stakeholders to explore the latest developments, trends, and challenges shaping the refrigeration industry.

The conference caters to professionals, researchers, technicians, educators, students, policymakers, and anyone who is passionate about advancing refrigeration technology and its applications. Conference attendees earn 7.5 points towards their CPD requirements.

RefCon25 will feature presentations by some of the finest Australian and international refrigeration experts:

• Keynote: Alexander Cohr Pachai, AM.AIRAH – Global Consultancy APS Denmark
• Fabio Ferrara, Affil.AIRAH – Arneg Oceania
• Jelena Franjic – Expert Group
• Ben Adamson, F.AIRAH – Redynamics
• Dario Ferlin, M.AIRAH – Woolworths
• Jonathon Fryer, M.AIRAH – ISECO
• Alemu Tiruneh Alemu, M.AIRAH – Glaciem Cooling Technologies
• Jan Dusek – Atmopshere
• Nicholas Lianos, Affil.AIRAH – Grosvenor Engineering Group
• Mark Vender (AIRAH) and Natalie Churn (DCCEEW).

Tickets to the conference cost $500 for AIRAH members and $600 for non-members. You can register via the AIRAH website.