We talk to Brendan Crabb ahead of IAQ24

AIRAH’s Indoor Air Quality Conference 2024 – the Institute’s first major conference of the year – takes place from July 15–16 at Crown Melbourne.

The two-day conference brings together the leading voices in Australia’s IAQ sector, with 22 presenters speaking on topics ranging from mould prevention and COVID-19 mitigation to coping with the effects of climate change on IAQ.

AIRAH Conference and Events Manager Marie Karekla says the conference offers something for all professionals interested in IAQ.

“On behalf of AIRAH, I am proud to invite attendees to IAQ24, which sees the leading minds in the field come together to discuss ideas, network, and share cutting-edge research,” Karekla says.

To get a sense of what’s in store, HVAC&R News spoke with Professor Brendan Crabb from the Burnet Institute. Crabb will open the conference with a keynote speech at 9am on Monday, July 15.

HVAC&R News: What are you most looking forward to about IAQ24 next week?

Brendan Crabb: I am excited about the opportunity to engage with experts and industry leaders at IAQ24 next week. Indoor air quality is a topic of great importance given that Australians spend up to 90 per cent of their time indoors. Better indoor air quality can reduce the spread of illnesses, boost productivity, strengthen climate change resilience, and gain strong community support.

Could you give us a brief overview of the presentation you’ll be delivering on Monday?

My presentation focuses on how improving indoor air quality presents a global health opportunity and can create safer environments. Now is the time to seize the moment and act on clean indoor air. We are spending more time indoors than ever, the pandemic continues to affect us, and new threats are emerging more frequently. This is happening against the backdrop of increasing awareness of air quality issues, both locally, with bushfires and “thunderstorm asthma” events, and internationally, with recent reports highlighting mortality from pollution.

How important do you think conferences like this are for increasing industry awareness of IAQ?

Conferences like these are essential for raising awareness about indoor air quality and driving progress. They provide an opportunity to bring together a diverse group of experts to share experiences, discuss research, learn about emerging technologies, and collaborate on solutions.

Conference details

• When: Monday–Tuesday, July 15–16, 8:30am–5pm
• Where: The River Room at Crown Melbourne
• Cost: $795 for AIRAH members, $995 for non-members. Single-day registration available
• Registration: Available until the conference begins via the AIRAH website.