IAQ25 keynotes and program announced

AIRAH has announced two international keynote speakers and the full program for its 2025 Indoor Air Quality Conference (IAQ25), which will take place at the Langham Melbourne on May 26–27.

Dr Max Sherman from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California will open proceedings with a keynote on airborne infection control, referring specifically to how ASHRAE Standard 241 applies. The day two keynote will come from Dr Richard J Shaughnessy, head of the IAQ research program at the University of Tulsa, who will speak about the link between cleaning and health outcomes.

The conference will feature more than 25 presenters covering topics ranging from IAQ monitoring and infection control to preventing mould and exploring how kitchen rangehood design can improve residential IAQ. There will also be one panel session held on each day of the conference.

“We are thrilled to unveil the full program for IAQ25, featuring an exceptional lineup of speakers and experts dedicated to advancing indoor air quality,” AIRAH Conference and Events Manager Marie Karekla says. “Please join us in Melbourne as we welcome two esteemed international keynote speakers, Dr Max Sherman and Dr Richard J Shaughnessy.

“This year’s conference will be bigger and better than ever, featuring an expanded lineup of workshop sessions run by world-class leaders in indoor air quality.”

Sunday workshop

IAQ25 itself will take place on a Monday and Tuesday, but the afternoon before will feature an interactive workshop led by some of the world’s most renowned IAQ experts.

From midday on Sunday, May 25, the workshop will explore the differences in ventilation standards across Australia, the United States, and Europe, questioning whether 800ppm CO₂ is truly an appropriate benchmark for indoor air quality.

Experts in the field will provide insights into current regulations, practical applications, and the latest research shaping ventilation policies. Attendees will engage in discussions on the implications of these standards and their effectiveness in different environments.

The experts leading the workshop include:

• Professor Lidia Morawska
• Dr Richard J Shaughnessy
• Dr Max Sherman
• Sonia Holzheimer, M.AIRAH
• Brad Prezant, Affil.AIRAH
• Henrietta Tan
• Pawel Wargocki
• Andy Persily

Registration for the workshop costs $180 for AIRAH members and $210 for non-members.

Early-bird registration

Early-bird registration for IAQ25 is now open and will be available until Friday, April 18. Early-bird registration for two-day entrance to the conference costs $715 for AIRAH members and $915 for non-members.

Once the early-bird offer expires, two-day registration will cost $815 for AIRAH members and $1,015 for non-members.

The conference will also include a dinner function at Teatro Gastronomia starting at 6:30pm on Monday, May 26. Registration for the dinner function costs $65 for AIRAH members and $85 for non-members.