Regular columns

We know that looking after our buildings make sense, but in a world where new technology and innovation grab the headlines, how do we make it a priority?

It’s hard to believe 2024 is already coming to a close! My first six months as AIRAH president have been both an honour and a whirlwind. It feels like just yesterday that I was introduced as the new president at the AIRAH AGM, but in reality so much has happened since then.

On my first morning in Yogyakarta a few weeks ago, I took the Indonesian equivalent of an Uber to what the guidebooks describe as a “water castle”. I like water and I love castles, so I didn’t need any convincing.

If you’ve been an avid reader of Ecolibrium over the past decade and a half, you’ll notice that, for the first time in 160-odd issues, there’s a new photo on this page. It’s with a mixture of excitement and nervousness that I take the reins from the inimitable Matt Dillon.

AIRAH’s Advocacy and Policy Manager Mark Vender muses on the exceptional treatment of pre-charged equipment in Australia’s HFC phase-down.

How does this matter to you, you might ask. My point is that we are living in a fast-moving world marked by uncertainty, protectionism, and isolation. As our industry navigates the turbulent waters of technological advancements, economic shifts, and societal transformations, the role of professional associations has never been more critical. 

Professor Gayle Avery explores the most effective methods for resolving conflict.

At work it’s tempting to simply focus on getting the current project done and to forget that every business also needs a solid management basis. Not attending to management is a huge mistake because good management is crucial for high performance – irrespective of whether the organisation is public or private, or in engineering, health or any other field.

Company values go beyond mere words on a page, writes Professor Gayle Avery.

As I reflect on my personal journey with AIRAH over the past seven years, it’s clear that the past six months have been transformative.

Employers that care about the wellbeing of their staff, customers, suppliers and other stakeholders do better in the long run, writes Professor Gayle Avery.

One test of an award program’s veracity is how well the decision to bestow plaudits is viewed through the lens of time.

So, we are almost at the end of 2023 – where does the time go? Here’s the thing: we are focused on net zero and carbon neutrality, but what has been done in the past 12 months to reach our targets, and where will we be at the end of the next 12 months, I wonder?  

Does your work actually matter – to you? To your employees? Answers to these questions are important because today many employees are looking for meaning and purpose in their work, in addition to receiving a paycheque. Most people – particularly the younger generation – prefer to do something that also adds value to the world.

Well, it has been a busy few weeks, and as I put pen to paper for this column AIRAH has just held the Future of HVAC 2023 conference, along with the Building Physics Forum and Big Data and Analytics Forum, which were all held at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne, writes Paul Jackson, F.AIRAH.

International Women in Engineering Day once again reminds us of the gender disparity in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). Some progress has been made in addressing serious barriers for attracting and retaining women in STEM occupations

Convention, intention, and what’s next

Opinion: Learning is for everyone – all the time, writes Professor Gayle Avery.

Raising the profile of the HVAC&R building services industry is a goal that runs across all AIRAH’s activities.

By the time you are reading this almost half of 2023 will have flashed by. It’s incredible how time speeds up as you get older. How is the year progressing for you?