The following stories from five women in Australia are extracts from the booklet 'Women in the Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Industry."
1. ROXI AND WENDY KENNY
While Wendy says she fell into the industry by chance, Roxi believes that the RAC industry chose her.
Growing up with her parents owning and operating a refrigeration and air conditioning business, it was inevitable that she would herself work there one day, even when she was helping out from time to time while pursuing other career options.
When Roxi was 24, the receptionist working for the business left and there was no one to replace her, so Roxi took time off to help out once a week. It wasn’t long before she took over the position as a full-time employee. She has now been working for the business for five years.
Not only is Roxi following in her mother’s footsteps in the RAC office environment, she is also following them in education. She’s also studying law at university, as well as mechanical engineering, so she can eventually take over the family business.
“When I began working at Air-Rite, Mum suggested I study mechanical engineering to assist with my progress within the business and hopefully it will allow me to hold the Unlimited Design Licence in the future when she wants to retire.”
“My (mechanical engineering) degree will hopefully assist me in learning more about the project side of the business as I want to be more involved with tendering on the mechanical packages for builders and running projects we have won. The law degree is to assist with the contracts aspect.”
While Wendy and Roxi have pursued their ambitions with the support of their family and employers, that doesn’t mean they’ve had it easy. The RAC industry’s male-dominated nature has presented them with plenty of challenges to overcome.
“The hardest challenge I faced was when I first started working full-time at Air-Rite and I would go to the construction sites with the project manager to better understand their role. Very rarely would there be a female on site,” Roxi said.
“I would get harassed by other construction workers with inappropriate
sexual comments and gestures, which made being on site extremely
uncomfortable ... other times I found myself belittled over the phone by male builders.”
“In the earlier stages of working in the industry, I would get harassed by other construction workers with inappropriate sexual comments and gestures, which made being on site extremely uncomfortable ... other times I found myself belittled over the phone by male builders when I would request information.”
While Wendy also recalled challenges in being taken seriously by male counterparts, both of them emphasized that there has been improvement in the RAC industry on this front. Wendy has noticed improvement during her years of studying and running the business, while Roxi has noticed improvement through the implementation of workplace laws to prevent the kind of harassment she endured.
Even though the RAC industry is male-dominated, with their years of experience and the lessons learned along the way, Wendy and Roxi encourage any woman interested in a career in the RAC industry to go for it.
“There are some great individuals in our industry and I am lucky enough to have met numerous company owners, managers, consultants, suppliers and so on who have been respectful, courteous and sometimes helpful throughout my studying for my diploma. RAC is a great industry, just make sure that you are knowledgeable and gain experience on a practical level,” is what Wendy recommends, while Roxi believes that women interested in a RAC career should reach for the stars.
“Don’t let anyone deter you from what you want to do and what you want achieve. Make sure you work hard and learn as much as you can so if anyone wants to doubt you, take satisfaction in proving them wrong.”
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2. KRISTINA KHOUGAZ
Chemistry and mathematics were subjects that interested me throughout my schooling. These interests, alongside my passion for problem solving, led me to undertake a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering at university. While there, I worked as a Student Process Engineer in a manufacturing facility and from this I determined that I wanted to work in a challenging and practical role within a fast-paced environment. As a graduate, I was offered a position at A-Gas as a Process Engineer.
Throughout my time at A-Gas, I have grown considerably in my capabilities as an engineer in this industry. This is a direct result of the opportunities I have had to extend my skills within a global team environment that inspires open exchange of knowledge. A-Gas encourages continuous learning and growth; I have been on many training courses including PLC training, process safety training and autoCAD training. I am a member of both iChemE and Engineers Australia and hold a Refrigerant Handling License.
My day-to-day duties involve both the design and implementation of new and improved processes. This includes undertaking calculations, participating in risk assessments and HAZOPs, the procurement of components followed by the installation, and commissioning and training operators on how to run the process which has been implemented. I assist in troubleshooting when there is a breakdown or process irregularity, to ensure that the process is running efficiently.
“Although this industry is traditionally male-dominated,
I think it offers a great challenge and opportunity for women
and they shouldn’t be afraid to get involved.”
As a Process Engineer on a production site, there are many projects being worked on concurrently. High importance is placed on our Environmental Services sector, which promotes the recovery and reclamation of refrigerants to stop emissions and the unnecessary destruction of the atmosphere. One project that I have recently been working on is the upgrade of a state-of-the-art Environmental Services reclamation process to allow for increased production efficiencies, and as such, ensure even greater reclamation of substances with ozone-depleting and high global warming potential. I am proud to be a part of a dedicated team of people, united in their commitment to finding and refining processes to support the transition away from ozone-depleting substances.
I have been fortunate enough not to have faced many challenges as a woman in a traditionally male-dominated environment within the industry. A-Gas has an exceptional culture that doesn’t differentiate negatively between genders, and I think the industry can learn from A-Gas’ attitude to women in business, and feel inspired. I am fortunate to work alongside some inspiring women; A-Gas’ Managing Director in Australia is a woman who has worked in this industry for many years, and there are many other women who hold positions in our Leadership Team. These women have helped carve the way for other females in our company and are role models for future generations.
In saying that, there have been times when external contractors have not treated me the same as my male colleagues. An example of this was when a Project Manager went around the room in a suppliers’ meeting asking who would like a coffee, and then proceeded to say, “Ok, beautiful, go and make the coffees», directing this at me – the only female in the room. At the time, I was a young graduate who didn’t know how to handle the situation, so I made the coffees, shocked and shaken by the instruction. I learnt from that experience and how it made me feel. Experiences like that have made me a stronger person, someone who tries my absolute best at anything that is thrown my way, and it has given me the drive to continuously learn and grow. Looking back now, I know for certain that if a situation as described above was ever to arise again, I would handle it in a different manner and I am proud of myself for this.
Although this industry is traditionally male-dominated, I think it offers a great challenge and opportunity for women and they shouldn’t be afraid to get involved. I believe sharing the stories, experiences and learning of women across the RAC sector can help inspire and encourage others and can highlight how women are coming to the forefront of the industry. Given that team work is vital for any successful business, I think it is of great importance to ensure that a team is made up of people from a diverse background. That way, many ideas and opinions can be considered. In my position as an engineer, when designing or implementing changes to a process, a diverse team ensures that all aspects of safety and design have been carefully measured to the best of the team’s ability. I believe that women provide an exceptional benefit to any team and therefore also to the refrigeration industry.
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3. CATHERINE REINECKE
We all dream of following in the footsteps of our loved ones at one point or another as we grow up. Whether it’s our mother, father, siblings, grandparents, aunts and uncles, our loved ones have the power to inspire us to be just like them when we grow up and reach adulthood.
While not all of us manage or choose to follow in our loved ones’ footsteps, Catherine Reinecke has managed to do so many times over.
Catherine’s desire to follow in her grandfather’s, father’s, brother’s and uncles’ footsteps started to show itself when she was a child growing up in South Africa watching them hard at work in the RAC industry.
“From the age of seven, I used to see my father and brother work in big banana plants. This type of specialized work intrigued me, however being a girl in South Africa it was beyond my reach.”
While her prospects of working in the South African RAC industry were limited, she would later discover that the sky would be the limit for her and her family when they were given the chance to move to Australia. However, the increased opportunities weren’t given to Catherine on a silver platter, as moving to Australia presented her and her family with several challenges that would have led lesser people to give up.
“In 2006, my father, Theo, was given the chance to come to Australia with the help of my uncle Reymond. We were separated for a year until dad got enough money to bring the family over. Finishing school was difficult due to not being able to speak and write in English. I had to overcome this hurdle of learning a new language in Australia.”
Seven years after her father was given the chance by her uncle to come to Australia, they gave her the chance to kick off her career in the RAC industry.
“This trade can be very rewarding, male or female you have to have
a strong personality and the will to succeed under all circumstances.”
“In 2013, my dad and uncle gave me the opportunity to try out the trade to see if I would enjoy working with tools. I ended up enjoying the work and I told my dad I wanted to start working in the trade.”
While Catherine says that her grandfather, father, brothers and two uncles were her biggest influences and continuing the family trade is important to her, especially as she is the first female in her family to work in the RAC industry, she emphasizes that her father is by far her biggest supporter.
“My father has been my biggest motivator. He’s supported me and has been there for me throughout all the difficult challenges I have faced and without him I don’t know where I would be. We have our ups and downs but I wouldn’t trade working with him for the world.”
Despite the large amount of support from her male family members, not every man has been kind. Catherine says that some male customers find it hard to accept her working in the RAC industry, but she hasn’t let them or anyone else hinder her career. While she doesn’t know what the future holds for her, she is determined to perfect her skills and continue learning every day. Hard work and determination are traits she advises that anyone, let alone women, with their own ambitions and desires to work in the RAC industry needs to have.
“This trade can be very rewarding, male or female you have to have a strong personality and the will to succeed under all circumstances.”
“To all the young girls and women out there willing to do the hard work, give it a go and never stop trying. Keep moving forward.”
4. JENNY SMITH
I completed Year 11 with good grades in Physics, Biology, Mathematics, English and Chemistry but I knew I wanted something more than what was on offer for women. My options were administration, nursing or secretarial positions but then I saw an advert in the local paper for a “Refrigeration & Air-conditioning Mechanic» intake that would consider a woman if suitable. I applied and after two interviews and an interview with my parents to make sure I had their support, I got the apprenticeship. I was only 15 when I started my journey.
In 1982 I was employed as the first female Federal Refrigeration & Air-conditioning Apprentice in Australia with the Government in Darwin, Northern Territory. It had never been done before and they wanted to see if a woman could succeed in a mechanical trade. I wasn’t welcomed by the men on the floor or the woman in administration at first and no-one knew what to do with me. The steel cap boots didn’t fit, the pants and safety gear did not come in my size. They called me “she” for the few months and couldn’t recall my name, but I worked very hard and was apprentice of the year every year, and soon the tradesman realized that I wanted this job. I found the subjects of refrigeration, air conditioning and electricity interesting and was always putting my hand up for the opportunities that were offered. I was thirsty for knowledge and spent every moment making self-sustaining freezer boxes for long-range camping trips, fixing anything I could get my hands on, and I even started my own business on the side specializing in car air-conditioning. I earned the respect and admiration of my fellow workers, administration staff, TAFE lecturers and the clients that I served. I have a hundred funny stories of things said to me while on the job regarding being a woman in this trade. I graduated at the top of my trade class armed with a B Grade electrical licence, and was nominated for Apprentice of the Year.
“I was thirsty for knowledge and spent every moment making self-sustaining
freezer boxes for long-range camping trips, fixing anything I could get my hands on...”
I worked on all the federal sites and had the opportunity to work on Naval boats, submarines, RAAF, Army and Naval bases on large plant, both in Refrigeration and Air conditioning. As a large central plant mechanic everything was big, heavy and dirty but I was strong and held my own with the others. The Northern Territory government arranged for me to obtain my driver’s licence at 15 years of age to help me carry out my trade. This allowed me to go on 24/7 after hours callout in the second year of my apprenticeship, which solidified my learning curve. Being in a plantroom in the middle of the night with a major breakdown and no-one but yourself to get it back on line is a marvellous way to reinforce your knowledge. It was those opportunities that allowed me to learn my craft and become very confident with my abilities. A federal apprenticeship was worth its weight in gold as I was taught by tradesmen on large and medium-sized plant with large budgets that allowed us to do regular high-quality major service, on-site training and plant upgrades that honed my skills. On the weekends I worked at the wharfs on the prawning fleet’s ammonia freezer systems under the decks, trying to diagnose the problem in a confined space, like a canary, before the boat had to head out to sea again. I spent hours studying electrical diagrams spread across plant room walls to find the one contact that didn’t work that had caused the problem. I worked hard but I really loved it.
When I completed my apprenticeship, I started Mechanical Engineering, but I wasn’t welcomed by the all-male class and decided to do a Diploma in Supervision & Management by correspondence. The government Department of Education, Employment & Training (DEET) funded the “Women in Trades” pilot course and wanted a woman to run it, so I was seconded to run the course while still working in my trade position for the remainder of the week. The course was so popular and successful that I took it on full time and completed my Diploma in Education. I was then promoted to Manager of Vocational Studies, which saw me teaching and managing both Women in Trades, Aboriginals in Trades and Prevocational Studies at TAFE for several years. I had a full management and teaching load as well as work experience placement for some 200 students. Many of those female and Aboriginal students ended up with jobs in the mining and trades sectors around the Pilbara and Darwin areas.
I left Darwin for Adelaide and worked for 13 years across three large companies. I started with Simms Refrigeration, who were heavily invested in the supermarket, service station and pizza chains industry within the service and installation sector. I then moved to Dunnair International to be senior mechanic on the Roseworthy and Waite Campuses of Adelaide University. I had the opportunity to work on custom projects with major funding, managing stakeholders’ expectations and delivering the projects as per the scope of works. Air conditioning and heating for huge glass houses during summer and winter, mouse houses with critical humidity and temperature control, glycol chillers cooling the wine industry’s latest top-secret beverage process, scientific equipment custom made to achieve a specific outcome for an experiment, and low temperature (minus 100 degrees) freezers. Finally, I worked for Logic Air who specialized in large chillers for clients like Adelaide University, Port Adelaide TAFE and the University of South Australia. I also had experience with San Remo custom-made Italian pasta process machines, and computer room experience in both the Holden factory and in hospitals and theatres around Adelaide. In my time of being “on the tools” I have trained and influenced around 26 apprentices in Heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVAC&R) and have enjoyed the on-site training and watching their learning curve as they succeed in their own trade journeys.
In 2005 I returned to Darwin and started my own business called About Airconditioning. The business flourished by offering high-level customer service to a variety of clients. That led me to complete my Diploma in Business Management and Diploma in Project Management as I was involved in building management, facilities management and project management with clients. I have managed several buildings in Darwin that were being refurbished and having their HVAC&R upgraded with complete modern systems. I have also project managed remote sites with building contractors building houses, schools, offices and recreation facilities, meeting their individual HVAC&R scope of works with design, installation, service and continuing maintenance in Aboriginal communities.
I have worked closely with Midea in Guangzhou, China, testing and developing the world’s first Domestic Solar Air-conditioning Split System. We had the opportunity to test this solar air-conditioning system in at two sites in Darwin and one, Preston, in Melbourne. Testing went on for three years and moved the solar air conditioner system from Generation 2 to Generation 5. This opportunity to measure, interpret and develop this innovative solar product was a real highlight of my career.
I am an active member of Women of AIRAH, the women’s group of the Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating (AIRAH) and the Committee of the NT Chapter of AIRAH. I have been the unofficial female face of Refrigeration & Air conditioning for almost four decades across the HVAC & R industry, the building industry, the education sector and building facilities management.
I have thoroughly enjoyed every day I am involved in the HVAC&R industry and although difficult at times, it has rewarded me for a lifetime.
I love my trade.
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5. LIZ TAYLOR
As the co-CEO and co-founder of Global I+ Group and a Non-Executive Director of the Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating (AIRAH), my passion for innovation has been a driving force throughout my life. Little did I know that when I embarked on my journey, my career trajectory would ironically follow the innovation life cycle!
How did I get here?
Growing up in the western suburbs of Sydney, I was one of those kids who were good at everything except for sport. My love of maths, chemistry and physics was matched by my love of art and economics. Choosing between two great loves was difficult. And just as I handed in my choice to pursue a business degree, fate intervened. I was thrilled to be awarded a Co-op Scholarship to study Industrial Chemistry at the University of New South Wales. The first stage of the innovation cycle is Research and Development, and this is where my career begins. Graduating with a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Industrial Chemistry, I worked in the R&D laboratory where I learned the important role innovation plays in solving our day-to-day problems. The next stage of my career was spent in product management, where I learned how to develop and commercialize new technologies and make them mainstream. This was followed by marketing and senior management roles, where I learned how to transform these products into thriving business growth opportunities.
Like many people, I fell into the air conditioning and refrigeration industry over a decade ago. One of the key motivating factors was that I love a challenge. After working for some of Australia’s most loved brands, I decided that if I could make air conditioning sexy, I could do anything! I was fortunate to be part of a senior leadership team which transformed a little-known family air conditioning business into an iconic $100m+. Australian brand.
“The HVAC&R industry of the future will be a nexus of mechanical,
electrical, chemical, big data, photovoltaics, renewables, economics,
policy and the social sciences to bring about behavioural change.”
Leading the product management, marketing and demand management team, one of my responsibilities was commercializing new products. Our passion for challenging the status quo delivered energy savings of up to 60% compared to traditional technology. For a technology leader, one of the challenges is the slow rate of adoption of new products. Changing mindsets across the industry is critical. This was achieved through development of evidence-based marketing communication tools, demonstration projects and a national training programme to achieve a step change in energy efficiency. Not only was this good for business, it was good for the planet too!
One of the things that you first notice about the industry is the people. Super talented, quiet achievers bringing our buildings and communities to life. The second thing is the technology. These were ordinary people doing extraordinary things to make the world a better place. I had reached a point in my career where I wanted to use my superpowers to do more good in the world. And just like the pathway that products take when they reach maturity, it was time for me to pivot.
My leap into the entrepreneurial abyss has been the most challenging and yet most rewarding time in my career. Global IQ Group was formed to provide specialist strategy, innovation and marketing advice to the HVAC&R and built environment sector. Our clients include blue chip companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX), clean technology start-ups, not for-profit and government agencies. Some of the highlights have been facilitating a design thinking workshop in Shanghai, sourcing new products from original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) world-wide, developing technical manuals, meeting the wonderful Women of ASHRAE (formerly the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers) in Chicago, working with the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) and AIRAH to create an innovation hub and showcasing new technology through communications. I’m grateful my business partner Nathan Groenhout encourages me to focus on the important things like family. The freedom and flexibility of entrepreneurial life has allowed me to give back to the industry. I am a Non-Executive Director (AIRAH), co-founding Co-Chair of the AIRAH Resilience Special Technical Group and an advocate for raising the profile of women in our industry. I have also been fortunate to pursue other life goals including completing my Master of Business Administration (Executive) at The Australian Graduate School of Management.
HVAC&R for life
As scientists, engineers and business leaders in the HVAC&R industry, we have an enormous responsibility to enable life – from the food we eat, to health and well-being to building communities around the globe. Life as we know it could not exist without the important role we play. However, this lifestyle of comfort and convenience has come at a cost. Air conditioning is energy intensive and accounts for over 22% of electricity consumed in Australia. It has both a direct and indirect impact on the environment. Paul Hawken’s book “Drawdown” has identified refrigerant management as the number one activity that can reverse the effects of climate change.
To solve these global problems, we need an integrated approach across the entire industry. A one-size-fits-all solution does not exist. Diversity of thinking will be critical in putting together a multi-disciplinary approach to solving these complex problems.
The HVAC&R industry of the future will be a nexus of mechanical, electrical, chemical, big data, photovoltaics, renewables, economics, policy and the social sciences to bring about behavioural change. As we approach the hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) phasedown, technological change is inevitable. To be successful, collaboration will be essential across disciplines, and across the entire supply chain from researchers, manufacturers, contractors, designers, engineers, installers and facilities managers to property owners, service and maintenance providers. For women embarking on their careers, this provides a wonderful opportunity to grow in an industry which is poised for growth.
One day I will enter the final stage of the innovation life cycle, obsolescence. Reflecting on my career, I have been incredibly fortunate to be a part of an industry where change is a constant. As a “mumpreneur”, a friend, a student of life and dreamer of impossible things, I am living proof that women can have it all. We just need to redefine “all”, for the future belongs to those who dare to make a difference.
