ARBS Education and Research FoundationARBS Education and Research Foundation

ARBS Foundation is committed to help build a vibrant, productive and rewarding airconditioning and refrigeration industry

About ARBS Foundation

Created in 2014, the Australian ARBS Education and Research Foundation (the Foundation) is committed to help build a vibrant, productive and rewarding airconditioning and refrigeration industry. This goal will be achieved by awarding a range of scholarships and educational grants to individuals so they can further their education in the industry.

Critical to the future productivity of the industry is the education and training of the people who work in it. This is true of tradespeople, tertiary educated people and everyone in between. Our education scholarships are designed to –

  • Help fill some of the gaps which exist in the range of training opportunities which are available and funded by governments; and
  • Support individual people who will benefit from financial encouragement to further their level of education.

Research grants will be made available to tertiary students and companies to help them undertake studies that will contribute to solving contemporary industry problems and challenges.

The research projects funded will be directed at practical problems encountered daily in the industry. Generally these research projects will need to be completed within a 12 month period or a discrete aspect of the research completed in that timeframe.

By offering funding support and encouragement to people, we can help guarantee that the airconditioning and refrigeration industry remains strong and vibrant now, and into the future. This is the outcome the Foundation is helping create.

 

What we do

Tate modern museum, London, United kingdom

Productivity improvement is critical for the industry to grow and develop in a competitive world wide environment which exists today. Education and training of the people who work in it along with targeted research will make a major contribution to improving the industry.

Our scholarship program will provide unique opportunities for people to improve their skills and employability.

Scholarships will be available for tradespeople, tertiary students and graduates and everyone in between. Our education scholarships will –

  • Fill some of the gaps which exist in the range of training opportunities which are available and funded by governments; and
  • Support individual people who will benefit from financial encouragement to further their level of education.

Research grants will be made available to tertiary students and companies to help them undertake studies that will contribute to solving contemporary industry problems and challenges.

The research projects funded will be directed at practical problems encountered daily in the industry. Generally these research projects will need to be completed within a 12 month period or a discrete aspect of the research completed in that timeframe.

 

Who we are

The ARBS Foundation was created by . The ARBS Foundation was incorporated in 2014 to promote and support the industry by –

  • Promoting education and research in any field that is relevant to the industry or making contributions to the capacity development of the industry.
  • Actively promoting further education, training, health and safety issues within the industry.
  • Soliciting and fundraising donations to help support the objectives of the ARBS Foundation.
  • Making grants, scholarships and awards to support individuals advance their skills.
  • Cooperating with other organisations that share similar goals and objectives to the Foundation.

Two charitable trusts have been established.

  • Scholarship Trust.
  • Development Trust.

These will serve the education and research functions respectively.

Both trusts have been conferred “charity” status by the Australian Charities and Not for Profits Commission which means every donation to the ARBS Foundation is tax deductible.

ARBS Foundation is a company wholly owned by . A separate and independent Board of Directors appointed by ARBS Exhibitions is charged with running the Foundation.

 

 

Our board

The Foundation board is appointed by ARBS Exhibitions Limited. It is a skills-based board.

All directors are selected and appointed for their knowledge, experience and record of achievement in the air-conditioning and refrigeration industries. The Constitution requires that at least half of the directors must be appointed for their skills and experience in a discipline or field of knowledge that is beneficial to the Foundation.

 

Mikaila is a Director and owner of GWA Consultants Australia, where she is actively involved in the design and construction of HVAC systems across various sectors. Mikaila is the current National President of AIRAH, where she has been a non-executive Director for 5 years. Mikaila is passionate about increasing the visibility and impact of the HVACR industry and increasing the participation of women in the field. Mikaila is the Associate Director of the Women in AIRAH Special Technical Group.

Simon Bradwell, PhD, CEng, FIEAust, is Managing Director of ebm-papst A&NZ, and Chairman of the Fan Manufacturers Association of Australia and New Zealand (FMA-ANZ).

Simon Bradwell has 16 years of fan industry experience. His engineering work spans Europe, Africa and Australasia. He is a Chartered Engineer with a Doctorate in Engineering from the UK. In 2015 he was recognised as Fellow of Engineers Australia. Simon works extensively with Australian federal and state governments on fan efficiencies and other motor related issues.

Simon is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Greg Picker is the Executive Director of refrigerants Australia and key policy advisor to AREMA.

Greg has a long and impressive list of achievements in the important area of climate change policy. His involvement stretches across Australia as well is international and includes government and the private sector. He has worked with leading policy think tanks including the Climate Institute, the Lowy Institute and the Garnaut Secretariat – on international climate change policy issues.

Greg has a PhD from the University of Queensland, a Masters from the

For 22 years David Eynon was the Victorian and then National executive director of the Airconditioning & Mechanical Contractors’ Association.

David has extensive experience and a record of achievement in association management, industrial relations and skills training.

David holds post graduate qualifications and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Brett is a Director at It’s Engineered, where he remains actively involved in the industry as a mechanical engineering consultant with over 20 years’ experience.

In addition to his role on the ARBS Foundation Board, Brett volunteers his time to a range of causes dedicated to industry improvement. These include technical committee roles with Standards Australia and industry representation on NSW BRAC (for Engineers Australia) and the ABCB’s Building Codes Committee (for AIRAH).

Brett was invited to join the Board in 2019, drawing on insights gained from his industry participation and involvement in education and training courses. This experience supports the Board’s awareness of current knowledge gaps and opportunities that the ARBS Foundation was established to encourage improvement in.

Name: Jason Monty

Title: Non-executive Director

Jason is a Professor of Fluid Dynamics and Head of School of Electrical, Mechanical and Infrastructure Engineering at the University of Melbourne. He specialises in experimental research with a focus on large-scale demonstrators of innovative technology and field work. Jason has been advisor to the Victorian government on a number of large-scale projects related to indoor air quality (IAQ) and building ventilation. In the ventilation space, he specialises in low-medium cost uplifts for improved IAQ. He is also Associate Director for Research Programs for the ARC Thrive Industry Transformation Training Centre for Indoor air quality.

Chris has a Mechanical Services Cert IV (1982); a TAE 40116 Certificate IV in Training & Assessment (2023); is an accredited NEBB Professional (1992); and is a certified TACA Testing & Commissioning Supervisor (2021)

Chris entered the Mechanical Services Industry in 1974 as a Cadet Engineer with a Mechanical Services and Refrigeration Contractor, spent 3 years with a Services Consulting Engineer then moved back into contracting in 1982 with TCM Tasmania and became a Director in 1987.  He has worked in all facets of Mechanical Services Contracting until retiring in 2024. He now consults with TCM and teaches  Mech Services Plumbing Cert IV at TasTAFE.

ARBS Hall of Fame AMCA Inductee in 2022; AMCA National Board member 2011 to 2019 National Chairman 2016-2017; NEBB Australia Chairman 2012 to 2020 & TACA National Chairman 2021 to 2024 current Board Member; and AIRAH Member since 1982 

Pam Rogers is Group General Manager at SP&R Group, with a professional background in the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration trade, where she developed strong technical knowledge and hands-on expertise. She has successfully combined this trade foundation with senior-level business leadership, driving strategic direction, operational performance, and organisational growth.
Pam is committed to mentoring women in trades and serving as a role model for those pursuing similar career paths. She is passionate about mentoring women in trades, Pam also serves on the Women of AIRAH Board.