Join this insightful panel discussion on shaping a more diverse, equitable, and successful future for the HVACR industry.
Panellists will explore the financial benefits of diversity, cultivate cultural awareness, and redefine structures for balance.
Participants can discover support systems, mentorship opportunities, and immediate action steps to increase diversity in their organisation.
Together, participants can take practical steps toward a brighter, more inclusive future.
Panellists include Aaron Clark, executive lead for social procurement, inclusion & engagement at A.G. Coombs.
Aaron Clark is a descendant of the Tjap Whurrung / Kirrae Whurrong people of the Marr nation. With over two decades of experience in executive and board positions across various sectors, Aaron has dedicated his career to the empowerment and betterment of Aboriginal people.
His work has always been driven by a commitment to diversity and inclusion, with a focus on strengthening pathways for Aboriginal and Multicultural youth.
Clark is currently an Adjunct faculty member at AGSM @ UNSW Business School, facilitating leadership, business strategy, and social change programs.
Another panellist is Caroline Fitzgerald, apprenticeship program manager at Woolworths.
Fitzgerald has been with the Woolworths Group for seven years and has been the apprenticeship program manager for the multi award winning refrigeration apprenticeship program since it launched in 2020.
The program is designed to build a sustainable pipeline of new talent within the HVACR industry but to also drive a step change in diversity and inclusion which redefines the workforce for the future.
The Woolworths apprentice program supports their teams to be the greatest advocates to mentor and train apprentices to the highest of technical standards and promotes a true sense of belonging for everyone.
The program currently has 34 per cent women apprentices, compared to the industry average of just one women, along with culturally diverse apprentices which includes nine per cent of people who identify as First Nations.
The third panellist for this session is Irfan Hai, team leader for electronics engineering, instrumentation & HVACR at TAFE NSW.
He has over 15 years’ experience in the Vocational Education & Training Sector (VET).
The final panellist is Alison Scotland, executive director of the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC), a body of peak organisations committed to a vision of more sustainable, productive and resilient buildings, communities and cities.
Her passion and expertise lies in collaborating with industry, government and third sector leaders to develop national policy and technical solutions that enhance the built environment. She has served on several national policy/technical committees for the built environment, as well as on a non-profit board focused on improving building resilience in the Asia Pacific.