The Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating (AIRAH) today confirmed that Phil Wilkinson has stepped aside after five years as CEO.
The AIRAH board has begun the search for a replacement.
AIRAH president Nathan Groenhout, said the board has engaged Arete Executive, an executive search firm.
“AIRAH owes Phil Wilkinson a considerable debt of gratitude for his stewardship of the organisation over the past five years at the helm of AIRAH,” Groenhout said. "For personal reasons he has made the difficult decision to step aside, but will continue his 13-year career working for the Institute in a pivotal business-critical role across policy, strategy, stakeholder engagement and government relations.
“Phil, together with the existing executive and staff, have put AIRAH in a tremendous position. His energy, passion, engineering nous, warmth, and vitality in the role have certainly been appreciated and effective," he said. “Now we have begun an open and transparent process in the search for a new energetic AIRAH CEO. "
Groenhout said the board is aiming to appoint a new CEO before Christmas.
He said AIRAH is poised at an exciting juncture in its storied history as the pre-eminent member organisation for Australian HVAC&R professionals.
“We are looking for an engaged individual to bring leadership and growth to the key role of the Melbourne-based AIRAH CEO position,” Groenhout said. "Ideally, the preferred individual will have a nuanced understanding of member-based organisations and therefore qualified to help AIRAH continue its exciting evolution.”
Wilkinson will continue as acting CEO until a replacement can be found.