IOR Honours Excellence in RACHP Industry at 125th Annual Dinner

Date: 01 March 2025

The Institute of Refrigeration (IOR) hosted its 125th Annual Dinner in London on 27 February 2025, celebrating notable contributions to the refrigeration, air conditioning, and heat pump (RACHP) industry. The event recognised both individuals and businesses for their advancements in technology, research, and sustainability.

Five awards were presented during the evening, including the prestigious J&E Hall Gold International Medal, which was awarded to Professor Ahmed Kovacevic FREng from City St George’s, University of London. His work in high-fidelity numerical modelling of rotary positive displacement compressors has led to improved performance, efficiency, and reliability in various applications, including refrigeration, air conditioning, heat pumps, and energy recovery systems. His collaboration with industry has further extended compressor technology into new areas such as high-temperature heat pumps and hydrogen compression.

The Ted Perry Memorial Award for Student Research was presented to Eshagh Goudarzi of London South Bank University for his research on integrating waste heat and mine water for district heating and cooling. His project, the first of its kind in the UK, utilises the ground as a geobattery to store waste heat on a large scale. Judges highlighted the project’s comprehensive approach to heat recovery, long-term storage, and energy reuse.

Recognising a lifetime of dedication to hands-on technical roles, the RACHP Engineering Technician Lifetime Achievement Award was awarded to Matthew Byfleet of Adcock. Byfleet was commended for his expertise across a wide range of refrigeration and air conditioning technologies and his advocacy for sustainable, low-GWP solutions. He has also been instrumental in mentoring young technicians and apprentices. The judges also issued a Highly Commended recognition to Andy Clarke of Airconuk.

The Lightfoot Medal, given for the best IOR Talk and Paper of the year, was awarded to Dylan Betts for his work on "Heat Networks in Rural Areas," selected by IOR members through a vote.

The IOR Beyond Refrigeration Environmental Award, recognising efforts to reduce environmental emissions from cooling, was awarded to GEA Heating & Refrigeration Solutions for their Smart Parc Energy Centre in Derby. The project features an industrial ammonia heat pump that redistributes waste heat, providing both cooling and zero-carbon heating. Capable of delivering up to 11MW of cooling and 10MW of heating across a 1.8-million-square-foot food production facility, the system is expected to save 27,000 tons of CO₂ annually between 2024 and 2030. Judges described it as “a technical and holistic makeover to the existing district heating philosophy, focusing on food production and distribution hubs.”

Professor Ahmed Kovacevic, Eshagh Goudarzi, and GEA Heating & Refrigeration Solutions will be invited to present their work at future IOR events. More details on the awards and next year’s nominations can be found on the IOR website.

Institute of Refrigeration Recognises New Fellows

The Institute of Refrigeration (IOR) has appointed eight new Fellows in recognition of their expertise, leadership, and contributions to the refrigeration, air conditioning, and heat pump (RACHP) industry. Fellowship is awarded to long-standing members who actively advance the sector beyond their professional roles.

Newly Appointed IOR Fellows for 2025:

John Billson FInstR has been an IOR member for over 35 years. He began as an apprentice refrigeration engineer and now serves as Managing Director of Beijer Ref UK & Ireland. He supports industry initiatives, including the Trainee of the Year Awards, and encourages company participation in IOR events.
Nick Franzen FInstR has been involved with the IOR for over a decade, contributing to the Papers and Publications Committee and the Beyond Refrigeration Environment Group. He has authored a paper on low GWP refrigerants and frequently presents on DX carbon dioxide. This year, he will lead an IOR masterclass on subcooling and superheat.
Juliet Loiselle FInstR has been an IOR member for 15 years, serving as a past Trustee and ACRIB representative. As Publisher of ACR Journal and Heat Pumps Today, she promotes industry collaboration and supports training initiatives.
Neil McGoldrick FInstR has been an IOR member for 13 years and is active in the RACHP EngTech section. He has contributed technical content on topics like suction accumulators and is currently working on guidance for dry air coolers. His expertise includes refrigeration systems for marine applications.
Julie Murray FInstR chaired IOR Scotland for five years and led the Scottish Dinner Committee for a decade. She mentors young engineers at Beijer Ref and was elected as an IOR Trustee in 2023.
Steven Padgett FInstR is a member of the IOR Technical Committee and promotes the organisation’s work within the industry. He has developed a CO₂ training course and contributes to the BRA Training Working Group.
Nick Rivers FInstR has been an IOR member since 1993, holding technical roles in contracting and end-user companies. He served as IOR Treasurer for five years and is now part of the IOR Technical Committee, with expertise in carbon dioxide refrigeration.
Justin Southwick FInstR has been an IOR member since 2011 and now leads Net Zero and energy initiatives at Carter Thermal Industries. He serves on the IOR Membership Committee and supports STEM education through EmployabilityUK.