Stephen Gill has been nominated for the ‘Lifetime Achiever’ category at the UK’s National Diversity Awards, which honours individuals who have made outstanding, long-term contributions to advancing equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI). The award recognises a lifetime of efforts to promote fairness, respect and opportunity across communities.
Gill, a well-known advocate within the global refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump (RACHP) sector, has consistently integrated EDI values into his work. His nomination highlights his role in encouraging inclusive dialogue and engagement across the industry, including through his leadership in launching World Refrigeration Day (WRD), a global awareness campaign uniting nearly 400,000 participants.
With a 45-year career in the sector, Gill began his journey unexpectedly in 1979 after a cancelled IT course led him to refrigeration training. He later joined Linde Refrigeration, advancing from technical work into sales and management. His commitment to raising the profile of the RACHP industry culminated in the establishment of WRD in 2019, with support from over 100 national associations and the United Nations Environment Programme.
Now serving as Head of Industry Insights for HVAC Europe at Haier, Gill continues to support initiatives such as Engineering Differently and Cooling for Good. His work reflects a long-standing mission to promote awareness, attract new talent, and foster inclusion in the industry.
The National Diversity Awards ceremony will take place on 19 September, when winners across all categories will be announced.
Read our full interview with Stephen Gill on his career and World Refrigeration Day.