Carruthers wins AIRAH James Harrison Medal

AUSTRALIA: Phil Carruthers has been awarded the James Harrison Medal by the Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating (AIRAH) for a career spanning more than 50 years.

The James Harrison Medal recognises the highest levels of individual achievement in the Australian refrigeration and air conditioning industry. The award was announced during a special online edition of the Institute’s annual awards ceremony. 

Carruthers spent 30-years at consultants Norman Disney & Young and now serves as the engineering services manager of CBRE Building Consultancy Group. He joined the AIRAH in 1972 and served as national president from 2002-2003.

Held as the culmination of AIRAH’s Outlook 2020 international HVAC&R conference, the AIRAH Awards celebrated the leading people, projects and products in Australia’s HVAC&R industry across 11 categories.

AIRAH CEO Tony Gleeson says this year’s awards ceremony held extra significance, coming at the close of such a tumultuous year.

“We’ve all had to adjust and adapt during 2020,” said Gleeson, “But I’m very pleased that we’ve been able to maintain some traditions –  like the AIRAH Awards. In 2020 we are celebrating our Centenary, so it was especially important we hold the event this year.

“It’s also fitting that we wrap up our major event of 2020 by celebrating HVAC&R, because without our industry, Australia may not have survived the pandemic. Through this year’s lockdowns, we relied more heavily than ever on heating, cooling and refrigeration to keep our cold chains working, keep our data centres running, and keep our hospitals and healthcare facilities operating.”

Winners of the AIRAH Awards 2020 were:

Student of the Year – Higher Education or Research
Nima Izadyar

Product of the Year
Temperzone – OPA Eco Ultra

Excellence in HVAC&R Research
Dr Xiaolin Wang – Carbon dioxide hydrate-based cold thermal energy storage and carbon capture

Denis Joseph Award for Innovative Use of Solar Energy in HVAC&R
Veolia and McClintock Engineering Group – Innovative solar thermal water battery

WR Ahern Award
James Spears – Improving pump efficiency: A combination of regulation and good design (Ecolibrium, July 2019)

Best HVAC Retrofit or Upgrade
IT Critical Systems – BHP Olympic Dam: DR site upgrade

Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion
Norman Disney & Young

Excellence in Innovation
McClintock Engineering Group – University of Queensland, Gatton Campus

Future Leader
Grace Foo

Excellence in Sustainability
Norman Disney & Young and Plumbing Industry Climate Action Centre –
Plumbing Industry Climate Action Centre Narren Warren

James Harrison Medal
Phil Carruthers