By Eamonn Ryan
What if a technical meeting in Johannesburg could spark a conversation with engineers in Brazil? Or a student in Nairobi could learn from a refrigeration specialist in Denmark? What if a company webinar in Cape Town became part of an international programme reaching professionals across six continents?
Equally important is creating opportunities for the next generation.
Magnific.com
Those are the kinds of connections Global HVACR Women Week hopes to encourage when the inaugural event takes place from 25 to 31 October 2026.
Built around the theme ‘Local voices. Global connections. One HVACR community’, the initiative is not intended to be a single international conference or centrally organised event. Instead, it provides a shared platform through which organisations, companies, professional bodies, educational institutions and individuals can connect their own activities to a wider international community.
The concept is deliberately simple.
Rather than asking organisations to create entirely new events, Global HVACR Women Week encourages them to build on activities they already organise. A technical presentation, webinar, factory open day, student engagement programme, podcast, magazine interview or networking event can all become part of the Week by introducing a new perspective, another organisation, a different country or another generation into the conversation.
The emphasis is on connection rather than scale.
Some organisations may choose to invite an international speaker to an existing webinar. Others may profile women working in technical or leadership roles, organise mentoring sessions for students, or encourage first-time presenters to share their experiences. Even a workplace discussion or online interview can contribute to the broader international programme.
The initiative is guided by three straightforward invitations:
- Show up by participating in activities across the industry.
- Speak up by sharing technical knowledge, professional experience and new ideas.
- Lift others up by creating opportunities for people whose voices are not always heard.
Although the Week places women’s knowledge, experience and achievements at its heart, participation is open to the entire HVACR community. Employers, manufacturers, contractors, consulting engineers, educators, students, trade associations, publications and professional institutions all have a role to play in creating a more connected profession.
For South African organisations, the Week presents an opportunity to showcase local expertise on an international stage while learning from colleagues facing similar technical and commercial challenges elsewhere in the world.
The country has developed considerable expertise in areas such as natural refrigerants, supermarket refrigeration, food cold chains, industrial refrigeration, HVAC design, energy efficiency and skills development. Sharing these experiences internationally not only highlights South African innovation but also creates opportunities for collaboration, professional development and future partnerships.
Equally important is creating opportunities for the next generation.
Many young engineers and technicians possess valuable ideas and digital skills but have had limited opportunities to present at conferences, participate in webinars or contribute articles. By encouraging first-time speakers and early-career professionals to take part, organisations help develop future industry leaders while bringing fresh perspectives into technical discussions.
Global HVACR Women Week also recognises the importance of celebrating the pioneers whose contributions helped shape today’s profession. The inaugural Week begins on 25 October, the birthday of Margaret Ingels, widely recognised as America’s first woman air-conditioning engineer. Throughout her career she combined technical excellence with education and communication, helping to broaden understanding of air conditioning and ventilation while opening doors for those who followed.
As the international programme continues to develop, participating organisations from around the world will contribute webinars, interviews, technical discussions, workplace initiatives, student activities and networking events. Together, these will create a diverse programme that reflects the breadth of today’s HVACR profession.
Ultimately, the success of the Week will not be measured by the number of events held, but by the relationships that continue afterwards. Every new conversation between organisations, every connection across borders and every opportunity created for someone entering the profession contributes to a stronger, more collaborative international HVACR community.
For companies, professional bodies and individuals who have not yet become involved, there is still time to participate. Whether by opening an existing event to a wider audience, inviting a guest speaker from another country or simply creating an opportunity for a new voice to be heard, every contribution strengthens the international network the Week aims to build.
Because while technologies continue to evolve, it is the people behind them – and the connections they make – that will shape the future of the HVACR industry.
Reference: Global HVACR Women Week
