04 March 2025
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IOR President Lisa-Jayne Cook addresses guests at the 125th Annual Dinner
The 125th Institute of Refrigeration Annual Dinner celebrated outstanding individual contributions to the advancement of the RACHP industry and recognised businesses for their dedication to sustainability.
President Lisa-Jayne Cook FInstR reflected on the IOR’s history of innovation, collaboration and dedication. She highlighted current projects and achievements while also looking to the future of the industry, emphasising emerging leaders and upcoming initiatives.
Five awards were presented during the evening at a new venue, the Hilton London Bankside:
Professor Ahmed Kovacevic
The J&E Hall Gold International Medal recognises the most noteworthy practical contribution to the field of innovation in refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump technology. This year’s winner is Professor Ahmed Kovacevic, from City St George’s, University of London. His work blends academic research with industrial collaboration to deliver transformative solutions for high-fidelity numerical modelling of rotary positive displacement compressors. The specialist software he has developed has revolutionised compressor design. It has enabled improved performance, efficiency, and reliability across refrigeration, air conditioning, heat pumps, and energy recovery systems. In partnership with industry, he has enhanced compressor technology and expanded its applications into areas such as high-temperature heat pumps, hydrogen compression, and sustainable lubrication. Professor Kovacevic has an international reputation in the field of compressor technology and is renowned for encouraging knowledge exchange, training future engineers, and advancing the understanding of compressor technology on a global scale. This work will have a profound impact on the future of refrigeration and sustainable energy systems.
Eshagh Goudarzi
Eshagh Goudarzi of London South Bank University was awarded the Ted Perry Memorial Award for Student Research for his work on “The integration of waste heat and mine water for heat recovery and storage in district heating and cooling.” This project, which has led to the first scheme of its kind in the UK, uses the ground as a geobattery to store waste heat for seasonal heating and cooling on a significantly large scale. The judges were impressed by this researcher’s comprehensive approach, which integrates heat recovery, long-term storage, and the re-use of energy.
Matthew Byfleet
The RACHP Engineering Technician Section Lifetime Achievement Award, sponsored by ACR Journal, went to Matthew Byfleet of Adcock, recognised for his expertise in a wide range of equipment and technologies, from VRV systems, to industrial and pharmaceutical applications. A strong advocate for low-carbon, low-GWP solutions, Matthew is dedicated to driving sustainable innovation in the industry. He is also passionate about mentoring apprentices and young technicians, sharing his knowledge and enthusiasm to inspire the next generation and propel the sector forward. His employer described him as “a superb engineer, dedicated to his role and constantly going above and beyond for the client”.
This year, the judges had an outstanding pool of nominees to consider and also recognised Andy Clarke from Airconuk with a Highly Commended award.
Dylan Betts
The Lightfoot Medal, awarded for the best IOR Talk and Paper of the previous year, was made to Dylan Betts for his paper “Heat Networks in Rural Areas.” The winner of this award is decided by vote of IOR Members and the paper and recording of the presentation are available on the IOR website.
The Smart Parc Energy Centre in Derby
The IOR Beyond Refrigeration Environmental Award went to GEA Heating & Refrigeration Solutions for the Smart Parc Energy Centre in Derby. The Smart Parc Energy Centre is a sustainable energy management centre, based on an integrated heating and cooling network that redistributes waste heat. It uses an industrial ammonia heat pump to provide cooling as well as zero-carbon heating.
The system can deliver up to 11MW of cooling and 10MW of heating across a 1.8 million square foot food production facility. It is designed to achieve a minimal seasonal heating efficiency of 400% (COPh 4). Between 2024 and 2030, the system is projected to yield an annual CO2 saving of 27,000 tons compared with an equivalent R404A system.
The judges described this project as “a technical and holistic makeover to the existing ‘district heating’ philosophy, focusing on food production and distribution hubs.” They also agreed that it demonstrates potential for wider adoption on other sites.
Professor Kovacevic, Eshagh Goudarzi and GEA Heating & Refrigeration Solutions will all be invited back to give talks to IOR Members in the next papers programme.
Eight new Fellows
The IOR announced eight new Fellows of the Institute in recognition of their technical expertise, leadership and contribution to improving the standing of the RACHP industry.
IOR Fellows are long-standing Members who have demonstrated a commitment to leading and advancing the industry that goes beyond their day-to-day work responsibilities.
The new Fellows are:
- John Billson, Managing Director, Beijer Ref UK & Ireland
- Nick Franzen, Refrigeration Advisor
- Juliet Loiselle, Publisher, ACR Journal and Heat Pumps Today
- Neil McGoldrick, Managing Director, Ice Gold Services
- Julie Murray, Head of AncillaryHUB, Beijer Ref UK & Ireland
- Steven Padgett, Head of Technical, Beijer Ref UK & Ireland
- Nick Rivers, SCM Frigo
- Justin Southwick, Group Head of Digital, Carter Thermal Industries
