Supporting women shaping the future of HVAC&R

October 19, 2026

A.G. Coombs is supporting the 2026 AIRAH Women in HVAC&R Summit, an industry event designed to strengthen connections, share knowledge and advance greater participation by women across HVAC&R and building services.

Held at the InterContinental Melbourne, The Rialto on 27 October, this year’s Summit carries the theme “Ripples: Small Waves, Big Impact.” AIRAH describes the annual event as celebrating the involvement of women and gender-diverse people in Australia’s HVAC&R industry.

The program brings together industry perspectives, professional development and networking, with presentations, a panel discussion and workshops exploring artificial intelligence and the built environment, personal brand, leadership and career development.

For A.G. Coombs, supporting the Summit complements our ongoing commitment to advancing representation, equity and opportunity across our organisation and the wider building services industry.

Building national momentum

Earlier this year, A.G. Coombs concluded a national series of Advancement of Women A.G. Coombs Leadership Academy events, following gatherings in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, with a final event at the National Museum of Australia in Canberra.

The series brought together leaders, apprentices, graduates, clients and industry partners to share perspectives on representation, leadership and the role organisations and individuals can play in creating inclusive, high-performing workplaces. A consistent message emerged across the series: advancing women is fundamental to industry performance, innovation and long-term sustainability.

The Canberra event also put the spotlight on emerging professionals, including Madeleine Moratti, then an A.G. Coombs Graduate Engineer, who shared her early career experiences and perspectives on mentorship, development pathways and opportunities to build meaningful careers within the industry.

Emerging leadership in action

Madeleine provides a strong connection between A.G. Coombs’ own initiatives and the AIRAH Women in HVAC&R Summit.

Having participated in last year’s Summit, Madeleine is featured in AIRAH’s promotional material for the 2026 event. Her growing contribution to the industry has also been recognised within A.G. Coombs and through the wider building services sector.

Her technical work is featured in the BE – Building Efficiency 2025 cover story “Timber, Technology & Temperature“, exploring the innovative mechanical services solutions being delivered at Atlassian Central in Sydney. As Project Engineer, Madeleine discusses the project’s approach to thermal comfort and the engineering solutions being applied to help achieve its ambitious energy performance targets.

More recently, Madeleine features in “AI with Intent“ in the latest BE – Building Efficiency 2026 magazine and was a national finalist in the Future Leader category of the 2025 AMCA National Industry Excellence Awards.

Her achievements build on recognition within A.G. Coombs, including receiving the 2024 Young Achiever Award. Madeleine joined A.G. Coombs in 2021 through the Graduate Engineer Program and subsequently participated in the A.G. Coombs Emerging Leaders Program.

Small waves, lasting impact

Supporting the AIRAH Women in HVAC&R Summit continues this focus beyond our own organisation.

A.G. Coombs’ Diversity & Inclusion Action Plan and Advancement of Women initiatives provide a framework for practical, sustainable progress, while collaboration with organisations such as AIRAH helps extend the conversation across the broader industry.

Events such as the Women in HVAC&R Summit provide an opportunity to share experiences, build professional connections and encourage the next generation of people shaping Australia’s building services industry.

The 2026 AIRAH Women in HVAC&R Summit will be held on Tuesday 27 October at the InterContinental Melbourne, The Rialto.

Discover more and register to attend the AIRAH Women in HVAC&R Summit.

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