On the occasion of International Women’s Day, AREA organised the webinar “Women in Refrigeration – Empowering Inclusion in the Cooling Sector”, bringing together representatives from international organisations, industry associations and professionals working in refrigeration and heat pump technologies. The initiative highlighted the contribution of women to the HVAC&R sector and encouraged greater diversity in an industry where female participation remains limited.
Opening the event, , AREA actual and past Presidents Coen Van De Sande and Marco Buoni welcomed participants and emphasized the importance of sharing experiences and strengthening the visibility of women in the sector, noting that inclusion and skills development will be essential for the future of the refrigeration industry.
International initiatives supporting women in cooling
Representing UNEP OzonAction, Sonja Wagner presented the organisation’s activities supporting gender inclusion within refrigeration training programmes. UNEP works with more than 140 countries implementing the Montreal Protocol, and technician training programmes provide an important opportunity to address barriers that limit women’s participation in the sector.
Through surveys, technical workshops and targeted initiatives, UNEP promotes capacity building and helps identify challenges faced by women technicians, supporting national strategies aimed at increasing female participation in the cooling workforce.
Stephen Gill, founder of World Refrigeration Day, explained how awareness campaigns can help improve the visibility of women in the industry. Initiatives such as the Women in Cooling campaign share stories and experiences of female professionals, highlighting that women are already active across the sector, even if their presence is often less visible.
Networking, mentorship and professional development
During the webinar, Andrea Voigt, Head of Global Public Affairs at Danfoss Climate Solutions, and Miriam Solana Ciprés, Group Human Resources Director at CAREL, shared complementary perspectives on inclusion in the HVAC&R sector.
Andrea Voigt highlighted that the energy transition and the electrification of heating and cooling systems require new skills and a broader, more diverse workforce. In this context, increasing the participation of women in the sector is not only a matter of equality but also a strategic factor for technological innovation and industrial development.
Miriam Solana Ciprés emphasised the role of companies in creating more inclusive working environments capable of attracting and supporting female talent through training, mentoring and professional development initiatives. According to Solana Ciprés, companies must actively foster equal opportunities and career pathways in order to encourage more women to enter and grow within the refrigeration and cooling industry.
The webinar also presented the work of the International Network of Women in Cooling (INWIC). Representing the organisation, Mikaila Ganado described how the network connects women working in refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump technologies through mentorship, networking and professional development opportunities.
One of the main tools of the network is a global mentoring platform that allows professionals to connect across countries and regions, supporting women entering or advancing their careers, particularly in regions where access to technical networks is limited.
Experiences from research and industry
The final part of the webinar focused on real experiences from the field. Hannah Romberg, mechanical engineer at RWTH Aachen University, presented her work on heat pump technologies and energy-efficient systems, highlighting the importance of confidence and visibility when presenting research in technical environments.
Araceli Pino Ruiz, electronic engineer at Spanish manufacturer INTARCON, illustrated the practical side of refrigeration engineering, describing her work in developing control systems and validating refrigeration equipment to ensure safety, efficiency and reliability.
Across the different presentations, speakers highlighted that the cooling sector is expanding rapidly and requires a growing number of qualified professionals. Increasing the participation and visibility of women, alongside mentoring initiatives and international collaboration, represents an important step toward building a stronger and more inclusive HVAC&R workforce.