Incoming Institute of Refrigeration President Stephen Gill has joined the technical team at the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA).
He brings more than 40 years’ experience in refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pumps (RACHP) to the Association, with a particular focus on supporting the industry’s primary F-Gas register, REFCOM.
Gill will also contribute to BESA’s work with government, international organisations and industry stakeholders, alongside supporting the development of technical guidance and industry best practice for RACHP contractors.
Later this year, he is due to begin a second non-consecutive term as IoR President. Gill is believed to be the first to have been elected twice in the Institute’s modern history.
“We are delighted to welcome Steve to our team,” said BESA technical director Kevin Morrissey. “He is well known across the sector for his technical knowledge, industry leadership and ability to help organisations navigate complex technical and regulatory challenges in a practical and commercially workable way.
“His appointment further strengthens BESA’s support for the RACHP sector during a period of rapid technological and legislative change.”
Alongside his technical and policy work, Gill is recognised for his contribution to workforce development and professional awareness initiatives. He founded World Refrigeration Day in 2018, helping raise awareness of the industry and its role in modern society.
He is also a long-standing advocate for improving diversity and inclusion across engineering and has supported international initiatives focused on professional awareness, technical competence and standards development in more than 160 countries.
“I’m looking forward to supporting BESA and REFCOM at an important time for the RACHP sector,” he said. “The industry is facing rapid change in skills, refrigerants, heat pumps, energy efficiency and compliance, so there is real value in helping to translate technical and regulatory developments into practical guidance that supports contractors and end users alike.
“BESA has an important role to play in supporting standards, competence and collaboration across the sector, and I’m pleased to be joining a team that is committed to those goals,” added Gill.
He began his career as an engineering apprentice before progressing through senior technical and commercial leadership roles. He combines hands-on engineering experience with expertise in technical standards, environmental compliance, F-Gas regulation and sustainable cooling policy.
Gill is founder and managing director of Derby-based Energy Efficient Solutions Ltd, an independent consultancy providing technical, regulatory and commercial advice across refrigeration and heat pump applications. He previously served as head of sustainable cooling at the Carbon Trust, where he led national and international programmes focused on cooling innovation and refrigerant transition pathways.