ARBS 2026 Awards finalists announced

The ARBS 2026 Awards finalists have been announced, with awards spanning cutting-edge products, projects, education initiatives and emerging industry professionals. Following a competitive nomination process, the quality of submissions reflects the depth of talent and innovation driving Australia's HVAC&R, building services and technology sector.

“The response to this year’s program had set a new benchmark for the Awards,” said Amanda Searle, CEO, ARBS Exhibitions. “We received almost 100 nominations, the biggest submission round in the history of the ARBS Awards. The quality and breadth of entries was exceptional, from major infrastructure projects to emerging tradespeople and innovative new technologies. It’s a genuine reflection of the talent and ambition that exists right across our industry and we couldn't be more excited to celebrate these finalists at ARBS 2026.”

The Awards are structured across two streams. The ARBS Industry Excellence Awards recognise outstanding products, projects and education initiatives, while the ARBS Future Leader Awards celebrate the emerging professionals shaping what comes next.

Daikin returns as Platinum Partner of the Industry Excellence Awards and the ARBS Foundation will award four $5000 scholarships to Future Leader Award winners to support their continued professional development.

ARBS Industry Excellence Awards

Education & Training Excellence Award

• UEERA0098: Inspect, Test and Repair Fire & Smoke Control — Superior Training Centre
• UEERA0097: Overview of Daikin VRV Systems — Daikin
• VAE Apprentice Training Program — VAE Group
• Precise Air Aboriginal Pathways (PAAP) Program — Precise Air Group Pty Ltd
   

HVAC Product Excellence Award

• ECU45DV Dual-Voltage Environmental Control Unit — Cold Logic
• CO2 Hot Water Heat Pump — Daikin
• Braemar Dominator Series — Seeley International
• OMICRON Zero HVAC Unit — Eurothermal
   

IBTech Product Excellence Award

• AI Powered Building Intelligence Platform — Bitpool
• Refrigerant Leak Detection Solution — Bueno Analytics
• Intelligent Maintenance Platform — Airmaster
• Data-Driven Maintenance Solution — Bueno Analytics
   

IBTech Project Excellence Award

• Intelligent Environmental Monitoring (Regulated Site) — Bitpool & Envirocal
• 255 Pitt Street, Sydney NSW — IFM Investors, CopperTree Analytics & Exergenics
• 123 Albert Street, Brisbane QLD — VAE Group
• Woolworths Portfolio AI Integration — Bueno Analytics & Woolworths’ Energy Management Centre
   

Major Project Excellence Award (Over $5 million)

• Queen’s Wharf Integrated Resort, Brisbane QLD — Ellis Air
• Sydney Metro Martin Place, NSW — AG Coombs
• Cabravale Club Resort, Cabramatta NSW — Superior Air
• Cultural Institutions Collections Storage Facility, SA — O’Connors
   

Minor Project Excellence Award (Under $5 million)

• Kelvin Grove Thermal Energy Project, QLD — NorthWest Healthcare
• Eastland Shopping Centre Stage 1 Chiller Replacement, VIC — Airmaster
• Leichhardt Park Aquatic Centre Upgrade, NSW — PACE Services
• Scentre Group Multi-Asset Retail Centre Intelligent Building Analytics — Bueno Analytics & Scentre Group
   

Refrigeration Product Excellence Award

• ii915 Acoustic Imager — Fluke Australia
• CO2 Scroll Refrigeration Units — Copeland
• Panasonic Transcritical CO2 (TCO2) Outdoor Condensing Unit — Hussmann Australia
• DST G300 Gas Sensor — Danfoss Sensing Solutions
   

ARBS Future Leader Awards

Young Achiever Award

• Joshua Budd — Bellarine & Westcoast Refrigeration
• Muhammad Izzul Hakimi bin Roslan — CAMS AssetHub
• Finn Veeneklaas — WSP
   

HVAC&R Tradesperson Award

• Dylan Bryon — TVHS
• Corren Cox — Carve Industries and Electrical
• Adam Morgan — Clements Airconditioning Refrigeration and Electrical
• Jaimee Van Leerdam — D&E Air Conditioning
   

Outstanding Female in Industry Award

• Tahlia Agnew — SP&R Air Conditioning
• Manasa Marasani — GWA Consultants
• Deepika Naicker — Actron Air
• Jess Thomson — Bueno Analytics
   

Winners will be announced at the ARBS Industry Excellence Awards Gala Dinner and the ARBS Future Leaders Forum, both held during ARBS 2026 in Melbourne in May 2026. For more information, visit www.arbs.com.au/awards or register at www.arbs.com.au/arbs2026.