Meet the Judges
The HVR Awards judging panel has been tasked with the difficult job of reviewing entries and finding the ultimate winners across 19 categories including HVAC products, projects, initiatives, and both group and individual performances.
Spearheading the decision-making process are:
Dr Abigail Hathway
Senior lecturer, the University of Sheffield
In 2024 Abigail was awarded one of the top 50 Women in Engineering in the UK due to her work enhancing lives. Her research aims to improve the in-use performance of buildings, encompassing developments in automated control and collaborations with behavioural science.
Her particular interest is in delivering healthy buildings. She was involved in a large amount of ventilation research and outreach as we emerged from the pandemic, including co-authoring the Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers guidance “Emerging from Lockdown”.
She teaches building services theory and design, encouraging students to innovate and develop ideas that integrate their building services design with their structural engineering.
Swetta Coopamah
Head of smart energy systems, BEAMA
Swetta focuses on smart home technologies, supporting manufacturers in advancing the UK’s electrification transition. With over 18 years in the utilities industry, she has held roles spanning technical delivery, regulatory compliance, and policy development.
She played a key role in implementing Market-Wide Half-Hourly Settlement (MHHS), particularly around smart metering and consumer data. Swetta has contributed to Net Zero initiatives through work on smart meter rollout, data provision, DCC enablement, TOU tariffs, and customer engagement.
She also brings extensive experience chairing regulatory and policy working groups with organisations such as DESNZ, National Grid, and energy code bodies, ensuring policy and system changes are technically sound, fit for purpose, and aligned with industry requirements.
Martyn Cooper
Commercial manager, FETA
Martyn joined FETA in May 2015 after a 37-year career in the plastics and chemical industries working in various departments including development, sales and marketing as well as a number of commercial roles.
He has experience in the sales and marketing of refrigerants and as part of his current position in FETA he manages the Heat Pump Association, and several groups in the refrigeration, HEVAC and chimney associations across FETA.
Graeme Fox
Chartered engineer and a member of CIBSE
A multiple award winner, Graeme is director of F-Gas Schemes at the F-Gas Register, and a Past President of AREA, the European association of refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump (RACHP) contractors and the Institute of Refrigeration (IOR).
With more than 30 years’ experience in the HVACR sector, initially as a contractor; for the last nine years Graeme has been assisting contractors, suppliers and manufacturers with their compliance and technical needs. He was the driving force in helping The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to develop a global competence licencing scheme for the refrigeration sector and last year was awarded an honorary membership of AREA in recognition of his long service to the sector across Europe.
Joshua Jackson
Communications and technical director, NAADUK
Joshua Jackson sits on the NAADUK committee and oversees all aspects of the organisation’s operations—from communications and events to the NAAD series of guidance documents and auditing processes. He works closely with the full NAADUK membership and external associations to help set industry standards across the ventilation hygiene sector.
Jackson began working with the HVAC industry in 2019 while leading The Parliamentary Review and The Leaders Council, political publishing and consulting networks supported by Lord Blunkett and Lord Pickles. After playing a key advisory role to the industry during the COVID-19 pandemic, he transitioned into the sector full time in 2023.
He holds an MA in Contemporary Global Security, along with several industry certifications, and is an ISO 9001 Lead Auditor.
Steve McConnell
Director, ICOM
Steve has spent the whole of his working life in the plumbing & heating industry, starting as an apprentice plumber in 1984. Steve eventually specialised by focusing on the product management and technical support functions for a leading commercial boiler and water heater manufacturer. In this role Steve served on BSI and ICOM committees.
In 2020 Steve was appointed director of the Industrial & Commercial Heating Equipment Association (ICOM), and also director of Manufacturers of Equipment for Heat Networks Association (MEHNA). These are member organisations working to engage in all aspects of non-domestic heating related activities.
Neil Parry
Global head of district energy, Alfa Laval
Neil is an engineer with over 30 years of experience in building services, including 20 years in the district energy sector. His background spans applications engineering, product management, sales, and consultancy. He specialises in the design, sizing, installation, and optimisation of district heating and cooling networks, integrating renewables like heat pumps, CHP, solar thermal, biomass, and waste heat.
Neil has worked with consultants, ESCOs, and building owners, and has contributed to organisations such as CIBSE, BSRIA, ASHRAE, BESA, and BEIS. He has developed and delivered numerous approved CPD seminars and has international project experience across Scandinavia, Europe, the Middle East, Asia Pacific, the US, and Canada. Neil is a highly collaborative expert in sustainable energy systems.