HVAC Woman of the Year
Company: Maple Mechnical
Nominee Name: Gemma Dormer
Supporting Statement
HVR Awards – Woman of the Year
Gemma Dormer – Maple Mechanical Ltd
Introduction to the Individual
Gemma Dormer is Service & Maintenance Manager at Maple Mechanical Ltd and a highly respected engineer whose career reflects exceptional technical ability, determined personal development and an unwavering commitment to the refrigeration and HVAC profession.
Beginning her career as an apprentice engineer, Gemma has steadily progressed into a senior leadership position through hard work, professionalism and an outstanding dedication to continuous learning. Along the way she has become a recognised ambassador for the industry, inspiring the next generation while helping shape its future through her leadership within the Institute of Refrigeration.
What makes Gemma exceptional is not simply her own success, but the way she uses that success to encourage others, promote professionalism and raise standards across the sector.
Type of Work Undertaken
As Service & Maintenance Manager at Maple Mechanical Ltd, Gemma leads the delivery of service and maintenance operations across a diverse range of refrigeration and air conditioning systems.
Her role encompasses technical support, engineering leadership, customer relationship management and operational planning, ensuring customers receive consistently high standards of service while supporting engineers to develop their own technical capability.
Beyond her employer, Gemma plays a significant role within the wider profession. She has recently stepped up into a Charing role with the Institute of Refrigeration, and as such she helps guide one of the industry’s most respected professional bodies. She regularly contributes to technical events, participates in industry webinars and lends her expertise as a judge for national industry awards, helping recognise and encourage excellence across the sector.
Individual’s Standout Achievements
Gemma’s career is marked by a series of achievements that demonstrate both technical excellence and leadership.
She became the first woman to win the RAC & Institute of Refrigeration National Student of the Year Award, breaking new ground and demonstrating that technical excellence knows no barriers.
Since then she has progressed from apprentice engineer to Service & Maintenance Manager, earning specialist qualifications in natural refrigerants, including ammonia and carbon dioxide systems, while developing into an accomplished leader respected by colleagues throughout the industry.
Her appointment as a new Chair at the Institute of Refrigeration represents another significant milestone. It reflects the confidence that the industry places in her judgement, professionalism and ability to lead. Combined with her work judging awards, contributing to industry discussions and mentoring others, Gemma has become one of the profession’s most influential emerging voices.
Perhaps her greatest achievement, however, is the example she sets. She demonstrates that leadership is built through competence, integrity and a willingness to support others, inspiring both established engineers and those just beginning their careers.
Her Impact on Employer and the Wider Industry
Gemma’s impact reaches far beyond her job title.
Within Maple Mechanical, she has become a trusted leader who supports engineers, strengthens customer relationships and helps maintain the company’s reputation for technical excellence and outstanding service. Her calm approach, technical knowledge and ability to solve complex challenges make her an invaluable member of the management team.
Across the wider industry, Gemma has become an inspirational role model. Through her work with the Institute of Refrigeration, speaking engagements, awards judging and mentoring activities, she actively contributes to developing the future of the profession.
She represents the very best of modern engineering leadership, technically accomplished, collaborative, approachable and passionate about encouraging others to succeed. Her visibility within the industry is helping challenge outdated perceptions while encouraging greater diversity and attracting new talent into refrigeration and HVAC.
Gemma understands that success is measured not only by personal achievement, but by the opportunities we create for others. That philosophy has earned her enormous respect throughout the industry.
Supporting Testimonials
“Gemma has been an exceptional asset to Maple Mechanical from the very beginning of her career. Her progression from apprentice to Service & Maintenance Manager has been driven entirely by her commitment to learning, technical ability and natural leadership.
She has earned the respect of our engineers, customers and suppliers alike through professionalism, integrity and an unwavering commitment to delivering the highest standards. Customers regularly comment on her calm approach, technical knowledge and willingness to go the extra mile to find the right solution.
What makes Gemma particularly special is that she never forgets where she started. She actively mentors apprentices and younger engineers, sharing her knowledge and encouraging others to develop both personally and professionally.
Watching Gemma become an influential figure within the Institute of Refrigeration while continuing to excel within our business has been a privilege. She is a fantastic ambassador for Maple Mechanical and for the wider HVAC industry, and I have no hesitation in recommending her for this award.”
Mark Hewitt
Director, Maple Mechanical Ltd
“Throughout my career I have met many talented engineers, but very few combine technical excellence, humility and leadership as naturally as Gemma Dormer.
I have watched Gemma grow from an exceptional young engineer into someone who is helping shape the future of our profession. Her achievements—from becoming the first woman to win the RAC & Institute of Refrigeration National Student of the Year Award to leading the Institute of Refrigeration as Chair—are remarkable, but they only tell part of the story.
What truly distinguishes Gemma is the way she lifts others as she climbs. She willingly shares her knowledge, mentors younger engineers, contributes to industry initiatives and gives her time generously to support the wider profession. She leads with integrity, professionalism and genuine kindness, earning the respect of everyone fortunate enough to work alongside her.
Gemma represents everything that is good about our industry. She is a role model, an ambassador and an inspiration to the next generation of engineers. I have no doubt that she will continue to make an extraordinary contribution to refrigeration and HVAC for many years to come, and I am incredibly proud to support her nomination for HVR Woman of the Year.”
Lisa-Jayne Cook FInstR FWES
President, Institute of Refrigeration
Entry ID: 10425
