Voting is now open to fill two vacancies on the Board of Trustees.  This year, three nominations have been received for the two Trustee vacancies.

• Rob Lamb FInstR
• Denise O’Connor AMInstR 
• Sam Parris FInstR

IOR Trustee Nomination Statements

Robert Lamb FInstR

Supporter 1 – Andy Pearson FInstR

Supporter 2 – Steve Gill FInstR

Having worked in the refrigeration industry for over 30 years, I have gained extensive technical, commercial and leadership experience. My career began with PhD studies in refrigeration technology and has progressed through engineering and management roles to my current position as a Director of a leading industrial refrigeration contracting business.

As a Director, I contribute to the strategic leadership of the business across finance, HR, technical operations, sales and marketing. This experience has provided a strong understanding of governance, organisational management and the importance of balancing stakeholder interests while delivering long-term objectives.

I also bring previous Institute of Refrigeration governance experience, having served as both a Trustee and Membership Committee Chair. These roles have given me a good understanding of the Institute's purpose, responsibilities and opportunities to support members and the wider industry.

I am passionate about encouraging more young people into our industry. Refrigeration and heat pump technologies are essential to modern society, delivering cooling for food production and storage, pharmaceutical manufacture and distribution and the data centres that power digital technologies and AI. We also play and important role in the transition away from fossil-fuels for heating through the implementation of heat pumps.

Throughout my career I have been an advocate for innovation and the adoption of new technologies that improve the efficiency, reliability and sustainability of cooling and heat pump systems. I am keen to support the Institute in promoting technical excellence, encouraging knowledge sharing through technical papers and helping our industry continue to innovate and develop for the future.

Denise O’Connor AMInstR

Supporter 1 – Steve Rodgers MInstR

Supporter 2 – Terry Nicholls MInstR

It would be an honour to be considered for nomination for the position of Trustee. I have already followed the organisation's work with interest and currently a member of the finance committee, in addition to assisting where possible with any HR related matters when asked. I am motivated to contribute to its continued success by offering my professional expertise.

As an experienced Human Resources professional, I bring expertise in people management, organisational development, governance, employee relations, and strategic workforce planning. Throughout my career, I have supported organisations in building inclusive cultures, developing effective policies, managing organisational change, and ensuring compliance with employment legislation and best practice. This experience has given me a strong understanding of how to balance the needs of an organisation's people with its wider strategic and operational obligations; a balance I recognise is central to effective trusteeship.

Alongside my HR background, I am keen to continue broadening my knowledge of board-level responsibilities, including financial oversight, risk management, and strategic planning, and to bring the perspective of someone who has spent a career thinking about organisational culture and capability from the inside.

As a Trustee, I am committed to acting with integrity, accountability, and independence of judgement. I understand that the role extends beyond offering technical expertise; it requires a willingness to challenge constructively, to ask difficult questions, and to hold the executive team to account while remaining supportive of their work. I see this as a partnership built on mutual respect and shared purpose.

Samantha Parris FInstR

Supporter 1 – Steve Benton FInstR

Supporter 2 – Mark Williams MInstR

I am standing for election as a Trustee of the IOR to support its continued development, influence and effectiveness, and to contribute to the advancement of the profession it represents. As a Fellow of the IOR and BDM at Wave Engineering.

I bring over 20 years’ experience in refrigeration, spanning wholesale, sales, marketing, procurement, project management, account management, operations and design across the retail, commercial and industrial sectors. This breadth of experience has given me a practical, commercial and technical understanding of the challenges facing our sector, including skills shortages, regulatory change, technological innovation, and the transition to lower GWP refrigerants and more sustainable systems.

My commitment to the IOR has been strengthened through voluntary service as Chair of the Membership Elections Committee and through contributions to the Policy Committee, IOR Dinner Committee, and Membership Retention and Growth Committee. These roles have provided valuable insight into the Institute’s governance, strategic priorities, membership needs and charitable objectives.

If elected, I would bring practical industry experience, commercial awareness and a collaborative, member-focused approach to decision-making. I believe effective governance should be open, proportionate and grounded in integrity, ensuring the Institute remains relevant, and responsive to current and future members.

My priorities would be to strengthen member engagement, support professional development, encourage the next generation of engineers, and promote the value of IOR membership across our industry. It would be a privilege to serve as an IOR Trustee and contribute to a strong, inclusive, forward-looking Institute for the benefit of the profession and its members.

How to vote

Voting Members (i.e. Fellow, Member, Associate and Technician grade) will receive an email from independent voting agency mi-voice with their voting code and a link to the voting website. If you don’t receive your email in the next 2 days contact mi-voice at support@mi-voice.com.   Details and statements of all candidates will be displayed on the election site when you log in to cast your vote. 

The results of the elections will be announced on 10th November 2026 at the AGM and on the IOR website.