Every two years the Board invites Committee Chairs to form a Nominations Committee tasked with recommending potential candidates for the role of President-Elect. This year thirteen eligible members were considered by the Committee based on the published role description and skills specification (available here). 

The position of President-Elect requires significant time commitment and dedication to the Institute and not all eligible members are in a position to take this on.   The Board are delighted to confirm that they have accepted the recommendation of the Nominations Committee to present the following three outstanding candidates (in alphabetical order):  

• Paul Arrowsmith FInstR
• Steve Gill FInstR
• Rob Lamb FInstR

You can read the nomination statements for each candidate below. The elections will open in September.

The President-Elect once appointed will work with the current IOR President (Lisa-Jayne Cook FInstR) in their role as Chair of the IOR Board of Trustees until their term ends next year.  In accordance with the IOR Constitution, the Board is required to make a recommendation to the members of candidate(s) for President-Elect.  Members may propose additional candidates for this role at any time up until noon on 29^th August using this form.  

Trustee Elections

Nominations remain open for two Trustee positions on the Board until 1st August. If you are interested in helping shape the future of the IOR, you are encouraged to apply. Full details, including the role description and nomination forms, are available here.   Completed Trustee nomination forms must be submitted by noon on 1st August. Voting Members (Fellow, Member, Associate, Technician) will be notified of the final list of candidates and receive voting instructions in September.

Voting and AGM

Voting for both the President-Elect and Trustees will open in September. The results will be announced at the Annual General Meeting on 29th October, which you can attend either in person or online. Full voting details and an invitation to the AGM will be sent to eligible members in September.

Sent from the President of the Institute on behalf of the Board of Trustees

Nomination Statements from President-Elect candidates

Paul Arrowsmith FInstR 

I have worked in the refrigeration industry for 44 years, becoming a member of the IoR in 1989 and advancing to Fellow.  For 32 Years I worked at WR Refrigeration a national refrigeration contractor with over 30 service branches across the UK and NI, I held the position of Engineering and Compliance Director, having responsibility for engineering specifications and standards, legislative compliance, plant manufacture and the natural refrigerant training academy. This position led me to my current role of Refrigeration Engineering Design Manager at Sainsburys where I have worked since 2013.

I am a current member of the IoR Technical Committee, a past elected board member and member of the IIR, and I am currently on the IIR conference and seminar committee. I am an active member of the British Refrigeration Association and the current chair of the End User section and Vice President. I have been the past Chair of ACRIB education and training committee (7 yrs). I am a Chartered Engineer and a Fellow of CIBSE and have mentored others to achieve this. My role at Sainsburys involves working with innovators, academia, consultants, contractors and equipment manufacturers both domestically and internationally.

I would like the opportunity to be instrumental in moving the IoR forward to support the industry in the challenges the industry faces of climate change, energy efficiency and Net Zero comments, whilst promoting a culture of Professional development and inclusivity. I believe my experience and background are aligned with skills and ambition to deliver on these objectives.

Steve Gill FInstR

It’s time to move forward. 

I bring a rare combination of hands-on engineering expertise and global strategic insight—shaped by decades of frontline experience and strengthened by my term as IOR President (2014/2016). My ongoing engagement with the Institute includes mentoring, judging awards, the WiRACHP Committee, and leading international initiatives such as World Refrigeration Day. 

Since serving as President, I’ve continued to grow professionally—serving on boards, contributing to standards bodies and policy forums, and leading sustainable cooling strategy at the Carbon Trust. My qualifications in business law and management accounting provide a strong foundation in governance, compliance, and oversight. Technically, I remain hands-on and internationally engaged.  I bring true independence, unaffiliated with any single company, service, or technology. My career spans small private firms, multinationals, consultancy, and public-sector advisory, giving me a balanced view of the sector’s challenges and opportunities.

Building on my previous term, I am ready to bring fresh energy, forward-thinking creativity, and a national and global perspective shaped by wide industry engagement. With the advantage of prior experience, I can hit the ground running—no learning curve, no delay. 

Above all, I have a proven record of inclusive leadership—listening to members, valuing diverse perspectives, and involving voices from across the sector. I will focus on strengthening governance, championing future-focused strategy, and delivering the IOR’s charitable objects: advancing technical and scientific knowledge, developing professional skills, promoting best practice, and preparing the IOR for the future.

This is not about going back—it’s about moving forward, together.

Rob Lamb FInstR

My career in refrigeration began in 1994 as a PhD student at Leeds University investigating the energy saving properties of refrigerant mixtures. My supervisor was the past IOR president, Professor Geoffrey Haselden, who sparked my interest in both the industry and Institute.

I joined Star Refrigeration as a Technical Sales Engineer in 1998 and over the next 5 years, worked in Derby, Glasgow and Oxford where I become Director of Sales – South. In 2022, I moved back to Derby and took on a national role before being invited to join the Board of Directors in 2009 as Group Sales and Marketing Director, a position I hold today.

I’ve been a Member of the IOR since 1998 and received both the Ted Perry Award and Kenneth Lightfoot Medal. I have served on the Membership Committee, including a period as Chair where I oversaw changes to give more people the opportunity to participate. I have also served a term as a Trustee.

My involvement with other industry bodies includes being on the BRA Council and chair of their Contractor’s Section. I’ve also served as Steering Committee Chair at eurammon, a European organisation that promotes the use of natural refrigerants.

My role has introduced me to cooling and more recently heating sectors across the world where I’ve met end users, fellow contractors, government ministers and present technical papers at conferences and exhibitions. I’d like to apply my 27 years of knowledge and experience to serve the Institute and its members in these exciting times for the industry.