Nuremberg, 10 October 2024 – The International Network for Women in Cooling (INWIC) participated at Chillventa 8-10 October 2024, in Nuremberg, Germany.
This year, INWIC showcased its initiatives at an exhibition booth, highlighting its mission to promote gender equality and support the professional development of women in the cooling sector. INWIC president Colleen Keyworth, supported by representatives of INWIC founding partners present at the exhibition, namely International Institute of Refrigeration (IIR), Air conditioning and Refrigeration European Association (AREA), Union of Associations of African Actors in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning U-3ARC, World Refrigeration Day, and UNEP OzonAction, promoted INWIC and its activities to interested Chillventa visitors.
Empowering Women in the Cooling Industry
INWIC’s presence at this year’s Chillventa conference was even more profound for the organization because the previous Chillventa conference in 2022 is where INWIC was announced for the first time. Having a stand at such a large industry event gave the opportunity to introduce the organization to many new people in the industry.
Chillventa is one of the world’s leading exhibitions for refrigeration, air-conditioning and heat pump technology, gathering industry experts, innovators, and policymakers from across the globe. Visitors had the opportunity to learn more about INWIC membership and programmes, including networking, mentorship, training, and internship to create an inclusive environment within the industry. Interested female professionals studying or working in the sector were invited to become INWIC Members and their male colleagues to become INWIC Affiliates. Interested organisations and associations learned more about becoming an INWIC Partner and companies were invited to join as INWIC Industry Supporters.
By sharing resources and highlighting networking opportunities through the website, INWIC inspired women professionals to be part of the initiative, register as members and take on leadership roles within their organisations. Attendees also had the chance to explore the new International Special Issue 2024 2025 by Centro Studi Galileo (CSG) and UNEP OzonAction, featuring sustainable cooling and women empowerment in the sector.
Building Connections and Partnerships
INWIC’s booth at Chillventa 2024 connected and engaged with professionals, organisations, journalists, and potential partners sharing an inclusive vision of the cooling industry. Strong enthusiasm and ambition about INWIC were raised during the event, paving the way towards more gender mainstreaming in the cooling industry.
For more information:
Sonja Wagner
Programme Management Officer
UNEP OzonAction
Email: sonja.wagner[@]un.org