By Kayla Peperkamp
Volunteer Vice President, HMA ANZ Limited
My story of industry connections, shared opportunities and lifting others up
When I became involved in the HVAC&R industry through the Hydrocarbon Manufacturers Association ANZ Limited (HMA), I discovered that a connection can be much more than an exchange of contact details. It can be an invitation to contribute, a specialist sharing knowledge, or an organisation giving a small volunteer association an opportunity it could not otherwise afford.
HMA is a self-funded, volunteer-led not-for-profit working to improve hydrocarbon refrigerant safety, workplace compliance and accessible competency training. In March 2026, HMA President Lindsay Pelser invited me to help establish HMA and build its purpose. His decades of hydrocarbon expertise, trust and encouragement gave me this opportunity. I am equally grateful to Annkit and the Neuralift X team: their technical knowledge and digital learning work, alongside the commitment of our wider HMA team, make this vision possible.
Our supporters have opened doors: PowerBay through equipment sponsorship; and APM and MAS National through their willingness to help promote HMA to employers, workforce networks and industry contacts, with further discussions planned about how we can work together. Training specialists are also supporting education planning. These relationships matter as Australia prepares for refrigerant reforms and upcoming major events that will need experienced, appropriately trained tradespeople. We want learning that fits different abilities, backgrounds, schedules and workplaces.
A donated exhibition stand or speaking invitation can make participation possible. Melbourne Build Expo / InstallerSHOW 2026 offered HMA a complimentary stand and speaking opportunities; ARBS Queensland 2027 offered exhibition and speaking opportunities.
I have engaged through HMA with the ACCC, Electrical Safety Queensland, ACT officials, Victorian and Western Australian regulators, and Standards Australia on technician competency, flammable refrigerants, electrical and product compliance, licensing and national consistency. These discussions are not endorsements. I have identified gaps locally and internationally: inconsistent licensing and overseas skills recognition, uneven A3 refrigerant training, uncertainty around retrofits and imported equipment, and limited visibility of verified technician competency and equipment compliance. We need accessible education and practical, consistent frameworks informed by international standards.
My background is in water utilities, infrastructure and public safety. I came to HVAC&R ready to ask questions and bring people together, not claiming every technical answer. Lindsay and our specialists have taught me that leadership means listening and making room for expertise.
I thank Stephen Gill for including me in the international women in HVAC&R collage. I have also been selected for CCN’s Top 20 Women in HVAC&R 2026, received three EWIT nominations, and celebrated HMA becoming a 2026 Utility Awards finalist for Diversity & Inclusion Program of the Year. These acknowledgements belong to everyone who believes safety, compliance and inclusive learning go together.
I am a mother of four children, aged 6 to 15; three have ASD and ADHD, and I live with both conditions myself, alongside physical disability and mental health challenges. Balancing parenting, appointments, wellbeing and voluntary leadership is not always easy.
I work flexibly from home, use digital communication and AI tools to organise research and correspondence, prioritise urgent tasks, and rely on collaboration with the HMA team. I also have to recognise when I need rest or support. Work–life balance for me is not about doing everything perfectly; it is about adapting how I contribute while being present for my children.
These experiences make accessible training, neurodiversity and genuine inclusion deeply personal. I want the opportunities others have given me to reach women, apprentices, technicians and people facing barriers of their own.
I genuinely enjoy helping others succeed. That is what HMA is about: walking alongside technicians, apprentices, employers and industry partners at every step, helping them build confidence, competence and opportunities. I also contribute to reporting and formal submissions to regulators and Standards Australia on safety, training and compliance gaps. I have received acknowledgement of concerns raised; I continue to follow how these issues are addressed in guidance and publications.
Looking ahead, I hope to connect with more women in HVAC&R, experienced tradespeople, educators, employers and international specialists. I want to learn from their experiences, create mentoring opportunities and help others at every career stage.
My message is simple: reach out, share knowledge and invite someone else into the room. Thank you to Lindsay, Annkit, Neuralift X, our entire HMA team and every person or organisation who believes in our purpose: safer, more compliant workplaces through flexible learning that suits everyone. None of this would be possible without you.
Connect with Kayla and HMA
Email: kayla.p@hma-association.org.au
Website: www.hma-association.org.au
Local voices. Global connections. One HVACR community.
This article was contributed by Kayla Peperkamp for Global HVACR Women Week 2026, taking place from 25–31 October.
It forms part of our Local Voices series, in which women share their experiences of working in HVACR and the connections that have made a difference along the way. By sharing these stories, we hope to help others find people they can learn from, exchange ideas with and support.
What connection has made a difference to you? We welcome contributions from women across HVACR, wherever you work and whatever stage of your career you have reached. Your story does not need to be long or polished—a simple experience could help someone else take their next step.
To share your story or find ways to take part, visit globalhvacrwomenweek.com.
