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ASHRAE Announces 2026–2027 Leadership, Award Recipients

At its 2026 Annual Conference, ASHRAE announced new leadership and a renewed focus

Austin ASHRAE conference — Courtesy of Adobe Stock and ASHRAE

**INDUSTRY SHIFT:** Attendees at ASHRAE’s 2026 conference were challenged to address new regulations, climate realities, and the future of building systems.

ASHRAE has officially installed its 2026–27 Society president and new board leadership at its Annual Conference in Austin, Texas. Sarah E. Maston, P.E., BCxP, LEED AP, will lead as Society president, introducing a timely new theme: “Changing the Game: Retrofitting for Resilience.”

In her opening address, Maston emphasized the urgent need for the building industry to develop a “game plan” for improving efficiency, performance, and resilience in existing buildings – especially as climate and infrastructure challenges mount. “ASHRAE has been providing leadership and guidance in energy efficiency, indoor air quality and carbon emissions reduction,” Maston said. “So, where do we go from here?”

For 2026–27, ASHRAE will focus on three priorities:

Raising awareness of building codes and their role in resilience
Promoting cross-functional teamwork and strong planning for building operations
Using gamified education to attract and empower the next generation of industry professionals

“There’s no single, one-size-fits-all solution for retrofitting buildings,” Maston noted. “Every building has its own constraints. That’s why teamwork is absolutely essential.”

ASHRAE Celebrates Excellence: Honors and Awards Presented at 2026 Annual Conference

Alongside its leadership transition, ASHRAE recognized the remarkable achievements of members whose dedication and expertise are shaping the future of the HVAC&R industry. During the 2026 Annual Conference in Austin, ASHRAE presented its prestigious Honors and Awards, spotlighting individuals for their outstanding leadership, technical innovation, service, and commitment to advancing a more sustainable built environment.

This year’s honorees included recipients of awards such as:

The Dan Mills Chapter Programs Award, presented to Alvin Lo for excellence in chapter programming
The Donald Bahnfleth Environmental Health Award, awarded to Iain Walker for leadership in environmental health
The George B. Hightower Technical Achievement Award, given to Pratik Deokar for technical committee contributions
The Government Affairs Award, honoring Eid Mohamed Abdelmoneim for advocacy in government and technical issues
The Residential Buildings Service Award, presented to Philip Fairey for advancing residential building initiatives
The YEA Award of Individual Excellence, recognizing emerging professionals including Tina Abbasi, Mohamed Faizal, and Abraham N.O. OKOKO
Distinguished Service and Exceptional Service Awards, honoring dozens of members for sustained and exemplary contributions to ASHRAE and the profession
The Eunice Foote Decarbonization Award, highlighting Luke Leung’s leadership in reducing carbon emissions in the built environment

In addition, ASHRAE celebrated top research and technical achievements with awards for the best journal papers and conference presentations, further underscoring the Society’s commitment to innovation, education, and scientific excellence.

“ASHRAE’s strength is built on the expertise, dedication, and leadership of its members,” said 2025–26 ASHRAE President Bill McQuade. “This year’s recipients have made meaningful contributions to our Society and the communities we serve. Their achievements exemplify ASHRAE’s commitment to a sustainable and resilient future.”

For a complete list of 2026 Honors and Awards recipients and their achievements, visit ashrae.org.

Newly Elected Officers and Board Members

Maston will be joined by:

President-Elect: Ashish Rakheja (AEON, Uttar Pradesh, India)
Treasurer: Wade H. Conlan (Hanson Professional Services, Florida)
Vice Presidents: Mahroo Eftekhari (Loughborough University, UK) and Blake E. Ellis (Burns & McDonnell, Kansas)
Regional Directors: Caroline Kelty (Kentucky), Keith Reihl (Texas), Daniel C. Russell (Idaho), Colin E. Laisure-Pool (Arizona), Eduardo Maldonado (Portugal)
Directors-at-Large: Martin Dieryckx (Daikin Europe, Belgium), Krishnan Gowri (Energy Solutions, Washington), Filza H. Walters (Albert Kahn Associates, Michigan)