Refrigerant Reclaim Australia (RRA) today formally announced the appointment of Kylie Farrelley as the organisation's new general manager.
She is taking over from incumbent general manager, Michael Bennett, who will step down at the end of June after serving with the organisation since 1997.
In a statement, the RRA said that Farrelley's appointment will play a critical role in furthering the recovery, reclaimation and destruction of ozone depleting and synthetic greenhouse gas refrigerants to further reduce harmful emissions.
Farrelley has been affiliated with RRA since 2008 as an industry representative and was appointed to the Board of Directors in 2016.
After almost 20 years working at Arkema, Farrelley brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her new role as general manager, the statement said.
Her primary objectives will be to expand RRA's outreach work, educate the industry and public on the work RRA is doing, and generate a higher return rate of refrigerants in Australia.
“I am proud of the RRA Product Stewardship program and what it has achieved over the past 25 years,” Farrelley said of her appointment.
“Since inception RRA has taken back more than 7,000 tonnes of used contaminated and unwanted refrigerant. This equates to more than 10 million tonnes of stratospheric ozone being saved from destruction, and more than 14 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent being prevented from emission.
“I'm looking forward to working collaboratively with the industry to continue to build on RRA's success reducing harmful emissions and protecting our environment.
“I would like to acknowledge the exceptional vision of Michael Bennett, who's passion and dedication has built the RRA scheme to what it is today.
“While I have big shoes to fill, with his direction I hope to drive RRA to future operational success and effectiveness through raising awareness and motivating all relevant industry sectors to increase returns of refrigerant.”
Farrelley has spent much of her career helping the industry transition to a lower emission future, acting as a leader for the introduction of low global warming potential refrigerants in Australia.
Her knowledge of future challenges to the industry makes her the perfect choice for this role from a field of high quality candidates.
Refrigerant Reclaim Australia was formed in 1993 and is the industry funded not for profit organisation established to recover, reclaim and destroy ozone depleting and synthetic greenhouse gas refrigerants.