The Australian Refrigeration Council (ARC) has announced the appointment of Mark Lamb as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Susie O’Neill as the new deputy CEO, effective immediately.
Lamb brings decades of diverse leadership experience across various sectors, both domestically and internationally.
Most recently, he served as the CEO of the Murray-Darling Association. Previously, Lamb held several executive roles with distinct peak body organisations, where he worked closely with government and industry.
During his tenure, he assisted many organisations to transition into new strategies and methodologies. With his notable experience, he is well positioned to lead the ARC at a time when the refrigeration and air conditioning (RAC) industry is growing at a rapid pace.
Lamb succeeds Glenn Evans, who concluded his tenure in December 2025 after 17 years of service.
ARC chair Dr Greg Picker welcomed Lamb to the Council, which leads national governance of the RAC (also known as ARCtick) Permit Scheme.
“The Board is pleased to appoint Mark Lamb as our new CEO. We look forward to working with him as we continue to deliver the ARCtick permit scheme and improve our service to industry,” Picker said.
“His passion and experience in leading peak body organisations perfectly aligns with the ARC’s priorities at this time and our vision for the future.
“It is a crucial time for the industry, and the Board is confident Mark will help us build on our momentum and continue deliver meaning outcomes for the ARC and the broader industry.”
Commenting on his appointment, Lamb said he is thrilled to be given this opportunity to play this significant role, not just at the Australian Refrigeration Council, but in the refrigeration and air conditioning industry.
“This is a very important time for the industry as we work towards achieving our national net-zero goals, and I am looking forward to building on the excellent work already underway,” Lamb said.
Further, ARC’s acting CEO, Susie O’Neill, takes on the role of deputy CEO, effective 4 May 2026. She will support ARC’s next phase along with Lamb, with a focus on strategy, performance and service delivery.
Picker said O’Neill has supported the ARC during the recent transition period.
“Her appointment as Deputy CEO further strengthens our core leadership team and I congratulate her on this well-deserved appointment,” he said.
O’Neill said she was looking forward to the strengthened leadership team.
“ARC plays a critical role in supporting a safe, skilled and environmentally responsible refrigeration and air conditioning industry. I’m looking forward to working closely with Mark, our members, government and industry stakeholders to strengthen service delivery and help deliver the ARCtick permit scheme with excellence,” she said.
The Australian Refrigeration Council (ARC) serves as the national licensing authority for the refrigeration and air conditioning (RAC) industry.
It is responsible for overseeing the ARCtick licensing scheme, which licenses over 114,000 technicians and businesses overseeing the management of refrigerant gases regulated under the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Regulations 1995.