International Day of Women and Girls in Science marked every year on 11 February, is an opportunity to promote the full and equal access to and participation of women and girls in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). Including more women and increasing diversity in male dominated areas brings in fresh viewpoints, new talent and creativity benefitting research and innovation. Two women who have passionately worked to support ozone layer and environmental protection talked to the Montreal Protocol’s Ozone Secretariat on what inspired them to pursue STEM-based careers.
Elvira Nigido, Group Sustainability Compliance Manager, A-Gas International from Australia always had a fascination with nature, the environment and science in general from a young age. One of her earliest recollections as a child, was going on long family drives. In an attempt to not get bored or argue with her siblings in the back seat, she would gaze out of the window and wonder about the big rock formations protruding out of the earth, or why a river meandered the way it did, or getting excited to see the once in every 75 year event of Halley’s Comet passing by in the night sky, trying to make sense of what she was witnessing and the journey the comet had made.
Early lover of science at school
During secondary schooling, Elvira was already leaning towards science deciding to pursue tertiary studies and a career in a science related field. To avoid being confined to one discipline she chose Environmental Science at the University of Melbourne. In her mind she was getting the best of all worlds, as the course was interdisciplinary in nature, integrating chemistry, biology, physics, geography, geology, environmental law, economics and social sciences.
The course was very academic, but with a silver lining, for it included a compulsory field experience component. This gave Elvira an insight into real life industry drawing not only on her academic learnings but also giving her firsthand experience working with other peers in professional workplaces helping to solve environmental problems.
In 1995, Elvira graduated and obtained her first environmental job as an Environmental Officer for the Australian Government Department responsible for setting up the Australian National Halon Bank (ANHB) in support of Australia’s commitments under the Montreal Protocol to phase out the use of halons, an ozone-depleting gas used in fire extinguishers.
Thirty years of ozone and environmental protection
Halons took her on a career path that she never could have imagined at that time. Drawing on her environmental science course, undertaking additional studies in environmental management, and always having an openness and passion for on-the-job learning, enabled Elvira to successfully help Australia achieve its Montreal Protocol commitments.
This year Elvira celebrates 30 years in the field of ozone layer and climate protection. What has helped is undoubtedly Elvira’s love to engage and interact with people from all over the world. “Nothing beats harnessing the power of people aligned with a sense of purpose and common goals, trying to solve complex problems. It really gives me a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction,” she says. Embracing an open mind to learn from others, to then grow personally and professionally is also another aspect that Elvira loves about her work.
Inspirational roles models and mentors
Throughout our lives, we are inspired by people we meet or those that are closest to us. For Elvira, her migrant parents were her immediate role models. “Their resilience, sacrifice and commitment to hard work showed me what had to be done to be successful. They were always supportive, cheering me and my siblings on to do our best,” she said, “and emphasising that by getting a solid education, we would be better placed to thrive and seize the opportunities they couldn’t.”
Teachers are also often sources of inspiration. Elvira feels she was fortunate that throughout her secondary and tertiary education she had the luck to be taught by very passionate educators. Their strong sense of curiosity and encouragement of exploring and not taking what was being observed at face value, made most of the subject matters interesting and enjoyable. “Except for physics and organic chemistry,” admitted Elvira, “which I found difficult to conceptualise some of the time despite my best efforts!”
Overcoming challenges
“Being committed and driven by the solutions that delivered ozone and climate protection,” says Elvira “helped me believe that regardless of the obstacles I was facing, my contribution and leadership influenced and helped make a difference.” She also realised that to overcome challenges such as unconscious bias or gender discrimination in a very male dominated industry, she had to dig deep noting that “I learnt to become resilient, persistent and determined, and not feeling that it was a sign of weakness but of courage to ask for help when I needed it.”
Supporting the next generation
We all need a helping hand sometimes and this is especially true for women and girls seeking to break gender stereotypes. Which is why Elvira is particularly pleased that at the end of 2024, her employer launched its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programme. The programme is designed to create a work environment where everyone can feel safe, experience a sense of belonging and empowerment to help them achieve their potential, regardless of gender or background.
Giving back to the next generation is also important to Elvira. In recent years she’s volunteered in a STEM industry mentoring programme run by the University of Melbourne. “Having the opportunity to informally connect with up-and-coming students that are looking for guidance about their career paths and offering insights into my professional career experiences that could help with their decision making has been very rewarding”.
While historically the fire protection and refrigerants industry in Australia and internationally has been very male dominated, companies are starting to encourage and support more female talent. “I warmly welcome more women entering the areas of ozone and climate protection. Females bring unique strengths; skill sets and ways of problem solving that foster growth and create opportunities for all.”
Over on the other side of the world, Yosr Allouche, Director General at the International Institute of Refrigeration (IIR), based in France, has always had a deep curiosity about how things work. “From a young age, I was captivated by problem-solving, whether it was exploring natural phenomena or taking apart household objects to uncover their inner workings,” she remembers noting that “one memory that my mother often recalls is the time I completely dismantled her “dear” radio, eager to understand its mechanism, and never assembling it back in the right way.” For Yosr this was a key moment. While she may not have been able to put the radio back together again, the event was symbolic of her relentless curiosity and desire to decode the world around her. This keen mindset led her to develop a strong interest in mathematics and science, subjects that to her always felt both logical and challenging.
Fascinated by the nuts and bolts of physics and engineering
At school, Yosr was particularly drawn to physics and engineering because they offered a structured way to analyse and solve real-world problems. Encouraged by her father, she pursued engineering studies, focusing first on energy, heat transfer and fluid mechanics and then on refrigeration technologies during my PhD. “I was attracted by the weird yet interesting complexity of my PhD wondering how ‘solar’ and ‘cooling’ can work together at the same time!”
“The French Engineering school system,” recalls Yosr, “is quite different from other programmes, and tough, starting with a two-year intensive programme called ‘preparatory school’. This culminates in a highly competitive national exam, where only the very top-ranked students can access prestigious engineering schools.” It was during this (not easy) period of her life that Yosr had a key realisation about the role of mathematics, especially algebra, appreciating how algebra had helped train her mind in structured thinking, problem-solving and flexibility. It was this ‘mental gymnastics’ that enabled Yosr to break down intricate challenges, connect abstract ideas to practical solutions, and turn complexity into meaningful impact.
This path ultimately led her to leadership roles, where she could combine technical expertise with strategy and advocacy, aiming to advance sustainable refrigeration and cooling solutions worldwide in her capacity as Director General of the International Institute of Refrigeration.
Inspiration and support close to home
“My brother is a major source of inspiration for me,” notes Yosr, “even though he has nothing to do with refrigeration. He’s a doctor, an anaesthetist actually, but with a very mathematical mindset. I found his dedication, discipline, and ability to apply scientific principles in high-stake situations have inspired me to approach my own field with the same rigour and commitment.”
While he helps to save lives, Yosr works to protect the environment and improve people’s quality of life, promoting access to essential needs, such as safe and nutritious food, by promoting access to sustainable cold chains. While their careers are very different, Yosr believes that in the end, both are contributing to a better world, just in different ways.
In terms of support, Yosr also feels incredibly fortunate to have an encouraging family and husband who have stood by her and share her passion and commitment to her new role at the IIR.
Yosr doesn’t feel she encountered any major failures or significant challenges, at least none that she couldn’t overcome through discipline and hard work. “Success largely depended on my own efforts, and I was able to navigate obstacles with determination,” she said, noting though that in her current role, “the challenges are different, broader, more complex, and sometimes sensitive.” But she draws on the IIR legacy and her incredible team to move forward through positive leadership and to create a healthy, and ‘environmentally friendly’ work environment. “I strongly believe that success and efficiency come from a workplace where people feel valued, motivated, and inspired to contribute,” she said.
Empowering women in the cooling sector
Under Yosr’s leadership, IIR is promoting diversity and inclusion within the refrigeration and cooling sector through initiatives such as the CARE (Careers in Refrigeration) Working Group. This group focuses not only on empowering women but also on attracting and developing young talent in the refrigeration industry. Through mentorship, training and networking opportunities, CARE works to create pathways for both women and young people to build successful careers in refrigeration, ensuring they have the support and resources needed to develop and build their careers.
Yosr passionately believes in the CARE programme noting “We need more people in this field, more regional experts, more diversity..…” and hopes to further promote women during 2025 while IIR is president of the International Network of Women in Cooling (INWIC), a UNEP initiative. During IIR’s tenure, Yosr wants to nurture an environment withing the cooling sector where both women and young people are represented in leadership roles, research, and technological innovation. By empowering these groups, she and IIR hope to drive innovation and ensure the future sustainability of the industry.
