Raul Corredera Haener reflects on his Eurovent Presidency

As the European HVACR industry navigates one of the most transformative periods in its history, Raul Corredera Haener concludes a five-year presidency that helped shape Eurovent’s voice during a time defined by sustainability ambitions, regulatory evolution, and accelerating market change. Serving as President of Eurovent from May 2021 to May 2026, he officially stepped down during the 70th Eurovent General Assembly held at the Eurovent Annual Meeting in Brussels on 21 May 2026. Throughout his tenure, he championed stronger industry cooperation, technical leadership, and a more proactive role for the HVACR sector in shaping Europe’s sustainable built environment.

In this farewell interview, Raul reflects on the challenges, achievements, and lessons that defined his presidency, while sharing his perspective on the future of the industry and the role Eurovent must continue to play. The Eurovent Communications Officer, Ngoni Taruvinga, sat down with Raul to reflect on his five-year journey as President of Eurovent, where he shared personal reflections on leadership, industry transformation and the importance of maintaining a strong and united voice for Europe’s HVACR community.

When you first took on this role in 2021, what did you think would be the biggest challenge, and what surprised you the most?

When I first took on the role, I expected the biggest challenge to be finding alignment across a very diverse industry. Eurovent brings together manufacturers, national associations, different working groups, and companies operating in many markets. Each has its own priorities, but we all depend on a strong, credible, and united industry voice.

What surprised me most was the level of commitment behind this association. Many people contribute their time, expertise, and energy because they believe in the value of cooperation. That commitment is one of Eurovent’s greatest strengths.

At the same time, I was also surprised by how quickly the external environment changed. Regulation, sustainability, and global competition became much more central to our daily work. This showed me that Eurovent cannot only coordinate positions. It must increasingly help shape markets and enable business for its members. That transition is not always easy, and we still have work to do.

Looking back now, what achievement gives you the greatest sense of pride, not just professionally, but also personally?

Professionally, I am proud that Eurovent has strengthened its position as a trusted and respected voice for the European HVACR industry. We have contributed to key regulatory discussions, reinforced our technical work, developed stronger strategic capabilities, and expanded our engagement where this creates value for our members.

Personally, I am proud of the cooperation behind these achievements. Eurovent is built by people who are willing to listen, challenge each other, and work towards common positions, even when interests are not always identical. That requires patience, trust, and commitment.

But pride should not prevent honest reflection. We have built a strong foundation, but in some areas, we could have acted faster and with greater clarity. Our members need guidance, but they also need practical support in creating opportunities, reducing barriers, and strengthening their position in the market. I believe this must remain a priority for Eurovent.

The HVACR industry is undergoing enormous transformations: sustainability, regulation, and innovation. What do you believe future leaders should not ignore?

Future leaders should not ignore that regulation, sustainability, and global competition now define the operating framework for our industry. These are not background topics. They directly affect investment, competitiveness, product development, and growth.

They also should not ignore the importance of market shaping. The transformation of Europe’s building stock, national renovation plans, the Energy Performance of Buildings framework, Environmental Product Declarations, and national subsidy schemes will all influence the future of our sector. Our industry has the technologies and expertise to lead, but this will not happen automatically. We must be present, clear, and proactive on a global scale.

Future leaders must also make sure that the full value of HVACR technologies is recognised. Energy efficiency is essential, but indoor air quality, energy recovery, and overall building performance deserve much greater attention. Ventilation and energy recovery are fundamental to healthy, sustainable, and efficient buildings.

My message to future leaders would be do not wait for others to define the role of our industry. If we want the right technologies to be recognised in policy and in the market, we must make the case ourselves, with evidence, consistency, and ambition.

What message would you like to leave for the Eurovent Team, Board and its members?

My message is one of gratitude, but also one of encouragement.

To the Eurovent team: thank you for your professionalism, commitment, and perseverance. Much of your work happens behind the scenes, but it is essential to the credibility and impact of the association.

To the Board: thank you for your trust, guidance, and willingness to take responsibility for Eurovent’s future. Leadership in an association requires balance, patience, and sometimes difficult choices.

To our members and national associations: thank you for your engagement and your belief in cooperation. Eurovent exists because the industry understands that many challenges cannot be solved alone.

At the same time, my encouragement is to keep challenging Eurovent constructively. The association must remain close to the real needs of its members. It must continue to provide technical guidance, but also become even stronger in shaping markets, reducing barriers, and enabling growth in Europe and internationally.

As I hand over to my successor, I do so with confidence. Eurovent has a strong foundation and a clear purpose. With continued unity, ambition, and practical focus, I am convinced that Eurovent will become even more relevant and impactful for our industry.