2015 Conference
 

Speakers

0
 
Brett Black
NSW Client Manager
Globe Australia
Brett is a seasoned professional with 32 years’ experience in all aspects of pest management; sales, operations, technical, training & people leadership. He has worked with Bayer & Australia's largest family owned pest control company, Amalgamated Pest Control Pty Ltd. 

Brett has held a number of operational & sales positions and has always been passionate about professionalism, building & maintaining relationships, increasing knowledge & maintaining currency in the chosen field of expertise.
 
Peter Brigden
Trainer & Assessor
Rapid Solutions
Peter’s work in the urban pest management industry started in early 1995 when the industry changed out of using organochlorine termiticides, and he moved with his family from Armidale, NSW to Brisbane, Qld with DowElanco, later Dow Agrosciences. During his time in this role Peter was involved in both chemical and baiting systems for termite management, as well as general pest management with the introduction of a new micro-encapsulated insecticide, across Northern NSW, Queensland and Northern Territory.

Peter moved from Dow AgroSciences to Amalgamated Pest Control’s Brisbane Termite Division in 2000 as supervisor. Here he worked across the depth and breadth of Brisbane on termite and borer issues with domestic, commercial and government customers and advisors. As the supervisor, he worked alongside the manager to develop a well-equipped and well educated team of staff both in the field and in the office, for over six years.

Peter holds a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, Certificate III and Certificate IV in Pest Management, Certificate IV in Assessment and Workplace Training, and Certificate IV in Small Business Management. He has recently achieved his ACE-I accreditation (a new internationally-recognised qualification for pest managers) from the Entomological Society of America. Peter remains based in Brisbane and manages our students in Queensland, Northern NSW and Northern Territory. He recently undertook a study trip to Yap in Micronesia to look at termite types and building techniques.

Peter continues to contribute a broad depth of agricultural and urban pest management experience and knowledge to the Rapid Solutions team.
 
Steve Broadbent
Regional Director – Australia, Asia, S. America, S. Africa & Middle East
Ensystex
Steve Broadbent holds an honours degree in Applied Biology majoring in Ecology and Biocide Science. He also holds tertiary qualifications in marketing from the University of Technology, Sydney and a Management Diploma from Melbourne University’s Australian Management College. He is a Certificate IV - Workplace Trainer, Assessor and Auditor, qualified in all Australian Pest Control Competency Standards. 

Steve worked as a government Research Entomologist in the United Kingdom before moving to Australia. Steve is now the Regional Director for Ensystex responsible for Australia, Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East.

He has authored several peer reviewed scientific papers, contributed technical book chapters, and consulted on many major projects, most recently with the Galapagos National Parks and Charles Darwin Foundation on rodent control in the Galapagos Islands. He also authored the International best-selling book, ‘Your Sacred Path’.
 
Romain Broch
Sales and Marketing Manager ANZ
Liphatech
French born, Romain has completed a Master’s degree in Agriculture at the University of Toulouse (ENSA). Throughout the course of his study he has specialized in Sales and Marketing both in France and abroad. Appointed by Liphatech in 2009, he has looked after the professional products range development both in Australia and New Zealand and also helped many pest controllers with his hands-on approach bringing his technical expertise on difficult rodent jobs. Liphatech is a worldwide rodent control specialist that discovered 3 of the most used anticoagulant molecules (Chlorophacinone, Bromadiolone and Difethialone) and developed new rodent technologies. Recently, Romain has been instrumental in launching Liphatech’s newest innovation - Generation FirstStrike, a Difethialone soft bait, with unsurpassed attractiveness and palatability.
 
Mick Canham
Owner
Canham Pest Management Services
Michael Canham has been in the pest control industy for 25 years starting as an employee with the Flick Pest Control franchise in Dubbo in 1988. He later became a franchise agent with Flick and then Fumapest. 

In 2000 he started Canham Pest Management Services and is based in the Central West NSW, covering Bathurst, Orange, Lithgow and surrounding areas.

The business has a staff of 4 and covers all aspects of pest control including domestic, commercial, termite & fumigations.

Mick carries out commercial work for a number of larger clients requiring monitoring and treatment of Stored Product Pests and as such has acquired a vast knowledge in this area.
 
Debbie Chapman
Client Services Officer - TimberSecure & New Business
Rapid Solutions
Debbie Chapman has worked at Rapid Solutions since 2002 in many capacities, but primarily co-ordinating the previous TimberSafe/TimberSure Warranty Program and now the TimberSecure Termite Insurance Policy Program.

Debbie’s commitment to good quality customer service, product knowledge and attention to detail ensures the program runs smoothly and efficiently. Her dedication to providing the best for her clients, whether it is the pest controller or the homeowner is always paramount.
 
Shane Clarke
Owner
Pestforce
Shane Clarke has enjoyed challenging the rules and practices in Pest management for over thirty years. Never one to accept the norm as best practice he has always looked for new and better ways of doing things. From being the first to use dogs successfully over time, to now changing the way search dogs are trained, and challenging the limitations others simply accept with search dogs. It has been said by Australia’s top dog trainer Steve Austin that he does not think outside the square, he thinks outside the circle and is now changing the way people will train dogs the world over. Shane’s company Pestforce continues to re-define service and take termite management and detection to a new level. Where others have seen problems he sees opportunities. Shane was the principle architect and author of the Code of Practice for prior to purchase termite inspections and has been involved in many committees and AEPMA boards over the years providing direct common sense advice, often cutting through the personalities to the heart of the matter. His ability to see the issues has also been of service to the insurance and legal aspects of termite management with his ability to communicate the issues with disputes, and find solutions to problems that seem over whelming to others. Shane has a long track record of dealing with challenging clients and turning them into advocates, and has always seen the problem job as an opportunity to demonstrate his particular style of pest management and his commitment to service and the client. He has been an entertaining speaker at most pest management and risk management conferences over the last twenty years and is sought after to speak on many issues both in the pest management industry and outside it.
 
David Collins
Claims Manager
Rapid Solutions
David Collins is the Claims Manager at Rapid Solutions and is qualified as a solicitor in NSW. He has worked in our Claims Department since April 2006 and has vast experience in claims management. David is our primary negotiator at settlement conference and mediations; he has also assisted our insured clients in court and tribunal proceedings across Australia.
 
Karen Constable
Certification Manager
HACCP Australia
Karen Constable holds an honours degree in Food Science from the University of New South Wales. During her early years as a food scientist she worked for the likes of Coca Cola and The Smiths Snackfood Company, developing new food products and optimizing food manufacturing processes. For the last eight years, Karen has worked for the food safety specialists, HACCP Australia, where she specializes in the food-safe characteristics of equipment, materials and services used by the food industry.
 
Peter Cox
Director and Senior Consultant
Peter M Cox & Associates
Peter Cox is a Director and Senior Consultant for Peter M Cox & Associates, an independent management training and consulting organisation, specialising in the Hardware, Rural Merchandise and Pest Control industries.

Peter has gained a great deal of practical experience over the last 25 years in helping small business owners and operators to meet the challenges and problems they face in today’s competitive business climate through working in the area of Financial Management training and consulting. He is a Certified Practicing Accountant and financier. This knowledge combined with his work as a consultant/trainer has allowed Peter to develop a reputation for excellence in sales & financial management training.

Peter’s expertise is bottom line profitability management in your industry. His articles appear frequently in leading national business magazines and trade publications, including Professional Pest Manager.

With his “down to earth” presentation style, Peter will provide you with a variety of strategies to allow you to improve efficiency, optimise the use of available resources, clarify your objectives and plan for your future development.
 
Dr. Partho Dhang
Country Manager - Philippines
Ensystex
Partho Dhang received his PhD in Life Science from the University of Madras, India in 1994. His reseach work covered insect physiology with special interest on natural products. Later his research work as a Scientist working with SPIC, India; expanded to semio-chemicals and microbial pesticides. A number of his research work has been published in peer reviewed journals such as Phytochemistry, Journal of Chemical Ecology, Applied Entomology, Journal of Royal Entomology Society.

Partho Dhang moved his interest to urban entomology in year 2000, when he was presented with an opportunity to research on insect baits. Since then he has focused his interest in urban entomology in pursuit of bio-rational and sustainable methods of managing urban insect pests. He has written articles in International pest control magazines and has delivered a number of lectures covering his interests in International conferences of repute namely National Pest Management Association (NPMA), International Conference on Urban Pest (ICUP). He has also edited two books on “Urban Pest Management” which were published by CAB International London.

Presently Partho Dhang works as an consultant to a number of companies and organizations involved in Pest Management. His work covers diverse fields which includes research and development, field evaluation of products, registration and training practitioners. He is also an adjudicator of doctoral thesis from 2 prestigious universities in India and regularly evaluates thesis on the subject of economic entomology. He lives in Manila, Philippines.
 
Dr David Elmouttie
Technical Development Specialist
BASF
Dr David Elmouttie is the Technical Development Specialist for BASF’s, Professional & Specialty Solutions Division in Australia and New Zealand. David has more than 15 years professional experience in the field of pest management and chemical pesticide development. David has held positions within the Pest Management, Agricultural and Academic Research communities and has specialised in the development of Integrated Pest Management Solutions. As Technical Development Specialist for BASF David is responsible for developing and introducing BASF’s new, innovative and game changing portfolio and solutions to the Australian Pest Management Industry. David also provides technical support to Pest Managers Australia wide.
 
Don Ewart
Consulting Entomologist
Don Ewart BSc(Hons), PhD, is a scientist who does consulting, contract research, teaches pest management at Melbourne Polytechnic and is widely known as just Dr Don. He chairs the termite Standards committee, is a co-author of the Code of Practice for Prior to Purchase Timber Pest Inspection and can be found through drdons.net.
 
Keith Farrow
Chief Technical Officer
Rapid Solutions
Keith commenced his pest management career in 1980 working in management and technical management positions with Flick Pest Control in New South Wales, Queensland and the Flick Hawaiian branch. He also worked with Dow AgroSciences and was involved with the introduction of Sentricon into the Australian pest market.

Keith's training qualifications come from several years spent as a Science teacher and in teaching pest management in both NSW and Queensland TAFE systems. Keith holds a Bachelor of Science, a Diploma of Agricultural Entomology, a Diploma in Education, Certificate of Teaching, Certificate IV in Asset Maintenance (Pest Management) and a Certificate IV Workplace Trainer and Assessor.

Keith started at Rapid Solutions in 2005 and is involved in all areas of training and assessment. Keith has been involved in the development of some industry events and conferences.
 
Paul Fathers
Building Technical Officer
Rapid Solutions
Paul Fathers is the Building Technical Officer for Rapid Solutions. Employed since 2010, he provides technical advice to Rapid Solutions clients, the Rapid Solutions Claims department and Rapid Solutions staff.

Paul has been in the building industry for 40 years starting as an apprentice carpenter and joiner then spending a few years in the construction industry only to return to his roots to contract in the housing sector doing renovations, new homes and some commercial projects. This has provided him with vast knowledge and experience of the built environment that he is able to draw on in his current role.

Regularly involved in the claims process Paul attends site inspections, has been called upon to provide expert witness statements and attend Tribunal hearings. This along with the day to day answering of the many and varied questions from Rapid Solutions keeps him well grounded and informed of the issues around the pre-purchase building inspection industry.
 
Richard Forrester
Owner
Timber Inspection
Richard Forrester started his career in the timber industry at the age of 18. His first job was to remove the bark, from timber sourced for the use of power poles, using an axe. He remained involved with the supply of timber to the power pole industry for 13 years reaching the position of managing a resource procurement from our native forests and running a treatment facility for treating these products. At 31, with the encouragement of family, he sought a position with Forests NSW as a Timber Inspector the main attraction being the positions location, Coffs Harbour. He was disappointed 2 days into the job when advised that he was part of a succession plan that would see him in Sydney. Mr Forrester Managed the Timber Inspection Branch for 7 years. During this period he was on several committees including TM3, TM6, TM7 and BD086 Standards Australia. In 2013 following the cessation of the Timber Marketing Act and creation of Forestry Corporation NSW where the Timber Inspection Group was disbanded Mr Forrester established Timber Inspection Pty Ltd and retained the employees from Forests NSW.
 
Paul Fuller
Underwriting Manager
CGU
Paul has over 30 years’ experience in the General Insurance Industry and is currently the SME Manager for CGU Insurance. He previously held management roles with both Vero and AXA predominantly in the SME portfolios.
 
Terry Gorman
Senior Occupational Hygienist
3M Australasia
Terry Gorman is a Certified Occupational Hygienist employed by 3M Australia in the Personal Safety Division for 16 years. In this position he is involved in testing and recommendation of a range of Personal Protective Equipment. He is a full member of the Australian Institute of Occupational Hygienists.

He is a current member of the Australian Standard Committee responsible for respiratory protection (AS/NZS 1715 & 1716) as well as on the Eye/Face Protection Standards Committee.
 
Eris Hess
Managing Director & Owner
Agserv
Eris is a proudly licensed pest controller and owner of Agserv. He grew up in pest control supply and has continued throughout his life. He has been managing Agserv since 1998. With a back ground in accounting and a keen knowledge of chemicals and equipment for pest control.
 
Chris Hill
National Business Development Manager
FMC
 
Doug Howick
Honorary Advisor
FAOPMA
Following a career in termite research and wood science with CSIRO, Doug Howick was National Executive Director of AEPMA for ten years and, partially concurrently, National Secretary of the Timber Preservers Association of Australia (TPAA) for twenty.

In 2006, he was honoured with the title of Honorary Advisor for the Federation of Asian & Oceania Pest Managers Associations (FAOPMA). Doug is now the Editor of “PPM News”, the newsletter for FAOPMA, and of the TPAA Newsletter “CONTACT”, both of which are electronically circulated on a bi-monthly basis.

C. D. Howick is author of 60+ scientific papers on various aspects of forest products entomology, wood technology and pest management as well as a further 50+ reports, conference papers, and presentations.
 
Matt Huckerby
Partner
Moray & Agnew Lawyers
Matt was admitted to practice following extensive experience acquired with insurers Mercantile Mutual and GIO where he managed CTP and workers compensation claims.

He has substantial private practice experience in public liability, professional indemnity and statutory insurance claims.

Matt’s present practice is predominantly in the areas of public and product liability and professional indemnity.

He has extensive experience in public liability matters, advising a number of Australia’s largest insurers and city Councils.

Matt acts for a number of insurers in relation to home building insurance policies. He also acts for a major underwriter handling personal injury and property damage claims, as well as a number of product liability claims for an overseas insurer.

He also has extensive experience in common law matters. advising a number of Australia’s largest insurers and city Councils.

Matt handles matters ranging from small claims in the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal to major catastrophic claims in the Supreme Court involving paraplegia and quadriplegia. 

Matt has also been actively involved in delivering seminars to his clients and the Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance & Finance over the years.
 
Dave Hughes
Natural and unmistakably Australian, Hughsey’s laconic style thinly disguises one of this country's fastest comedic minds. Turning everyday foibles into rich and hilarious routines has made Hughesy the biggest name in Australian comedy. For 12 years Hughesy made up one half of Melbourne's Nova breakfast team and for 5 years he co-hosted Network Ten’s The Project, not to mention 11 years on the fan's favourite footy show, Before the Game..

While he never left stand up behind, in late 2013 Dave shocked Australia by announcing that he would be giving up his radio and television jobs to go back to his roots touring a brand new stand up show for an entire year.

2015 is seeing Dave return to the airwaves with long time co-host Kate Langbroek joining the team at KIIS and Mix FM in a national drive radio program. He will also be joining the team at Channel 9's The Footy Show, all of which he will be doing around another national live tour, Pumped.
 
Peter Huxley
Managing Director and Strategist
Spinifex
Peter Huxley is a director of the marketing communications company Spinifex Communications and currently works with a range of clients in environmental science, as well as the animal health, human health, agri-chemical, white goods manufacturing and professional services industries. 

Cutting his teeth in pest control in the early eighties, Peter worked for four years with Amalgamated Pest Control in Townsville. Since then, he has gone on to establish a successful career in the marketing and communications industry.

He has also been responsible for the communications strategy for some leading Australian and multinational companies such as Westpac Banking, Toyota Motor Company, Nestle and Bayer.

With an understanding of the pest industry and its consumers, Peter has advised and implemented communication and advertising strategies for Dow AgroSciences launching products such as Sentricon and then with Bayer Environmental Science marketing Temprid, Maxforce Complete and the Bayer Amplify program.

Having been a small business owner himself, he understands the restraint of budgets and the need to spend every dollar wisely when it comes to marketing and promotion.
 
Nathan Kerr
New Business Manager
Rapid Solutions
Nathan joined the team at Rapid Solutions in 2002, and has worked in the insurance industry since 1996. Nathans focus is to assist clients in all facets of their insurance requirements, including the ways in which Pest Managers can integrate the TimberSecure product into their business offering. By doing so, the Pest Manager reduces risk to their business whilst providing a competitive advantage and point of difference from their competitors. Nathan also attends various industry events on behalf of Rapid Solutions, and has no doubt met many of you during his travels.
 
Steve King
Trainer & Assessor
Rapid Solutions
Steve commenced his pest management career in 1986. Steve holds comprehensive pest management qualifications and he is fully trained and experienced in commercial, industrial and domestic pest management. 

After initial technical and supervisory training at major companies such as Rentokil, Flick and Fumapest, Steve owned and operated a successful small business in domestic and commercial pest management for 5 years. In following years Steve held the principal role of Technical Sales Manager at NSW Multipest Control, a leading pest management firm in the Hunter District of NSW. 

Steve is a fully qualified Workplace Trainer and Assessor holding his Diploma in Workplace Training and Assessment. Steve is involved in all areas of training and assessment and in the researching and developing of the materials required for Rapid Solutions' workshops and training modules. Steve in based on the Central Coast and conducts our training in NSW, VIC, TAS, ACT and SA.
 
Simon Lean
Australian Technical Manager
Rentokil
Simon has been in the pest control industry for over 30 years. For 24 years worked in the areas of field research, product development, sales and marketing and project management for multi-national chemical companies in Australia, New Zealand and the USA in agricultural and urban pest control products. For 10 years Simon was a co-owner of Ant-Eater Environmental Services Pty Ltd, specialised in Commercial pest control and termite management in both residential and commercial properties. Since selling Ant-Eater to Rentokil in 2010, Simon continues to work as the Australian Technical Manager based in Sydney New South Wales.
 
Dave Lilly
PhD Candidate
University of Sydney
David Lilly is currently a PhD candidate at the University of Sydney based at the Department of Medical Entomology, Pathology West, ICPMR, Westmead Hospital. His thesis is examining insecticide resistance and the infestation dynamics of bed bugs in Australia. Prior to undertaking a PhD, David also completed a Master of Entomology at the University of Qld and Bachelor of Science (Hons) at the University of NSW. His is due to complete his PhD in 2016-17.

David also continues to work on a limited part-time basis with Ecolab Global Pest Elimination as a Principal Entomologist. In this role he is responsible for providing support to the technical requirements of Ecolab across ANZ, south-east Asia, and Latin America, in addition to providing qualified technical assistance to corporate customers who operate in challenging and pest-sensitive industries and environments. 

Prior to commencing at Ecolab, he was also a Technical Officer at the Centre for Entomological Research & Insecticide Technology (CERIT) where, under the tutelage of Dr Chris Orton, he undertook bioassay-based research on novel insecticides and assisted with other laboratory functions and consultancy to universities, industry and the public.

David wishes to acknowledge that his PhD candidature at the University of Sydney is funded by an Australian Government (Department of Education and Training) Australian Postgraduate Award supported, in part, by an industry research top-up grant from Bayer Environmental Science.
 
Colin MacKenzie
Owner
MacKenzie Consulting
Colin was educated in Melbourne and graduated from Caulfield Institute of Technology in engineering in 1974. He has over 35 years experience specialising in timber engineering and timber technology having worked for Timber Research and Development Advisory Council of Queensland, now Timber Queensland, and more recently as Principal of MacKenzie Consulting. Over this period he has been active in all facets of timber engineering and design. Some areas of special interest include domestic engineering, durability design and the development of Australian Standards and Building Codes for the benefit of timber construction. He also participated in many of industries pioneering timber grading and in-grade testing programs. 

Colin is or has been a member of a number of Australian Standards Committees including the Timber Structures Committee, the Structural Timbers Committee and the Timber Framing Committee. As well as the SA committees, Colin has represented Australia on the ISO TC 165 Timber Structures Committee.

Colin has also been instrumental in writing numerous technical publications and documents for the timber and building industry including the Queensland Timber Framing Manuals, MRTFC publications, AS 1684, Technical Data Sheets and the Handy Span Tables book.

Current and recent activities have included management of a number of FWPA supported research projects including Advanced Flooring Research, Recycled Timber Grading, and Durability Design.
 
Douglas McCarron
Doug McCarron began his Professional Pest Control career in 1984 when his father Marshall organized a job for him in the Canberra division of his family company Amalgamated Pest Control. While undertaking his initial training at Head Office in Brisbane an opportunity arose to change his destiny and take over the Northern Territory Division of the company. Not being particularly fond of cold weather, he took to it with gusto and was soon loaded to the hilt with chemicals driving a fully equipped Pest Management van the short 3000 km distance to Darwin. Just a few quick service calls in remote areas like Mt Isa along the way to help out some of the more remote divisions facing staff shortages. What begun then was a very steep learning curve on the behaviour of pest insects in the Tropics when they have plentiful supplies of heat and moisture and an almost unlimited supply of their major food requirements. 

It wasn’t long before he had his first encounter with Mastotermes darwiniensis and this was to leave an indelible mark on his approach to timber pest management. A good friend and mentor once told him that ‘if you take shortcuts with Masto they will destroy you’ and he emphasized the word destroy. Such a large and voracious termite species like Masto can develop so quickly and consume so much cellulose that the obvious damage caused by their feeding can be breathtaking. At the time the only real reference material available was the Urban Pest Management bible from Hadlington, which was an excellent resource for southern Australian Pest Management but was very limited on good advice and practice for Masto. It was a baptism of fire which led to 14 years of hands on development of treatment approaches that specifically targeted this dangerous timber destroying species. ‘Masto just do not follow the rule book but they have been known to eat it.’ (Quote from a good friend DH)
 
Charles McClintock
Business Development Manager Environmental Health and Professional Products
Sumitomo
Charles has been with Sumitomo Chemical Australia for 13 years and currently holds the position of Business Development Manager Environmental Health and Professional Products.

Prior to joining Sumitomo Chemical Charles ran a mixed farming business in southern NSW. Charles holds a Bachelor of Agricultural Economics Degree and has worked with agricultural industry groups in marketing woollen and meat products into the UK and South East Asia.
 
Chris Murphy
Marketing Manager
Rapid Solutions
Chris has been the Marketing Manager for Rapid Solutions since 2011. Chris holds both a degree in Marketing and a degree in Electronic Commerce and is responsible for the branding and promotion of Rapid Solution’s range of products and services.
 
Richard Murray
Technical Manager
Syngenta
Dick graduated from the University of New England with a Bachelor Degree in Rural Science.

With over 30 years of experience in the agricultural chemical and pest control industries, Dick has valuable insights to offer. He is a licensed pest controller and timber pest inspector and nearing completion of Certificate IV in work place assessment. Dick started working in the pest control industry in 1990 with Dow AgroSciences responsible for development of products for professional pest control with an emphasis on termite control technologies. He has since had similar technical services and support roles with Ensystex and as Asia Pacific Technical Manager for DuPont. He has also held a training and business management role with Anteater Environmental Services, a leading Sydney based pest control company.

In 2012, Dick moved to Syngenta with the divestiture of DuPont’s professional products business to Syngenta. He is Technical Manager for the Professional Pest Management business unit at Syngenta.
 
Elias Oostveen
Managing Director
Home Integrity
Elias is a registered builder who has completed over $150 million dollars’ worth of projects in the past 20 years across all industry sectors. He won HIA WA’s renovated bathroom project of the year for 1997 and MBA’s best new commercial builder in 2006. He was vice chairman of the HIA-NKBA for 2 years and was an elected member of the Master Builders Association Construction Council from 2007 to 2012. 

He studied in Sydney to become a MBA Accredited Building Consultant specifically on inspections, and reporting on building defects and pre-purchase building inspections to the Australian Standard.

He loves crawling through tight, dirty roof spaces and under sub-floors, and is inquisitive by nature which is probably why he enjoys what he does so much.
 
Neil Parker
Motor Underwriting Manager
CGU
Neil is the Underwriting Manager for Motor CGU – QLD. He has gained a great deal of experience over his 19 year career in the Finance & General Insurance Industry, understanding the challenges that the current insurance climate is facing. Neil specialises in Motor, this knowledge over the years has helped him combine his work and efficiency as a senior leader to ensure profitable growth within the business. Neil previously held Leadership roles with NTI & Lumley.
 
Ken Parry
Technical Representative
Bell Laboratories
Ken has worked for Bell Laboratories for the last 6 years as Technical Representative specialising in Rodent Control for the Professional Pest Controller Sector.

Ken started his career in the Pest Control Industry some 22 years ago by joining Rentokil Sydney in 1993. He quickly developed a very good understanding of Pest Control for Commercial Business, gaining experience in HACCP, AQIS and TGA sites, Food Manufacturing and a multitude of other industries.

Joining Bell Labs in 2009, Ken has been able to study Rodent Control under the leadership and tutelage of the vastly knowledgeable Technical Director, Peter Martin. In 2012 he was able to spend a full week studying and working with Dr Robert Corrigan in New York City, one of the world leading authorities on Rodent Control. Ken is still endeavouring to improve himself, currently undertaking a Training and Assessment Course.

Possibly best known for his talks at the various Pest Control industry Trade Shows, Ken’s role also includes support for businesses and technicians that may require help, advice or support with any aspect of Rodent Control. Ken conducts In-house training and Regional Workshops. He regularly accompanies PCOs on Site Visits to aid in problem solving and he is always available and enthusiastic to help any Pest Controller build their business.

Bell Labs was founded in 1974 specialising in Rodent Control, Bell was one of the first companies to establish Laboratories for the study of the behaviour of Rats and Mice. Much of what the industry knows todays about Rodents and their control comes from Bell Laboratories, still leading the way in determining better protocols and more efficient and effective methods of Control.
 
Garry Patten
Training Administration Manager
Rapid Solutions
Garry has previously had a distinguished career of 25 years in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). For approximately the last decade of his career he was a member of the prestigious RAAF College – Airman Leadership Flight, where his main role was to facilitate ‘Leadership and Management Training’ for the RAAF’s senior airman. Garry was also one of only three people at the time deemed to have the knowledge, experience and skills for the design, development, implementation and initial conduct of the RAAF’s Advanced Instructional Techniques Course. Once operating, this course gained an exceptional reputation and was soon in great demand and attended by educators from not only within the RAAF, but also the Navy, Army and Public Service as well. During his time within RAAF College Garry completed his Bachelor of Education in Adult Education, majoring in Human Resource Development. Garry has also completed his Diploma in Front Line Management as well as keeping current in Certificate IV in Workplace Training and Assessment.

Garry joined the Rapid Training team in 2010 as the Training Administration Manager. He is responsible for making sure that the day to day student administration processes operate effectively and efficiently, as well as ensuring that Rapid Training maintains compliance with the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) quality standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTO).
 
Phil Ridley
Owner
Bug Doctor Media
Phil Ridley has over 20 years experience in the Pest Control industry, having held a number of technical and marketing roles. Having completed his PhD (Thesis – “Foraging behaviour of leaf-cutting ants”), he worked at Reckitt Benckiser for a number of years as the Global Product Development Manager for Mortein and Aerogard. At Reckitt Benckiser he made the switch to marketing and held various local and global marketing roles supporting the pest control category.

Conference attendees will probably have come across Phil during his time as Asia Pacific business manager for DuPont Professional Products, when he launched Advion, Arilon and Altriset in Australia. Three years ago Phil left DuPont to pursue a range of business opportunities. During this time Phil set up Bug Doctor Media – “The specialists in pest control marketing”. Bug Doctor Media provide a “one-stop shop” for pest control companies for all their marketing needs, including website development, online advertising and social media integration.

Phil’s combination of marketing and pest control expertise is unique in the industry and allows Bug Doctor Media to deliver specialist marketing support to pest control companies. Phil has two key passions; communicating best practice in marketing and helping companies maximise their online presence, both key to success in today’s market. 
 
Dr. William H. Robinson
Technical Director
B&G Equipment Co.
William H Robinson, Ph.D. is the Technical Director of B&G Equipment Company. Before joining B&G he conducted research on household and structural pests at Virginia Tech for 30 years. He is Chair of the Executive Committee of the International Conference on Urban Pests. He has published a textbook, Urban Entomology; a worldwide reference book for household insect pests, Urban Insects and Arachnids; and training manuals for pest control service technicians, Field Guide for Service Technicians, Inspection and Identification Guide for Service Technicians. He has published more than 250 scientific articles.
 
Mark Sheppard
CEO
Pest Australia
Mark's expertise is based on the servicing and implementation of systems in the commercial business area, servicing of major corporate accounts and sales, marketing and development. 

Mark has been involved in the Pest Management Industry since 1998. He is a fully licensed Pest Management Operator and Fumigator, a Certificate IV Workplace Trainer and Assessor and qualified Lead Auditor in Quality Management Systems. 

Mark established PestConsult in 2001 and provides services in all areas of pest management consulting. Since 2006 Mark’s work has expanded to overseas and includes consulting, training, auditing and presenting at conferences in China, Hong Kong, Philippines, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, India, United States, Czech Republic and South Africa.

In June 2003, he acquired Pest Education Services & Training which is the only private Registered Training Organisation in Western Australia offering quality and comprehensive training services to the Pest Management Industry.

Quality Pest & Weed Solutions was established in 2007 after identifying the need for a Pest Management Company to service corporate clients with a focus on prompt, professional and proactive service that utilises Integrated Pest Management strategies.
 
Bruce Sullivan
Keynote Speaker, Author & Business Leader
Bruce is a proven performer in achieving results in people for over 30 years. His practical, hands on experience is based on working with individuals, families, businesses and communities providing education and opportunities for personal improvement. It is this experience that has given Bruce a unique understanding of our ability to relate to one another in the workplace and at home. This is what sets his work apart and gives a very practical and timely insight into relationships at work and home Managing his own businesses since his teens, by age 24 he had established his own million-dollar network of businesses and he has an extended track record of working with a wide range of private and public organisations’, both in Australia and overseas. His enthusiastic, entertaining and hands-on approach gets long term tangible results and has resulted in 100% of his work being generated from repeat and referral business, which is of course the strongest possible testimony to his skills. Voted Australian Keynote Speaker of the Year by the National Speakers Association of Australia, Bruce will engage and inspire you to do what it takes to be the best that you can possibly be in a world where change is constant and relationships are fragile.
 
Daryle Swarz
Territory Sales Manager - QLD
Bayer
Daryle’s background is in the pre-construction termite industry, primarily physical barriers, started in the pest industry in 2007. He joined Bayer in 2010, working in the Kordon business. His role evolved to professional pest control and turf management. He currently look after their termite business, but also have responsibility for their business in QLD, N.T and New Zealand, looking after all pest control products.
 
John Worthington
Owner
John Worthington & Associates
As a Licenced Builder & Member of the Master Builders Association John has run his own company for the last 39 years and prior to this worked his way through the building industry from “on the tools” to General Foreman through to Project Manager and Construction Manager.

John holds a Masters Degree in Dispute Resolution through the University of Technology Sydney College of Law and through the University of Adelaide and the Institute of Arbitrators and Mediators a Professional Advanced Certificate in Arbitration and Mediation, Building Diploma & a Pest Control Certificate through Sydney Technical College. In 2008 he was issued with a Certificate of National Accreditation as an experienced Qualified Practitioner by the Institute of Arbitrators and Mediators.

John’s company has carried out over 25,000 building and pest reports and John’s current role is that of an Expert Witness, Arbitrator and Mediator and he has appeared in over 300 cases.

John is on the Council of Management for the Master Builders, Chairman of the Master Builders Consultant Council and a Member of the Home Building Advisory Council to the NSW Minister for Fair Trading.

John is a Judge in the Master Builders Association Excellence in Housing Awards.

John also appeared nationally for 4 years on ABC Television as “the Builder” on the Home Show.