Phil Sayer

Phil completed an Ag Science degree with a major in Entomology at Sydney University in 1975. He then tutored in the toxicology of insecticides at Queensland University for three years before a working with cotton growers on the Darling Downs as a Senior Research Assistant.

Phil returned to Sydney in 1979 where he joined a Pest Management Company that only employed graduate entomologists.  The advert for the job was simple – ‘Entomologist:  Long hours, dirty conditions, good pay’.  With national expansion Phil returned to Brisbane to start Antipest in Qld.

In 1987 it became ‘Sayer from Bayer’ when Phil became the Regional Manager (Qld and NT) for Bayer Environmental Health products.

In 2002 Phil started with Garrards as the Technical and Training Manager, a unique position within the Pest Management industry in Australia where a company provides a dedicated person to assist pest managers with their questions ranging from pest identification to treatment options to Legislation. These queries come from all over Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.

Amongst other activities in the industry – Phil was the Secretary of Queensland Branch of AEPMA at formation in 1988 and has been on the Committee ever since, he taught the Queensland TAFE Pest Control Course and marked correspondence papers prior to the National Competencies and he runs NSW and ACT EPA and QLD DAF Approved Pest Bird Courses for PMTs using avicides.

Phil’s work in the industry was recognised by Queensland AEPMA in 1997 by awarding him the inaugural Wayne Naylor Memorial Award for Excellence in Recognition for Services to the Pest Management Industry in Queensland.

Twenty-five years later, Phil was presented the Bayer Environmental Science / AEPMA Individual Excellence Professional Pest Management Award 2022 “For recognition of service to the commercial pest management industry beyond expectation and endeavours in the area of customer service and individual excellence.”

Peter May – Xacva

Peter’s career has included over 20 years of experience in the Australian and international crop protection and professional pest management industries, working with multinational companies.

In 2001, he founded Xavca Pty Ltd, providing marketing & consultancy services and Peter continues to operate Xavca with a focus on non-crop markets, including professional pest management, in Australia, New Zealand and the Asian region. 

In 2008 Peter joined BioProspect Limited (ASX: BPO), a listed Australian company involved in the development of natural insecticide products, first as Chief Executive Officer and subsequently as Non-Executive Chairman.

In 2015 Peter joined Bio-Gene Technology Ltd (ASX: BGT) as an Executive Director. Bio-Gene is an Australian company involved in the development of novel insecticides for both agricultural and pest management markets.

Peter holds an honours degree in Applied Science (Rural Technology) from the Queensland University, majoring in crop protection and integrated pest management and an MBA from the Queensland University of Technology, majoring in international marketing.

He is a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD), and an active member of the Australian Environmental Pest Managers Association (AEPMA) and the Mosquito Control Association of Australia (MCAA).