Speaker Profiles – Stream 1

Information yet to come

• A Code of Practice for the Control of Bed Bug - Presented by Stephen Doggett
• A Code of Practice for Pest Management in the Food Industry – Presented by Gary Stephenson
• A Code of Practice for Prior to Purchase Timber Pest Inspections – Presented by Gary Stephenson

Mark is the Technical Services Manager of BASF Pest Control. He has 10 years’ experience in the industry as a branch supervisor and area sales manager, before taking on his current role and is an expert in commercial pest management and termite management systems.

Steve Broadbent holds an honours degree in Applied Biology majoring in Ecology and Biocide Science; together with qualifications in Marketing from the University of Technology, Sydney and a Management Diploma from Melbourne University.

Steve has more than 40 years industry experience, having commenced his career as a government Research Entomologist in the United Kingdom before moving to Australia. He has been 20 years in his current position as Ensystex’s Regional Director for Australia, SE Asia, Southern Africa, and the Gulf Region.

He has authored many peer reviewed scientific papers, contributed technical book chapters, and consulted on pest management issues for many major projects including rodent control in Turtle Sanctuaries in Malaysia, and with the National Parks & Wildlife Service and the Charles Darwin Foundation in the World Heritage Galapagos Islands. One of his more unusual projects was investigating risks posed to black mamba snakes through secondary rodenticide poisoning in Wildlife Reserves in Botswana.

Stephen L. Doggett is the Director of the Department of Medical Entomology, NSW Health Pathology at Westmead Hospital in Sydney, Australia. He has over 37 years’ experience in the field of medical entomology, produced almost 700 papers and presented 460 lectures at various local and international conferences (having being invited to speak in 21 countries). His research background is broad having published articles on mosquito surveillance, mosquito-borne diseases, mosquito management, ticks and tick-borne diseases, and bed bugs, and has been cited by over 2,600 scientific papers. Stephen has appeared in the media on more than 400 occasions with over 40 television interviews.

Stephen serves on a number of national and international scientific boards and is the former Medical, Veterinary and Urban subject editor for the premier Australian entomological journal, Austral Entomology and a current Associate Editor for the international publication, the Journal of Economic Entomology. Stephen is the Senior Editor for ‘A Code of Practice for the Control of Bed Bug Infestations in Australia’, which is the first industry standard developed in the world against modern bed bugs. The success of this standard has been evident by the fact that Australia is the only nation to have seen a decline in bed bug numbers, which is saving the national economy hundreds of millions of dollars. Stephen is the Chief Edito for the Magazine of the Federation of Asian and Oceanic Pest Managers Associations (FAOPMA). This is the most influential pest management organisation in the world and is responsible for protection the homes and lives of over four billion people.

Stephen authored the field guide ‘Do You Have Bed Bugs?’, which has been published in six languages. He is an internationally awarded insect photographer and has more than 2,540 published images and held an exhibition of this work in 2014, called ‘Intimate Glimpses’. Produced with colleagues in 2016, the book ‘A Guide to Mosquitoes of Australia’, which uses many of his images, won the prestigious Whitley Award for the best Australian natural history field guide in 2016. Stephen is now using his many images in his next book, ‘World’s Weirdest Mosquitoes’, which focuses on the unusual aspects of mosquitoes, and aims to be both educational and entertaining. He also holds a sub-7kg UAV (drone) license, employing drones for aerial photography.

In 2012, Stephen was awarded the inaugural ‘Award for Excellence’ for services to the Australian pest management industry, presented by Australian Environmental Pest Managers Association.

Without a question, Stephen’s greatest achievement to date is to be the Senior Editor and multiple author on the first academic text book on bed bugs for 50 years. Produced in collaboration with co-editors from the USA and Malaysia (Profs Dini Miller and Chow-Yang Lee), ‘Advances in the Biology and Management of Modern Bed Bugs’ is global effort with some 60 authors from across the world, has 46 chapters, and is more than 460 pages in length. Advances is considered to be the most significant text in the field of urban and medical entomology for many decades, and was released in March 2018. Stephen was the senior author on nine chapters and co-author on four, and developed the concept for the book.

GARY STEPHENSON - STEPHENSON PEST CONSULT & TRAINING

Area of Expertise: Gary’s particular pest passions are Food Industry Pest Management & Timber Pest Management

Gary is the principal of Stephenson Pest Consult & Training, which specialises in Pest Management Consulting, Training, Auditing, & Compliance and has been directly involved at varying levels in the horticulture and pest management industry over a period of some 40 years.

Previous positions include;

• Establishing and managing his own pest management company for 12 years
• Worked for several leading pest control firms since 1982 in positions ranging from Senior Technician, Field Service Supervisor, Sales Consultant, Divisional Manager, State Manager
• At ISS/Flick & Flick-Anticimex - National Operations Manager, National Quality Manager, National Training Manager, Pacific Regional Technical Director & Member of the Anticimex Global Technical Board
• Developed proprietary & industry based training courses, conducted several pest industry training seminars and presented at conferences in Australia, Asia and Europe
• Gary also sits on several pest industry boards, committees and working parties and is heavily involved with many important industry projects and initiatives.

Licenses & qualifications include;

• Certified Lead Auditor - ISO Quality Management Systems / Environmental & Safety (ISO 9001 & ISO 14001) Food Safety Management Systems, Standards & IPM Programs
• Certified Field Biologist & Member of The Institute of Field Biologists
• Qualified HACCP Trainer & Auditor
• Licensed & Qualified Pest Management Technician, Fumigator & Timber Pest Inspector
• Qualified Cert 1V - Workplace Trainer & Assessor (BSZ and TAE)
• Holds a Diploma in Business Management

DAVID GAY – WR GAY PEST CONTROL

Area of Expertise: Recruitment, Fair-work, Modern Awards, Pay rates, National employment standards ( NES) , EBA’s/workplace agreements

JAY TURNER – LAGUNA PEST CONTROL

Area of Expertise: “The Bug Guy” – entomology, ID skills, toxicology & training

Jay along with his wife Nicky own and operate the multi award winning Laguna Pest Control based In Noosa Sunshine Coast. Jay is also a trainer and assessor for Rapid Solutions and the host of The Pestie Profiles podcast. Having a background in entomology and a real passion for “critters” and although being a bit of an all-rounder, pretty much living and breathing all aspects of pest management, Jay’s strengths definitely align with being the “bug guy” of this panel.

TROY DAWSON, DAWSON’S AUSTRALIA

Area of Expertise: Marketing, Innovation & Business Technology, Growing a Pest Business, Increasing Profitability in a pest business

I have over 23 years’ experience within the Pest Control Industry initially starting out as a Technician then developing into a Customer Service Manager, through acquisition of the family business I gained experience within ASX listed company Campbell Brothers as State Manager for Pest control and Washroom services. I then continued my career development in a multinational chemical manufacturer FMC working in specialty solutions where I was involved in product development and trials. I started Dawson’s Australia in 2008 where I have played an essential part in the business growth and development for the past 13 years.

In January 2022 Dawson’s Australia was acquired by Flick Anticimex, I am currently the Branch Manager for Dawson’s within Flick.

Based on my experience I have the knowledge and expertise to address any pest control requirement for any industry. My skills include solutions based operational management, high level procurement with a proven track record of success.

My attention to detail enables me to respond in an accurate and timely manner, I conduct myself in a collaborative manner with my team to ensure all business divisions are functioning optimally. Customer Service is my priority and my professionalism and strong commitment to innovation and constant improvement, is demonstrated in the marketplace.

Licences and Training

• Australian Environmental Pest Managers Association
• Field Biologist – Sept 19 – Code of Practice for Pest Management in the Food Industry in Australia and New Zealand, and the Pest Management Services for Food Businesses Food Safety Standard. Proud to be issued 1 of first 8 licences in Australia.
• Department of Human Services – VIC
• Fully Licenced Pest Control and Fumigation Licence - EPA

Licences and Training

• MPL TRAINING
• Cert IV – Asset Pest Management
• NMIT
• Cert II – Asset Pest Management
• Master Builders Association
• Cert IV – Building and Construction

Advisory Role
Member of Artibus (IRC) for the 2018 Urban Pest Management Redevelopment Project to review and develop training packages in line with the Australian Governments reform process for Certificate III Qualification and creation of Certificate IV in Pest Management

Leigh Pronk - Leigh is the National Sales Manager of BASF Pest Control. He is based out of the Gold Coast in QLD and has been in the pest industry for over 10 years as a National Operations Manager and sub-contractor before beginning his current position at BASF. Leigh is an expert in high-dependency commercial pest control sites and post-construction termite management.

Raja Mahendran is an international pest business consultant based in Sydney and operates worldwide. Previously he worked for various global leaders in pest control products based in Australia, France, Switzerland and in Singapore. Pest Managers in Australia remember him for his creative, magical product launches, promotions and presentations.

Raja now consults for global leaders in pest management including manufacturers, service providers and distributors. Raja is the bridge for his clients from around the world to quickly reach their goals. He guides clients to develop and implement creative and innovative strategies to achieve accelerated business growth, leveraging on the latest technology and developing powerful teams to stand stand out from the crowd.

Raja has a Master of Science degree in Entomology from Sri Lanka. A NSW Pest Control License, with Pest Control Certificates from Purdue USA and NSW TAFE. He is also highly qualified in business, accredited as a Certified Practising Marketer with the Australian Marketing Institute, with post graduate certificates in Strategic Marketing from Harvard USA and Strategic Management from MGSM Australia.

Raja’s passion is for the pest management industry, to go beyond IPM. He pursues his passion through the social media and delivering workshops around world. At the PESTICON 2021, Raja is sharing his international expertise and insights from several continents to help the Australian Environmental Pest Management Association Members to “Create The Future of Pest Control”.

Steve Broadbent holds an honours degree in Applied Biology majoring in Ecology and Biocide Science; together with qualifications in Marketing from the University of Technology, Sydney and a Management Diploma from Melbourne University.

Steve has more than 40 years industry experience, having commenced his career as a government Research Entomologist in the United Kingdom before moving to Australia. He has been 20 years in his current position as Ensystex’s Regional Director for Australia, SE Asia, Southern Africa, and the Gulf Region.

He has authored many peer reviewed scientific papers, contributed technical book chapters, and consulted on pest management issues for many major projects including rodent control in Turtle Sanctuaries in Malaysia, and with the National Parks & Wildlife Service and the Charles Darwin Foundation in the World Heritage Galapagos Islands. One of his more unusual projects was investigating risks posed to black mamba snakes through secondary rodenticide poisoning in Wildlife Reserves in Botswana.

Andrew Stone is the Managing Director of the Pacific region at Rentokil Initial. Prior to this, Andrew was the Finance Director with the company and has worked at Rentokil Initial for over 8 years. Andrew also has a strong cross functional background in FMCG having previously held senior sales and finance leadership roles with Unilever. An Economics & Law graduate of the University of Sydney and with a Masters of Management from the Macquarie Graduate School of Management, Andrew has a strong passion for technology and how we can leverage the IoT to drive seismic change in the pest and hygiene industry. His goal is to deliver sustainable, proactive and intelligent strategies to enhance and protect brands and more importantly, human health.