The WIPM website is in the last stages of being launched so we are busy working on that in the background. This will be up and running in the coming weeks, including the e-commerce page showcasing our exciting new merchandise range.
Wow! What a month it has been. We were super excited to see our President Nicky head over to the PMANZ conference and announce our NZ WIPM representative – Anita Collins-Preiss. Anita comes and her family are a huge part of the NZ pest control scene. We are thrilled to have her on-board looking forward to WIPM growth in New Zealand and our friends over the ditch.
Nicky is off again to represent and experience her first FAOPMA conference in Japan in November. This will be an amazing opportunity to experience how a conference of this size is run as well as networking with people from all over the Asian, Pacific, and Indian regions. Seeing how things are done in other countries and seeing how women are involved in these industries is a great opportunity to learn. So excited to hear about the update on this
Personally, I was blown away with our first edition newsletter – I found that it was full of great information and articles and profiles on inspiring women in our industry. This next edition won’t disappoint either – we have some great articles about Virtual Administration and Marketing. One of the most exciting things to be announced this month is that WIPM are working with Phil Ridley and the Professional Pest Manager Magazine in organising the inaugural 2023 Termite Professional Conference where we will be hosting the big WIPM National Breakfast. We are excited to be involved in the planning of this conference – which gives everyone a change to be involved in a conference that many want to see. We will be asking for feedback and running polls on our socials to see what you ladies would like to see in a conference.
Presidentone!Vice
Rhiannon Vice-PresidentBrown
NEWSLETTER WIPM AUGUSTREPORT2022EDITION
MANAGEMENTCAREERSINPESTFORWOMEN
NEWSLETTER - AUGUST 2022 2
WOMEN IN PEST CONTROL
The reality is most little girls do not imagine themselves growing up to work with creepy crawlies. Even less would even imagine working in the professional pest management industry. We are now in a generation where this is changing. The industry is growing, and more and more women are starting to realise this is an industry that continues to grow, and there are many job opportunities to be fulfilled, including field technicians to customer service representatives to leadership and management positions. Times have changed and we can offer positions with flexibility, family-friendly work hours, and great benefits. It is a surprise for most women to discover a career in pest management. The pest management industry is a stable environment, predicting jobs to grow in the industry throughout the rest of 2022. Many women fall into the industry only to find out more than they expected – not just a job, but an actual professional career. Career Paths In Pest Management for Women.
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So how do we market careers in pest management to women? How do you communicate these opportunities when seeking out future employees? Here are some tips to help seek out the right person for the position. Quite simple, really. If you care about people, are attentive to detail and love communicating with others, solving problems and want to make a positive difference in people’s lives, then this is the right industry for you! No experience? No worries! Most pest control companies provide the training and professional development opportunities needed. Most women already have the professional or personal experiences that will serve them well in a career in this industry. This includes being a Mum or being in retail and life experiences in general. If you are ready to make a change in your business, consult us! Contact one of our WIPM committee members. We will help guide you in the right direction. TO ARRANGE A MEETING, PLEASE CLICK HERE
The professional pest management industry has many career opportunities available. The WIPM website will be up and running in a few weeks and women outside this industry will be able to look at sample pest control job descriptions to help them find a position that best suits their needs and check out our frequently asked questions. They will have access to videos that they can watch and listen to what women who are already in the industry have to Checksay. out the video below on Jobs for Women in Pest Control. This is United States based, however, applies to us. We will be showcasing some videos of Women in Pest Control here in Australia in our next edition.
NEWSLETTER - AUGUST 2022 4 • 2022 WomanProfessionalinAustralian Pest Management Excellence award Winner • 2022 AEPMA Pest Manager of the Year for South Pacific • 2020 AEPMA Pest manager of the Year Finalist • 2019 Businesswoman of the year in Fiji 2nd Runner Up • 2019 PWAPM Finalist 2019 • 2019 AEPMA Finalist Pest Manager of the Year • 2018 AEPMA Pest Manager of the Year • 2018 Best MinisterOperationsBusinessinPrimeAwards • 2017 AEPMA Finalist Manager of the Year 2016 AEPMA Pest Manager of the Year • 2015 Pest Manager of the Year • 2013 Entrepreneur of the Year Woman in Business • 2013 AwardsCommendationAEPMA2013 ASITA DEVI DEO FASTKIL PEST CONTROL SERVICES “My name is Asita Devi Deo, director of Fastkil Pest Control Services based in Fiji islands with 3 branches and with 65 staff in total. For me personally I call myself a master of all trades from pest control, fumigation and in general business operational duties in align with my company vision and mission which is my biggest achievements as follows: Through these achievements, I personally agree that us woman are great leaders in managing household to business. We are game changers placed in any environment and are successful. I am passionate in assisting any woman who is eager to learn, and to be recognised in the industry as a whole, as this is my focus.”To find out more on Asita please listen to her journey on Pestie Profiles Podcast and videos. WOMEN IN PEST MANAGEMENT WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME ASITA DEVI DEO AS THE WIPM SOUTH PACIFIC REPRESENTATIVE .
INSTINCT AND REASON
A market research company called Instinct and Reason are conducting a study to help their client better understand the needs of professional pest managers, like yourself. They would like you to please complete a market research survey, and you will be given $50 as a thank you if you complete it. It will take about 25-minutes to complete. Your answers will be completely anonymous. And what you say will be analysed and reported with everyone else confidentially, abiding by the market research code of practice and privacy laws of Australia. Please click the link to start the survey, and complete it within the next week:
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CLICK TO START THE SURVEY
AUSTRALIAPROFILESPESTIE
IF YOU COULD HAVE DINNER WITH ONE PERSON (LIVING OR DEAD), WHO WOULD IT BE? My soulmate… wherever they are. DO YOU HAVE ANY PETS?
DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN THREE WORDS
WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU WON THE LOTTERY?
Spend some of it on dogs, some on a family holiday/s, some of it on friends and donate a third of it.
WHAT’S THE LAST DREAM YOU REMEMBER? I was a burger and living life; it was weird.
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WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE SNACK FOOD? Popcorn chicken. ARE YOU AN INTROVERT OR AN EXTROVERT? Introvert. WHAT’S THE BEST DISH YOU CAN COOK? Garlic bread lasagne. WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST PEST PEEVE? People asking for my advice and then doing the complete opposite of what I suggested.
Jim’s Termite and Pest Control SA and NSW. WHAT IS YOUR ROLE? Technician and occupational trainer. HOW DID YOU GET INTO PEST CONTROL? After high school I was planning to undertake study for a degree in tourism and event management, but I decided to defer as I was unsure if university was for me, and, as we all know, that industry took a hit due to Covid-19. So, I looked at what my parents were doing and became a pest technician, slowly taking over the reins of the business.
On the cinema wall for movies, I haven’t paid for. WHAT SCRAMBLES YOUR BRAIN EVERY TIME YOU THINK ABOUT IT?
BROOKE PADDICK
Taxes. WHAT ARE YOU MOST DETERMINED TO ACCOMPLISH?
WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE WAY TO SPEND A DAY OFF?
I am not sure; I’m still quite young and don’t know what the future holds.
Play Mario Kart 8 Deluxe with my friends or family. HAVE YOU EVER READ A BOOK THAT CHANGED YOUR LIFE? Mathematics for Australia 12 General Mathematics taught the important math.
A ragdoll cat and a toy poodle. WHAT WAS THE WORST PHASE IN YOUR LIFE?
WHAT’S YOUR GO-TO KARAOKE SONG? So What ~ P!nk.
WOULD YOU PREFER TO GO CAMPING OR CHILL AT A RESORT? Chilling at a resort. WHAT’S THE MOMENT YOU WOULD LOVE TO BE A FLY ON THE WALL FOR?
To bring happiness to people in my life and myself.
Quirky, approachable, and nice. WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT PEST CONTROL? Being able to help customers with their pest problems.
WHERE DO YOU WORK?
IF YOU ENDED UP IN JAIL, WHAT WOULD YOU FRIENDS AND FAMILY THINK YOU DID? Who? What? When? Where? Why? How?? IF YOUR LIFE WERE A MOVIE, WHAT WOULD THE MOVIE BE CALLED? The Wannabe Dog Thief. WHAT EMBARRASSING MOMENT HAS STUCK WITH YOU OVER THE YEARS? When I was younger, my friend made me ice cream with mint choc topping. At the time, I didn’t like mint and so to cover the taste, I added parmesan cheese that was left over from dinner. I pretended I liked cheese on my ice cream and ate the whole thing. WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR BIGGEST FEARS? Heights and, ironically, spiders. WHO DO YOU LOOK UP TO THE MOST? AND WHY? My mum, dad, and aunty because they have all been through a lot. WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN FIVE YEARS? Still at home, I’ll probably be paying rent by then… WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF AND WHY? How far I’ve grown in the past two years.
Creative, smart, quirky, sassy, kind, funny, inclusive, and high energy.
IF YOU COULD LIVE A DAY AS ANY TYPE OF ANIMAL, WHAT WOULD YOU CHOOSE AND WHY? Dog, because they look so happy all the time. IF YOU COULD REDO ONE MOMENT OF YOUR LIFE, WHAT WOULD IT BE? Year 12 maths exam. WHAT IS A PRODUCT YOU CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT? Vanilla Coke.
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IF YOU COULD CHANGE ONE THING ABOUT YOURSELF, WHAT WOULD IT BE? Nothing, my flaws make me unique. WHAT’S ONE OF THE MOST FUN CHILDHOOD MEMORIES YOU HAVE? Skiing in Japan with my family. WHO IS YOUR CELEBRITY CRUSH? Leonardo DiCaprio. WHAT’S THE WILDEST THING YOU HAVE EVER DONE? Going off course skiing. WHAT’S YOUR WORST BAD HABIT? Procrastination. HOW WOULD YOUR BEST FRIEND DESCRIBE YOU?
It’s not as bad and gross as you think it will be.
IF YOU COULD CHANGE YOUR NAME, WHAT NEW NAME WOULD YOU PICK? Brooklyn. WHAT COUNTRY WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO VISIT?
Japan again. WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU WERE INVISIBLE FOR A DAY? Take a nap. WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO A NEW FEMALE TECHNICIAN COMING INTO THE PEST INDUSTRY?
TOILET PAPER, OVER OR UNDER? Over. HAVE YOU EVER SENT A TEXT MESSAGE TO THE WRONG PERSON? Yes, too many times. DO YOU HAVE ANY FUNNY OR SECRET TALENTS YOU’D BE WILLING TO SHARE? I don’t think I have any secret or funny talents.
HAVE YOU EVER DROPPED FOOD ON THE FLOOR ACCIDENTALLY AND THEN PICKED IT UP TO EAT IT? Of course, 5 second rule. DO YOU DOUBLE DIP? Yeah, as long as it’s mine or the people sharing it are okay with it. WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR TEENAGE SELF? Don’t be afraid to be yourself and do what you want.
general
workplace
Workplace
Most employers have heard of unfair dismissal claims and a very wary of an unfair dismissal applications when considering when to terminate an employee, however, in the last five to six years, there have been an increasing number of employees making protections claim as opposed to an unfair dismissal claim. As a very brief overview of these claims the most common provisions utilised by employees make it unlawful for employers to take advert action against an employee because the employee has exercised a workplace right. right has been interpreted very broadly by the courts but the most common rights we see exercised by employees are:
NEWSLETTER - AUGUST 2022 8 WHAT IS A GENERAL PROTECTION CLAIM?
• Enquiries/Complaints for pay or hours • Absent or ill • Workers’ Compensation claims • Workplace bullying claims • Sexual harassment or discrimination claims • Workplace health and safety complaints EMPLOYMENTTIPS
There has been a rise in the number of general protections claims being made. It is important to realise that these claims can be filed prior to employment, during employment or after the end of employment. Are you aware of the dangers of the general protection’s provisions in the Fair Work Act?
We highly recommend that before terminating an employee, please seek legal advice from a qualified employment lawyer.
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TIPS FOR HANDLING WORKPLACE GRIEVANCES AND COMPLAINTS
If you are going to investigate a workplace complaint internally, then you must make sure you comply with your workplace policies and procedures. If you have a grievance ad resolution procedure or similar policy, it is essential that you follow it. Failure to follow an in-house policy or procedure that relates to the complaint will result in criticism in an unfair dismissal claim and may result in you failing to successfully defend that claim.
Do you have a workplace grievance or complaint that needs to be investigated? When should you engage an independent employment investigator to investigate serious misconduct in the workplace? Here are some important tips for employers who choose to investigate themselves.
Should you consider getting an independent investigator?
If you have a workplace complaint and are unsure what to do, please contact us, and we can refer you to an experienced employment lawyer.
If an employee has exercised a workplace right and you subsequently terminate them or otherwise take adverse steps against them such as performance management or demote them well, then you can find yourself against a general protections claim. This can occur even when you have not taken action because of the exercising of the workplace right. This latter point usually becomes the key item in assessing in whether that has been a breach of the provisions. The general protections provisions also make it unlawful for an employer to take adverse action against an employee because the employee possesses a discriminatory attribute or because they have been temporarily absent due to illness or injury. Unlike unfair dismissal claims where compensation is capped at six months’ pay, the general protection provisions have uncapped compensation provisions, and significant penalties can also be applied where you as the employer are found to be in breach. Unlike unfair dismissal, there is no qualifying period that an employee must serve before they can make these claims, and they can even be made pre-employment or whilst the employee remains employed. These claims are financially imposing and are on the rise, and you need to be wary of them.
Generally, if the conduct relates to senior managers or human resources personnel, consider an independent investigation. To ensure that the investigation is not impeded by allegations of bias, likewise, if the alleged conduct is of a sensitive nature, such as workplace bullying or sexual harassment, where the witnesses may be reluctant to say things in front of an internal investigator, an independent investigation would be appropriate.
Once you have received a comprehensive complaint from the complainant, then it should be provided to the person who is being complained about for them to consider and respond to. It is essential that the person whom the complaint is about must receive full particulars of the complaint so that they can properly consider the allegations and respond to them. This cannot be emphasised enough; if you are investigating serious misconduct, then legal advice regarding the process and whether you have grounds to terminate the employee’s employment is essential.
There have been numerous cases recently where it has been found that whilst the employee had a valid reason for the dismissal, the process followed in the investigation was not comprehensive enough and therefore unfair, resulting in them failing to defend the unfair dismissal claim.
It is also essential that the complainant should provide as much detail as possible in relation to the complaint. For example, it is always important to ensure that the complainant provides specific particulars about what the conduct was, when it occurred, including times and dates and who witnessed the conduct.
The power of good pest administration means less confusion for your clients and the professionalism of being able to answer those hairy client questions as well. As an example, we know that calling for a termite treatment quote is no different than calling the mechanic and saying, “My car won’t go; how much will you charge to fix it?” but providing no further information. An experienced pest control administrator can take the time to explain the varying factors of treatment methods, pricing, and the importance of a site assessment. There are also times you need to spend 20-30 minutes on the phone with a customer who is scared and frustrated by their pest problems and just needs to have the processes explained more thoroughly. I love the challenge of turning these into clients who love us by putting the time into listening to their problems and providing realistic solutions to their concerns. These skills are picked up by years of experience. They do not develop overnight. But having so much information to teach often puts pesties off hiring help. I mean, if you do not have the time to do your own admin, then you are not going to find the time to train staff to respond to these problems. Another issue is that there is a lot of complexity in hiring staff. Did you know to hire a full-time staff member at $30 an hour? Once you factor in annual leave, sick pay, insurances, and superannuation, you are actually paying closer to $45 per hour. That figure is before you even consider equipment costs for that staff member. It adds up quickly. That is a whole lot of obligation for a worker, not even stationed with a pad of paper and a pencil yet. Factor in the office running costs, and you are working just to keep that person sitting in the office all day. But missed phone calls cost you money, and holding on to all of the responsibilities on your own means some of the juggling balls will drop. With an estimated 85% of callers not calling back a second time, if you miss that first phone call, your potential client is now calling your competitor.
When it comes to pest control, administration duties are very complex. It takes years to build up favourable word use, pest industry knowledge and experience in treatment of annoying household pests.
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ADMINISTRATIONVIRTUALINPESTMANAGEMENTYESORNO?
After years of working full-time in pest control administration, my best friend and I decided this was a problem, and we could better use our skills by filling this void and working with pesties who need an extra bit of specialised help. We then realised there is a whole community dedicated to general Virtual Assistant Virtualduties. Assistant has become an ambiguous umbrella term for most professional services provided virtually. There are many different types for different tasks and different professions. With our pest control experience, we focus on acting as an off-site office for pest control sole traders. We subcontract as office all-rounders, helping with varying tasks from reception support to administration duties like annual service reminders. We customise everything we do to the way you like things done, and we have experience among many different CRM platforms as well. We fix most of our packages so you know exactly what you are paying each week. On average, our clients only pay $250-$300 per week. Even though we are working for the full work week, we only charge out the active hours of assistance, which is how we keep the prices so low for our clients. There is also nothing else to pay on top of the package price unless you change the package. What’s more, come tax time a subcontractor’s invoice is worth a lot more as a deduction than a paid wage is, as wages paid are only partially deductible. There really is no way around it. If you are struggling to juggle it all, you are missing calls or forgetting invoices, then hiring a Virtual Assistant for your business will be a massive step forward. And hiring experienced pest control administrators as your Virtual Assistants will be a massive jump in the right direction for your small BizassistJadebusiness.ChristianVirtual Assistant Services
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MARKETINGVIRTUAL FOR PEST CONTROL
As a Pest Control small business owner, how many balls are you juggling at the moment? If you are anything like me, it’s too many to count (just like the amount of tabs open on my screen currently)! As a fellow small business owner, mother (to the 2-legged as well as 4-legged kind) and friend (although sometimes this one feels the most neglected of roles), I am here to tell you that you don’t have to do it all!
‘What do you mean?’ I hear you gasp! Well, let me let you in on a little secret, and I promise it’s going to help you gain back the most valuable commodity of all… TIME. Engage the help of a Virtual Assistant! So, what exactly is a Virtual Marketing Assistant? A VA is exactly as it sounds. An assistant to help you with tasks within your business that you outsource, who works remotely (which means you do not need to spend money on a workspace, worry about full-time wages, or outlay expenses for computers, software or subscriptions). Most VA’s specialise in a particular area, be that accounts or, in our instance, MARKETING. As you would know and appreciate, it’s best to hire a specialist rather than a generalist, a bit like an exterminator vs a pest control specialist. One who uses chemicals or traps to eradicate, whilst the other would look deeper at the issue to see why the pests are present in the first place as well as providing solutions to stop the issue. It is the same with a VA, if the tasks you require are more marketing based, you should hire a VA who specialises in marketing to get the best results. Some tasks that you could outsource could include:
• Write captions for social media post
• Create social media graphics
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Contact Us Michelle michelle@creativedesk.net.auwww.creativedesk.net.auTolhurst
Imagine the time you could take back if some of these tasks were no longer your responsibility. That is why you enlist the help of an expert, which allows you the time to focus on the parts of your business that you enjoy, or help with the work-life balance to shift a little more in the favour of life rather than work, the reasons why you started your business in the first place!
13 FACEBOOK-SQUARE INSTAGRAM-SQUARE LINKEDIN • Create videos • Write an email newsletter • Create a promo flyer • Write Blogs • Create landing pages • Update Websites • Manage email marketing • Set up a lead magnet • Direct mail campaign
We VA’s are experts in our field, which means you don’t have to be. Just like we wouldn’t know the best product to use if we had ants all over our kitchen, you don’t need to know all the ins and outs to; rebranding, email campaign creations and automations, social media management, website creation, copywriting, inbox management, event management and content creation just to name a few!
So, now the wheels are in motion, and you are thinking, gosh, how can I do this? Start with a list of your tasks, then separate them into the tasks that you actually enjoy doing and a list of the ones that you do not enjoy doing or are time-consuming as you do not have the skills. Once you have the list of the things you don’t want to do anymore, this can become your outsource list. Whether they be ongoing tasks or a project you have wanted to do but keep putting off (like creating or updating your website) these tasks are the basis of the help you are looking for. If they are number-focused, look at the help of a bookkeeper or accountant to help you. If they are marketing and admin-focused, look at a VA to help you. Your life will feel so much lighter once you engage the help you need!
So, why would you hire a Virtual Marketing Assistant, like Creative Desk, as opposed to another staff member or a temp? We have a small curated team of marketing professionals, who each have their own niche passions which fall under the umbrella of marketing. When you hire us, you are getting the expertise of our entire team, not just one (1) person, which happens when you hire a temp or another staff member. Collectively we have over 50 years of experience in a broad range of industries that we can share with your brand or business to take it to the next level.
I started my own Virtual Assistant marketing business, Creative Desk in 2015. Since that time, I have worked with 90 clients supporting them in their small businesses in various capacities. Some I work with daily or weekly, others are on a contract ad hoc task project contract basis. If this sounds like the game changer you have been needing, but not really knowing about, or perhaps you are a bit scared of being able to let go of some tasks, let us be the ones to start you on your VA journey. Book a call with us today, we are here to help, and we are kinda great at doing it too!
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2022 PMANZ CONFERENCE
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achieved when we work together. Association to association. PMANZ were very supportive of WIPM attending the conference. WIPM’s top priority is supporting pest management professionals (PMP) to achieve the highest level of success. We were thrilled to connect with so many dedicated women at the event. We listened to their challenges and talked about solutions. It was inspiring to see so much collaboration and discussions in solving the industry’s toughest challenges. This conference was a reminder to us that we really do need one another to survive and succeed. We are so much stronger when we work together.
WIPM had the privilege to attend the 2022 PMANZ Conference in Auckland a few weeks ago to represent Women In Pest management. We were excited to announce the WIPM Representative for New Zealand, Anita Collins-Preiss. Anita was born into the pest management industry and has recently taken over the family business alongside her husband now that her dad, Mike Collins (past PMANZ president) has retired. The WIPM committee are looking forward to working with Anita, and we have already started collaborating on some great ideas.
This conference turned out to be quite an inspiring event, delivering the most female attendance to date. We want to share a few important themes from these conversations we had throughout the conference as we believe this is the reason for such an amazing attendance, and this is valuable for all of us to remember and 1.consider.Moreis
2. Despite these continued challenges, our industry has learned to adapt. The spirit of adapting to help customers is ingrained in all of us, and it will serve our industry well into the future. on page 12 and then that way you can bring the videos a bit. It just looks slightly out of sorts.
Pest management is a people business, so after three years of mostly virtual interactions, it was energising for NZ, to reconnect in person at this year’s PMANZ Conference. Thanks to the Pest Management Association of New Zealand’s hard work, we were once again able to travel and collaborate with others and discuss how we will continue to move the industry forward.
15 3. The best days are ahead of us. The pest industry is well-positioned to not only grow but innovate and thrive as we meet the ever-changing needs of consumers and businesses. This also includes the startup chapter of WIPM New Zealand. We greatly appreciated spending time with so many women at the conference, and we cannot wait to see you again throughout the coming months at PESTacular Road Show organised by Key Industries. FACEBOOK-SQUARE INSTAGRAM-SQUARE LINKEDIN
IF YOU COULD HAVE DINNER WITH ONE PERSON (LIVING OR DEAD), WHO WOULD IT BE? I’m a bit of a geek on politics so I’d choose Winston Peters - He’d have some great yarns and a few juicy stories to share I’m sure. DO YOU HAVE ANY PETS? We have a little Foxy dog called Mac. I’d like to say she’s a good hunter but there’s not too many possums or rats left in the gully our house backs on to thanks to our backyard trapping.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE SNACK FOOD? Is wine a snack food? AIMEE MCBEAN
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT PEST CONTROL? I love that every day is different and I love helping people. Nothing beats turning up to a job and seeing the look of relief on your clients face when they know you’re there to resolve their pest problem.
DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN THREE WORDS Busy, compassionate, brave/stupid (hard to tell the difference).
WHERE DO YOU WORK? Bugs Gone Pest Control. WHAT IS YOUR ROLE? Owner/Operator. HOW DID YOU GET INTO PEST CONTROL? My neighbours Guy & Bev Herd had a pest control business in Cambridge and I was looking for something to do once my kids were all at school. I thought I could have a stab at that and asked them if I could buy the business - they said yes! I did my Certificate in Urban Pest Management while working closely with Guy and also spent some time with Mike & Kim Collins team at A-Jet Pest Control in Auckland. Thanks to them all I’m where I am now.
WHAT’S YOUR GO-TO KARAOKE SONG? Love a good tune and boogie but haven’t really been much of a karaoke star. WHAT’S THE LAST DREAM YOU REMEMBER? Something about rats!
ARE YOU AN INTROVERT OR AN EXTROVERT? Somewhere in between. WHAT’S THE BEST DISH YOU CAN COOK? Pork belly roast. Mmmm! WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST PEST PEEVE? Moving around in confined ceiling or crawl spaces. I finish feeling like I’ve had a good yoga workout so I guess there’s some benefit.
WHAT WAS THE WORST PHASE IN YOUR LIFE? Losing my Dad at the start of this year. He was on the charter boat up North Cape that capsized. Five local men tragically lost their lives. It was a huge shock to our family and small community here in the Waipa. WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU WON THE LOTTERY? Woke up to -1 here this morning so I would take my family for a holiday somewhere warm! WOULD YOU PREFER TO GO CAMPING OR CHILL AT A RESORT? Resort. My kids long to go camping but I’m
NEWPROFILESPESTIEZEALAND
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IF YOU COULD LIVE A DAY AS ANY TYPE OF ANIMAL, WHAT WOULD YOU CHOOSE AND WHY? Can I choose an insect? A Wasp. I spend so much time trying to destroy them but I really have great respect for these wee creatures. Would love to see inside those incredible nest structures from their point of view and buzz about. WHAT IS A PRODUCT YOU CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT? Caffeine. IF YOU COULD CHANGE YOUR NAME, WHAT NEW NAME WOULD YOU PICK? Amy. Much simpler. WHAT COUNTRY WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO VISIT? Have been to France before but would love to go again. WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU WERE INVISIBLE FOR A DAY? Play pranks on my friends! WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO A NEW FEMALE TECHNICIAN COMING INTO THE PEST INDUSTRY? Your greatest assets are common sense and empathy. Join WIPM and get connected to some amazing people.
WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR BIGGEST FEARS? Big German Wasp nests get the adrenalin going for me. And Snakes - thank goodness I’m not an Auzzie Pestie. WHO DO YOU LOOK UP TO THE MOST? AND WHY? My Mum. She’s the strongest, kindest, most selfless and independent human I know. She’s my biggest supporter and volunteer staff member - I’ll pay you back some day Mum! WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN FIVE YEARS? Studying Entomology. I’m fascinated with insects. There is so much to learn from our planet’s little creatures. WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF AND WHY? My family. My gully restoration project. Killing pests!
TOILET PAPER, OVER OR UNDER? Over. HAVE YOU EVER SENT A TEXT MESSAGE TO THE WRONG PERSON? Eeek yes. DO YOU HAVE ANY FUNNY OR SECRET TALENTS YOU’D BE WILLING TO SHARE? I can play a couple of jams on the guitar and sing terribly after a few vinos. Love a good singalong. HAVE YOU EVER DROPPED FOOD ON THE FLOOR ACCIDENTALLY AND THEN PICKED IT UP TO EAT IT? Who hasn’t? DO YOU DOUBLE DIP? Definitely not. WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR TEENAGE SELF? Read more, party less. But you can’t put an old head on young shoulders.
WHAT’S THE MOMENT YOU WOULD LOVE TO BE A FLY ON THE WALL FOR? Sharing time in my 6yo son’s class at school - He often takes our oversized plastic bug toys to school and shamelessly plugs my business for me. He makes his friends play “pest controllers” at break time... Start ‘em young! WHAT SCRAMBLES YOUR BRAIN EVERY TIME YOU THINK ABOUT IT? Maths, numbers, tax. Yuck. WHAT ARE YOU MOST DETERMINED TO ACCOMPLISH? Further education - Not quite sure how I will fit this in to my schedule just yet but we’ll have a crack. WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE WAY TO SPEND A DAY OFF? Bush walks with the family and a nice lunch out. HAVE YOU EVER READ A BOOK THAT CHANGED YOUR LIFE? Nope. I wish I had time to read more - I have a few books on my to-read-list. IF YOU ENDED UP IN JAIL, WHAT WOULD YOU FRIENDS AND FAMILY THINK YOU DID? Probably something involving cats...I’m not a fan. Sorry to all you cat lovers out there! I definitely wouldn’t hurt one but I make it no secret that I love our native fauna more than I do felines.
IF YOU COULD CHANGE ONE THING ABOUT YOURSELF, WHAT WOULD IT BE? I’m past the years of wanting to change things about myself thank goodness but maybe a little more patience wouldn’t be bad.
WHAT’S THE WILDEST THING YOU HAVE EVER DONE? Buy a pest control business.
IF YOUR LIFE WERE A MOVIE, WHAT WOULD THE MOVIE BE CALLED? That’s tough. Something political or woman’s lib related.
17 FACEBOOK-SQUARE INSTAGRAM-SQUARE LINKEDIN just not that kinda girl.
WHAT’S ONE OF THE MOST FUN CHILDHOOD MEMORIES YOU HAVE? I was a real tomboy growing up and wanted to do everything my two big brothers were into - making mudslides, huts and adventuring on my Granddad’s farm. The best memories. WHO IS YOUR CELEBRITY CRUSH? Jacinda Ardern. I think she’s wonderful! Strong, empathetic and smart. We need more humans in power like her to have a more equal and positive society. There’s the politics geek coming out again.
WHAT EMBARRASSING MOMENT HAS STUCK WITH YOU OVER THE YEARS? My 4yo son telling the woman in front of us in the supermarket checkout queue that she has “a very large bottom”. Awkward few minutes waiting in that line thereafter.
NIKKI DE RENZY
WHERE DO YOU WORK? Economic Pest Control (New Zealand). WHAT IS YOUR ROLE? Pest Technician / Health & Safety / Accounts / Admin.
NE W Z E A LAND NEWSLETTER - AUGUST 2022
NEWPROFILESPESTIEZEALAND
WHAT’S YOUR GO-TO KARAOKE SONG? White Wedding (Good Day for a) - but I cannot sing!
WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE SNACK FOOD? Biltong. ARE YOU AN INTROVERT OR AN EXTROVERT? Introvert on the cusp.. WHAT’S THE BEST DISH YOU CAN COOK? Slow cooked beef cheeks and parsnip mash.
IF YOU COULD HAVE DINNER WITH ONE PERSON (LIVING OR DEAD), WHO WOULD IT BE? Frida Kahloa fascinating woman. DO YOU HAVE ANY PETS? Yes - two precious little dogs and a few doves that turn up for brekkie.
DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN THREE WORDS Positive, friendly, caring. WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT PEST CONTROL? No two days are the same - I love helping people and finding solutions to challenging situations.
WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST PEST PEEVE? A customer telling me what to do, and how to do it ... agggghhhhhh.
WHAT SCRAMBLES YOUR BRAIN EVERY TIME YOU THINK ABOUT IT? How utterly endless the Universe is. WHAT ARE YOU MOST DETERMINED TO ACCOMPLISH? Living life to the fullest - with very few regrets.
WOULD YOU PREFER TO GO CAMPING OR CHILL AT A RESORT? I love both - the freedom of camping and the relaxed pampering of a resort.
WHAT’S THE MOMENT YOU WOULD LOVE TO BE A FLY ON THE WALL FOR? The moment the Pavlova dessert was invented. Then the argument would be solved .... which country really was the first?
WHAT WAS THE WORST PHASE IN YOUR LIFE? Awkward early teens - when you don’t quite know who you are yet. WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU WON THE LOTTERY? Set up a trust to help others, and travel, travel, travel.
HOW DID YOU GET INTO PEST CONTROL? Mike, my partner, is owner and Director of the Company. He is my trainer and mentor and I am so lucky to be able to tap into his wealth of knowledge.
WHAT’S THE LAST DREAM YOU REMEMBER? Trying to find a rat in a basement and then Mike catching it and carrying it around like a small pet dog! And the rat seemed quite happy with that!
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HOW WOULD YOUR BEST FRIEND DESCRIBE YOU? She says - “Nikki is intelligent, hard working, dedicated, loyal, caring, genuine, thoughtful and keen to try anything life throws at her! As well as beautiful of course!” Another best friend said some of the same things and threw in “brave, resilient, capable and generous and I can always rely on her.” Aww my friends are so special.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE WAY TO SPEND A DAY OFF? Being by the ocean - no matter what the weather!
HAVE YOU EVER READ A BOOK THAT CHANGED YOUR LIFE? A Child Called It. Made me feel even more blessed for the life I was given and the life I gave my children. And no matter how terrible a situation, one can summon the strength to rise above it and out of it. IF YOU ENDED UP IN JAIL, WHAT WOULD YOU FRIENDS AND FAMILY THINK YOU DID? Drove my Corvette too fast heehee.
WHAT’S YOUR WORST BAD HABIT? Trying to “overperfect” things.
IF YOU COULD LIVE A DAY AS ANY TYPE OF ANIMAL, WHAT WOULD YOU CHOOSE AND WHY? An eaglewow imagine soaring over the earth ... IF YOU COULD REDO ONE MOMENT OF YOUR LIFE, WHAT WOULD IT BE? Holding my newborn babies and just gazing at the wonder of them. I still do this, but they are much much bigger. WHAT IS A PRODUCT YOU CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT? Mascara. IF YOU COULD CHANGE YOUR NAME, WHAT NEW NAME WOULD YOU PICK? Isabella. WHAT COUNTRY WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO VISIT? Italy. WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU WERE INVISIBLE FOR A DAY? Wander around Buckingham Palace - just because it is one of those secret places. WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO A NEW FEMALE TECHNICIAN COMING INTO THE PEST INDUSTRY? Great choice of career! Use all your senses and observe everything when investigating and treating a pest - knowledge of its habits and behaviour is vital. Women are good at this. Oh, and rats jump really high!
TOILET PAPER, OVER OR UNDER? Over of course! HAVE YOU EVER SENT A TEXT MESSAGE TO THE WRONG PERSON? Yes. DO YOU HAVE ANY FUNNY OR SECRET TALENTS YOU’D BE WILLING TO SHARE? I can make quite a good baboon noise. HAVE YOU EVER DROPPED FOOD ON THE FLOOR ACCIDENTALLY AND THEN PICKED IT UP TO EAT IT? Yes in my own home - 6 second rule. DO YOU DOUBLE DIP? When I am around friends. WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR TEENAGE SELF? Be your authentic self without worrying what others think.
19 FACEBOOK-SQUARE INSTAGRAM-SQUARE LINKEDIN
WHAT’S THE WILDEST THING YOU HAVE EVER DONE? I love crazy adventures - driving across the Nullarbor is one.
IF YOU COULD CHANGE ONE THING ABOUT YOURSELF, WHAT WOULD IT BE? More extrovert - and one that can sing!
WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR BIGGEST FEARS? Tops would be anything happening to my family or a friend - but I do have a serious fear of spiders, so a large spider landing on me would be right up there! WHO DO YOU LOOK UP TO THE MOST? AND WHY? My Granny - she was strong and brave and funny and loving and wise - the type of woman who should have a book written about her and her many adventures. WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN FIVE YEARS? Mike and I living life drifting from one beach to the next until we find a perfect little batch. I am sure we will still be Pesties as well. WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF AND WHY? My kids (grown up kids) ... they are awesome human beings.
WHAT’S ONE OF THE MOST FUN CHILDHOOD MEMORIES YOU HAVE? Camping in the mountains with my parents and two sisters, then waking up in the cold mornings and walking across the frosty grass to look into deep running streams for the secret spots where trout hang out. Then spending the day watching my dad fly fish for those trout and cook them over a fire. WHO IS YOUR CELEBRITY CRUSH? David Bowie - how could anyone be that gorgeous!
IF YOUR LIFE WERE A MOVIE, WHAT WOULD THE MOVIE BE CALLED? The Gypsy. WHAT EMBARRASSING MOMENT HAS STUCK WITH YOU OVER THE YEARS? Busting for a pee in Paris (on the outskirts) and having to pee under some trees next to the River Seine with a ferry full of people waving and cheering.
NEWSLETTER - AUGUST 2022 20 SAVE THE DATES 2022 PESTacular ROAD SHOW 17th Oct 18th Oct 19th Oct 19th Oct 20th Oct 25th Oct 26th Oct 27th Oct napier tauranga hamilton auckland wellington nelson christchurch dunedinN E W Z E A L A N D Women In Pest Management (WIPM) is hitting the road with Key Industries. WIPM is an association that represents professional women in the pest management industry. This includes office staff, field technicians and representatives. WIPM creates opportunities for women to connect and engage both online and face-to face, through an active Facebook group and website, and through social events and personal development workshops. WIPM has the largest membership base in Australasia, and acts as a voice for all women in the industry. We can’t wait to meet you at your destination. Be sure to come up and say Hi. Great line-up of speakers and plenty of giveaways on the day! LIMITED SPACES SO RSVP YOUR SEAT NOW! 0800 539 463 or sales@keyindustries.co.nz Thank you to Key Industries for supporting Women In Pest Management (WIPM).
21 FACEBOOK-SQUARE INSTAGRAM-SQUARE LINKEDIN WIPM TIKTOK CHALLENGE COMPETITION TIME!!!!! (SPONSORED BY PESTIE PROFILES) SOMETIMES YOU JUST NEED TO LAUGH ABOUT •CRITERIA:WORK.must be a pestie • workplace and/or pest control related • video must be less than 60 secs long • must be FUN! PLEASE DOWNLOAD YOUR TIKTOK AND SEND IT TO WIPM MESSENGER. ALL TIKTOKS WILL BE PRESENTED AND THE WINNER TO BE ANNOUNCED AT THE NATIONAL WIPM BREAKFAST IN JULY 2023 HELD AT THE TERMITE PROFESSIONAL CONFERENCE. Credit: Nick Volpe Wildlife Photography INTERESTING FACTS Not all bees are yellow and brown, this is a blue striped Australian bee. The Australian blue bee is one of the most beautiful wild bees in the world. Its striking colours make it one of the most admired. The Australian blue bee is a solitary species, a wild pollinator that sleeps in crevices, on rocks or in small crevices in the ground.
The WIPM breakfast will include keynote speaker, and industry female speakers, that is open to all men and female delegates. Lets not forget the gala dinner to finish off a great conference. This is a conference not to be missed.
The conference will include talks from leading researchers in Australia and overseas, and will provide termite professionals with a deeper understanding of termite biology and behaviour, as well as the latest information on termite management techniques.
NEWSLETTER - AUGUST 2022 22 WIPM NATIONAL BIG BREAKFAST
Women In Pest Management is pleased to announce the National WIPM Breakfast will be held at the inaugural Termite Professional Conference, to take place in July 2023. (Exact date and venue with full details to be released soon)
23 FACEBOOK-SQUARE INSTAGRAM-SQUARE LINKEDIN Award winners will be announced at the conference for the: • Female Leadership Award • Female Technician of the Year Award • Female Office Employee of the Year Award Planning stages are still in progress, so if you want to have your say about what the conference should deliver, please click on the link below to provide feedback. CLICK TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK
24 FACEBOOK-SQUARE INSTAGRAM-SQUARE LINKEDIN INTERNATIONAL EVENTS FAOPMA – Pest Summit Kyoto Japan 6th – 8th November 2022 PestWorld 2022 Boston 11th – 14th October 2023 Honolulu 17th – 20th October 2024 Denver 22nd – 25th October 2025 Orlando 21st – 24th October 2026 Grapevine 20th – 23rd October CONTRIBUTIONSNEWSLETTER WIPM members and sponsors are encouraged to contribute to our monthly newsletter. If you have an article or relevant resources that you would like to contribute, please email over to Wilara Turner at info@pestieprofiles.au. Cut off dates are the 25th of each month. CONTACT US WIPM Office Unit 4/1 Selkirk Drive, Noosaville Qld 4566 PO BOX 1910, Noosaville DC Qld 4566 nicky@pestieprofiles.auNickyPresidentTurner0409217328(QLD) hello@envirapest.com.auRhiannonVice-PresidentBrown0491368478(WA) Newsletter Editor Wilara Turner EVENTS FACEBOOK-SQUARE INSTAGRAM-SQUARE LINKEDIN NEW ZEALAND EVENTS PESTacular - 17th - 27th October 2022 AUSTRALIAN EVENTS Aussie Termite Tours - 24th June - 2nd July 2023 Termite Professional Conference - July 2023 (Date & Venue TBC) WIPM National BIG Breakfast - July 2023 (Date & Venue TBC) AEPMA Pesticon - 16th - 18th August 2023 - Star Gold Coast
