WIPM COMMITTEE

Do you know the women behind the association? Here are the faces of the 2023 Australian WIPM Committee

“ A real team is a group of very different individuals who enjoy working together and who respect, care and trust each other.” Being part of a team and feeling supported by your teammates is one of the best feelings at work. There’s power in a group of people who work together toward a shared goal. This is what genuine support is all about. Supported teams are successful teams. Leaders are only as successful as their teams, and with the right team dynamics, decisions, and diverse personalities in place, everyone wins”.

The success of WIPM has been the direct result of the significant voluntary contributions from these ladies. Without them we wouldn’t have progressed to where we are and we will not progress where we expect to be in years ahead.

NAME

Nicky Turner

- President

COMPANY OR BUSINESS

Pestie Profiles

Laguna Pest Control

Peregian Pest Control.

First, I am a wife and Mum of three children. I am the Founder and past CEO/President of the Professional Women in Australian Pest Management. I am extremely proud of what I have achieved with the PWAPM, giving me the experience to move on to bigger and better opportunities with the WIPM. I’ve worked in a milk bar, fish and chip shop, then went on to become a baker and owned my own insect breeding business, selling insects to the pet trade. Got into the pest industry because of my husband. Multi Award Winner for the Sunshine Coast Business Awards and Pest Manger of the Year. I am a real foodie and love my wine and French champagne. I love travelling, especially when it includes conferences for work. Most of all I love it when I can stay in my PJ’s all day. My biggest passion is promoting and supporting women and men in the pest management industry and being an advocate for mental health awareness. I do not tolerate bullying in the workforce or social media. I am honest, loyal, a true friend and will walk away from those that do me wrong. My husband is my best friend, and my family means everything to me.

WHY DO YOU SUPPORT WIPM?

Empowering women is essential to the health and social development of families, communities, and different industries. I feel by supporting women in the pest industry it helps them to reach their full potential by contributing their skills to others. My purpose has always been to promote and recognise women by introducing industry recognition awards, being able to offer education and training workshops and support women in all different roles.

NAME Rhiannon Brown - Vice President

COMPANY OR BUSINESS Envirapest

Myself and my husband Mark are owners of Envirapest - a pest and weed control business operating in Perth WA. Mark started as a sole trader and then I joined the business in 2011. Next year will be our 20th year open! I absolutely love my team and they make us the business we are today. My husband Mark is the love of my life, my absolute team mate, business partner and best friend. We have four young kids, 7 & 8 year old boys and 2.5 year old twins so life is chaotic and busy - but I wouldn’t want to have it any other way. Awards & Nomination: 2017 - Finalist In Pest Manager of The Year (under 10) 2019 - Winner Pest Manager Of The Year (under 10) 2019 - Inaugural Board Member of Professional Women In Australian Pest Management 2022 - Finalist Innovation in Pest Management Award - Bayer 2022 - Winner Pest Manager of The Year (under 10)

WHY DO YOU SUPPORT WIPM?

I support WIPM because feeling like you have somewhere to turn to for advice and help is something really special. No one has all the answers and no one knows what others are going through but having a safe place to ask for advice, bounce ideas or just feel supported is a really important thing. I am passionate about changing the perceptions about pest & weed control and where women sit within this unique and special industry.

to learn more. In 2021, I won the Inaugural award for the PWAPM Female Trainee of the year.

WHY DO YOU SUPPORT WIPM?

A woman alone has power; collectively we have an impact. It is no secret that the pest control industry is male-dominated and can present mental and physical challenges for females. Learning first-hand how to adapt and make changes to better suit my own personal capabilities, I am eager to support and advise other women in the same situation. Meeting other women and being able to share ideas, offer advice and just chat with, has done so much for my confidence, and commitment to the industry and has given me the enthusiasm to succeed and lift others to succeed with me.

NAME Rachel Skedd – Committee Member

COMPANY OR BUSINESS

APC Tri-Star Developments

Pty Ltd

NAME

Sheri Ambler

– Committee Member

Company Or Business

Laguna Pest Control

With a background in sales, I completely changed careers in 2020 and entered the world of Pest Control. Who knew pest control could be so much fun! I am now a qualified general pest technician and am currently studying my cert III in Urban Pest Management. I have a great career balance - I work out on the road, looking after domestic pest control clients and I also work in reception, scheduling work and focusing on our resort and strata clients. I am a Mum of 2, a reptile enthusiast and always eager

I’m known as Rach to my good friends and mum to my beautiful two Gen Z’s. I have been involved in the Pest Industry for 22 years. Together with Cameron, my husband we ran our business - Acacia Pest Control in Geelong Victoria up until March this year when Cam and I sold the business. Acacia Pest Control started out as just Cameron and I in 2000 where I was just helping with the accounts. We grew the business to a team of eighteen in 2021 and my role in the business changed over the years from just accounts to all the different aspects of running a business, from accounting to HR to marketing to policy writing. We are now enjoying a quieter lifestyle between Victoria and sunny Queensland working remotely on a couple of projects and planning our next adventure. In 2020 I was a finalist for the PWAPM Excellence Award, which was a wonderful experience that gave me an opportunity to reflect on my role in our business and also introduced me to many other women in the pest industry. Meeting many of these women at the PWAPM Leadership Conference in 2021 gave me further inspiration to be better at my day job and support other businesses where I can.

WHY DO YOU SUPPORT WIPM?

It’s great to be part of WIPM! I love that I am involved with a group of women and men who are supporting each other in their businesses. At a time in this world where mental health has become a major issue, it is groups like this that support and encourage us to push forward with our goals and ambitions and be better at what we do. It is great to bounce ideas off and connect with others in similar situations. For many in the pest industry, it isn’t just a job it is a way of life and is part of the family. I also hope I can be a resource for other small businesses.

NAME

Eliza Urey

– Committee Member

-

Events Co-ordinator

COMPANY OR BUSINESS

Drop Dead Pest Control

Hello, my name is Eliza and I am 21 years old. I currently work as the Office/ Administration Manager at Drop Dead Pest Control which my parents Colin and Jodi Urey own. I grew up helping out with the business and came on board full time at the end of 2017. I came on as a business administration trainee and completed my Certificate 3 and 4 through Tafe NSW. I was also fortunate to win a scholarship to study an Advanced Diploma in Hospitality and Events Management which I completed whilst working part time between 2019-2020. This was originally the career path I thought I would take and I had previously worked in the hospitality industry. During the COVID pandemic, I went back to working full time in a Management Position at Drop Dead Pest Control and I have loved it ever since. I work with my office team of 7 to ensure the business runs smoothly. I also look after our commercial clients and help out in the truck where I can. I recently attended my first Pesticon Conference and had a blast! I was very grateful to have come home with the Administrator of the Year Award from the PWAPM. Since winning the award, I have had great opportunities come my way such as being invited as a guest on the Pestie Profiles Podcast with Nicky and Jay Turner! I now look forward to supporting women in the Pest Industry with the Women in Pest Management Association. I am very excited to be the events coordinator and work with the team to create and organise incredible industry events. I am eager to combine my events and hospitality knowledge and experience with pest control (which I didn’t even know was possible!).

WHY DO YOU SUPPORT WIPM?

I support the Women in Pest Management Association as I believe it is a great place to ask for help and share ideas to help make everyone’s lives and businesses better! I love meeting new people in our industry and creating positive working relationships. The women’s association is a safe place where women in our industry can come together and feel supported. I am very much looking forward to what is to come.

NAME

Asita Devi Deo

– South Pacific Representative

COMPANY OR BUSINESS

Fastkil Pest Control Services

NAME

Aimee McBean

– NZ Committee Member

COMPANY OR BUSINESS Bugs Gone

NAME

Nikki De Renzy

– NZ Committee Member

COMPANY OR BUSINESS

Economic Pest Control