Founder Story
- LB Pest Management
- Jun 6
- 3 min read
Why I Started LB Pest Management
June 6 marks World Pest Day (also known as World Pest Awareness Day), a global reminder of the essential role pest management plays in protecting public health, food safety, and the environments we live in.
In celebration, we'd like to share our founder story—what led to the creation of LB Pest Management, and why this work matters more than most people realise.
The Career Crossroads
Like many people entering a trade, I initially saw pest control as a practical career path with strong demand. At the time, during the height of COVID-19, I had just completed a Bachelor of Environmental Sciences and imagined myself heading down a very different path, working outdoors as a park ranger, contributing to conservation and land management.
Pest control wasn’t the plan. It was the pivot.
What I didn’t expect was how closely the industry would align with everything I’d studied, and how technical, scientific, and genuinely fascinating it would become once I stepped into it.
Mastering the Trade
Early on, I made a deliberate choice about where to train. I was approached by companies across the spectrum, from large national providers to very small operators. Each offered something different, but I chose to train with a highly regarded mid-sized company known for its technical depth, diverse workload, and uncompromising professional standards. That decision shaped the way I approach pest management to this day.
What was meant to be a 12-month learning phase quickly turned into four years of full immersion into the industry.
During that time, I wasn’t just learning how to carry out treatments. I was developing a deeper understanding of pest biology, chemical active ingredients and their modes of action, building construction, risk management, and long-term prevention strategies. I worked across residential homes, commercial facilities, and sensitive environments including hospitals, aged-care facilities, and childcare centres, where safety, compliance, and attention to detail are critical.
My background in environmental science added another layer to that learning. Studying ecosystems, symbiotic relationships between species, and sustainable resource management gave me a strong appreciation for how delicate and interconnected our environments really are. It reinforced the idea that pest management, when done properly, isn’t about disrupting that balance unnecessarily, but about managing it responsibly to protect both people and the spaces they live in.
Where It All Clicked
Over time, I progressed from trainee to senior technician and team leader, taking on responsibilities across training, quoting, chemical and equipment management, fleet maintenance, and operational support. I expanded my licensing in general and timber pest management, completed my Certificate III in Urban Pest Management, and gained additional specialist experience in working at heights, commercial compliance, fire ant eradication, and nuisance bird control.
But the biggest shift wasn’t in my qualifications. It was in how I saw the job.
I realised that effective pest management isn’t about spraying and hoping for the best. It’s about understanding the environment, identifying root causes, and applying targeted, well-informed strategies that deliver long-lasting results. It sits at the intersection of environmental science, public health, and practical problem-solving, protecting homes, businesses, and the wellbeing of the people inside them. On a broader scale, it’s an industry that plays a critical role in safeguarding communities and food systems worldwide, something that often goes unnoticed until it’s absent.
That realisation is what led me to start my own business.
Building My Own Path
In November 2024, I founded LB Pest Management to deliver the level of service I believe clients should receive: technically sound, transparent, and genuinely focused on long-term outcomes rather than short-term fixes. I wanted to build something that prioritises education, accountability, and doing the job properly the first time.
As an owner-operator, I remain directly involved in every job, ensuring consistency, quality, and a personal standard of care that’s often lost in larger operations. It’s work that often happens in the background, but pest management plays a vital role in protecting homes, businesses, and public health. Most people don’t think about it until there’s a problem, but when it’s done properly, it prevents far bigger issues from ever taking hold.
Looking Ahead: Where the Founder Story Continues
Today, LB Pest Management is a small, family-run business. My partner manages administration, web development, and customer support, keeping everything behind the scenes running smoothly, while I focus on delivering the work on the ground.
And in September 2026, we’ll be welcoming our first future apprentice.
