The Judges
Simon Lewis
Publisher of Pest Magazine and Chairman of the judging panel
Simon Lewis
Publisher of Pest Magazine and Chairman of the judging panel
Simon is the publisher of Pest magazine and group managing director of its parent company, Lewis Business Media Arts. Simon has been a judge of several award schemes in many different industries in the past, including those in the farming and retail sectors.
Simon said he will defer to the other judge’s knowledge and experience on matters relating to the technicalities of pest control, however, he brings a wealth of business management experience to the panel.
Simon King
Editor of Pest Magazine
Simon King
Editor of Pest Magazine
Simon is the editor of Pest magazine and he also edits another Lewis Business Media title, OvertheCounter, a magazine aimed at the animal health industry.
With more than 30 years’ experience in business-to-business journalism, Simon has sat on judging panels in several different industries and says it is a privilege to be involved in recognising achievements of individuals and businesses.
He said he enjoyed reading all the entries this year and he encourages winners to promote their win to customers – winning an award can really drive a business, or individual, forward.
Simon looks forward to meeting the finalists and celebrating the very best of the UK pest control industry at the gala dinner in London.
Dee Ward-Thompson
Head of Technical and Membership at BPCA
Dee Ward-Thompson
Head of Technical and Membership at BPCA
Dee is head of technical and membership at BPCA. She joined the BPCA team in April 2015 from a member company, OCS Cannon, where she had been UK technical manager since 2008.
Before then, Dee worked in the food industry, with many years’ experience in managing the prerequisites of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) in food standards, including a remit to manage pest control. She has a passion for pest control and would much rather be on her knees looking for rats than in any meeting.
Dr Andy Brooks
Head of Operations at BASIS
Dr Andy Brooks
Head of Operations at BASIS
As head of education and membership services at BASIS, Andy’s role is to ensure the smooth running of these key areas of the business, overseeing the relationship with the company’s accreditation partner and to facilitate the development and implementation of new training provision and professional recognition.
Andy has had a varied career to date. Immediately prior to his current role at BASIS, he spent nearly nine years working as an academic, teaching and researching crop science, working with employers and with BASIS.
He has an undergraduate degree in Agriculture, an MSc in Crop Protection, and a PhD in Integrated Pest Management/ Agricultural Ecology.
Steve Hallam
Chief Operating Officer at the National Pest Technicians Association
Steve Hallam
Chief Operating Officer at the National Pest Technicians Association
Steve is chief operating officer at the National Pest Technicians Association (NPTA), and has been in the pest control industry for more 25 years, starting out as a young technician working at a local authority covering all aspects of pest control, to running the pest and dog control unit at a large local authority.
In 2019, he was appointed chief operating officer of the NPTA, and he said supporting members in the pest control industry is of paramount importance.
David Porter
Pest Control and Dog Warden Operations Manager at Luton Borough Council
David Porter
Pest Control and Dog Warden Operations Manager at Luton Borough Council
David Porter is the pest control and dog warden operations manager at Luton Borough Council, where his team consists of six fully qualified pest control officers and two managers.
The team deliver a fully integrated pest control service to the 214,000 residents of the town, across 19 mainly urban wards. In addition, it services a wide range of commercial contracts across varying sectors which adopt a treatment and sustainable prevention approach.
Since August 2020, Mr Porter and his team have worked in partnership with Milton Keynes Council helping to tackle rodent issues in public places.
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