CIEH Pest Control Conference

Matthew Davies, Head of Technical Department, Killgerm Chemicals Ltd, and Chair of Rodenticide Resistance Action Group (RRAG). Dr. Matthew Davies FRES, Head of Technical Department at Killgerm Chemicals, is a leading contributor to rodenticide stewardship. Since 2015, he has served as Leader of the Training and Certification Work Group for the Campaign for Responsible Rodenticide Use (CRRU UK), driving industry standards, best practices, and training.

Additionally, he is Chair of the Rodenticide Resistance Action Group (RRAG) and an industrial supervisor for a University of Reading PhD project investigating pathogen dissemination by rats and mice. Holding a PhD from Aston University, Dr. Davies provides technical audits, research oversight, and specialized pest management training at Killgerm.

Natalie Bungay, Head of Membership and Technical, British Pest Control Association.

Natalie started out in pest management in 2002, working in the busy South East and London areas. Her range of experiences included rural and urban pest management, cockroaches and moles, use of air weapons and much more. In 2009, Natalie moved into a supervisory position within Leeds City Council, having responsibility for technician management, tender management, contract management and also supporting some of the statutory services within the local authority. Natalie brings with her a mixed bag of great experience having been part of the public and private sectors within pest management.

Joined BPCA March 2013.

BPCA Role

• Head of the BPCA Membership and Technical team, providing businesses with the best possible support, Codes of Best Practice and guidance
• Providing existing, new and prospective members with the support they need to gain the most from their membership
• Drive membership engagement and growth
• Represent BPCA at internal and external committee meetings
• Write articles for internal and external publications, Codes of Best Practice and guidance documents
• Develop the Association’s profile with key stakeholders.

Peter Lepping, Liaison Consultant, Wrexham Maelor Hospital. Peter Lepping went to University in Münster, Germany. He worked as a community consultant psychiatrist in Wrexham from 2004-2017. Since then, he has been working as a Liaison Consultant in the Wrexham Maelor Hospital. He has a Masters in medical ethics and worked as Associate Medical Director for ethics, capacity and consent. He is an international expert on delusional infestation. His additional research interests include violence and aggression, capacity, medical ethics, translational research, systematic reviews and various other projects. He has been appointed Honorary Professor by Bangor University, Wales, and by Mysore Medical College and Research Institute, Mysuru, India. He has published over 160 papers and book chapters.

Richard Fernandez, Head of Policy and External Affairs, Chartered Institute of Environmental Health. Richard  joined CIEH in 2025 and leads on policy and external affairs activity. Richard’s background is in policy, communications and campaigning, in which he has 30 years’ experience. Primarily this has been in health-related organisations such as St John Ambulance, the Institute of Alcohol Studies and Royal College of Occupational Therapists. He joined CIEH from the Public Relations and Communications Association, the trade body for public relations and public affairs. He holds an MBA from Warwick Business School.

Sharon Hughes, Independent Technical Specialist and member, RRAG. Sharon has worked Globally with rodents and rodenticides for over 35 years. She has spent her career working being involved in rodent control. Her roles, at Sorex and then BASF, involved technical research and development of new rodenticides and working closely with the regulator colleagues to help bring these new products to the market. She was also involved with advising and training on all aspects of rodent biology, behaviour, resistance and control. Sharon was a member of the international Rodenticide Resistance Action Committee (RRAC) and, since retirement is now an independent technical specialist and member of the UK Rodenticide Resistance Action Group (RRAG). 

Tom Copeland, Principal Environmental Health Practitioner, Hull City Council. Tom Copeland is Principal Environmental Health Officer within the Environmental Regulation Section of Hull City Council, where he leads the delivery and development of pest control and drainage services. With extensive experience in local authority Environmental Health, mainly around reactive work within Private Housing and Environmental Protection, Tom has worked across a wide range of pest management issues, from operational service delivery to complex investigations and policy development. He is passionate about raising standards within the profession, development of staff and sharing practical, evidence-based approaches to pest management. Tom is speaking at the conference to discuss his experiences and insights from managing a  local authority pest control service.