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John Murray

Global Expert | National Training Manager at Flick Anticimex Australia & New-Zealand

john murray national training manager flick anticimex

Technical training and accreditation

Training Manager at Flick for accredited, government-recognised qualifications, after moving into technical training in 2009. He started as a trainee technician and worked up through field coach, supervisor and franchise owner.

Technical standards across Australia and New Zealand

Member of Flick’s national technical team, which oversees chemicals, equipment and operating procedures for nearly 800 technicians.

Biocide reduction and the Biocide Impact Matrix

Represents the region on Anticimex’s global Biocide (Pesticide) Reference Group, which tracks quarterly biocide usage across member countries. He contributed to the development of Anticimex’s Biocide (Pesticide) Impact Matrix.

Lower-impact rodent control

Helped drive Flick’s shift in rodent control, from roughly 80% high-impact (yellow and red category) rodenticides to roughly 80% green-category solutions, alongside growing physical proofing.

Biosecurity and invasive pests

Flick takes part in national biosecurity containment and response campaigns, including past eradication work on the Khapra beetle.

John Murray has spent more than 30 years in pest control, after starting out by chance following an environmental science degree. He progressed from trainee technician to field coach, supervisor and franchise owner, and moved into technical training in 2009. At Flick Anticimex, he is Training Manager for accredited, government-recognised qualifications and sits on the national technical team that oversees chemicals, equipment and operating procedures for nearly 800 technicians across Australia and New Zealand. His career reflects Australia’s shift toward preventive pest management and environmental stewardship.

Meet the Expert: John Murray on 30 Years of Pest Control and the Australian Pest Landscape

When John Murray studied environmental science at university, his ambition was simple: he wanted to become a park ranger and spend his days in the outdoors. But when post-graduation job hunting proved tough, he stepped into the pest control industry by chance—telling his first boss he would stay for six months at most.

More than 30 years later, John is still here.

Over three decades, John progressed from a trainee technician to a field coach, supervisor, and franchise owner, before moving into technical training in 2009. Today, following the 2016 acquisition of Amalgamated Pest Control by Flick, John holds a pivotal dual role at Flick (an Anticimex company): Training Manager for accredited, government-recognized qualifications, and a key member of the national technical team overseeing chemicals, equipment, and operating procedures for nearly 800 technicians across Australia and New Zealand.

We sat down with John to discuss his journey, Flick’s collaboration within the global Anticimex network, and the unique pest control challenges facing Australia today.

Shifting the dial: from chemicals to prevention

Historically, Australia’s strong agricultural chemical lobby has meant a broader selection of chemical products remained available compared to Europe. However, by embedding the core Anticimex philosophy into technician training, Flick has driven a fundamental shift toward biocide-reduced pest management.

Nowhere is this shift more evident than in rodent control:

  • Then: Approximately 80% of rodenticides used fell into the high-impact yellow and red categories.
  • Now: Approximately 80% of treatments utilize green-category, lower-impact solutions.

This evolution has been driven by a combination of updated Australian regulatory standards and proactive internal policy choices. Alongside reduced biocide dependence, physical proofing against pests is steadily growing. While branches are at varying stages of maturity, specialized proofing teams are expanding, particularly in bird management (solar panel protection and netting), rodent management and humanely proofing structures against possums.

Changing mindsets: field technicians and customers

Transitioning an entire industry away from traditional chemical applications requires shifting mindsets both inside and outside the business.

The secret to bringing both staff and clients along lies in clear communication. When customers understand why a targeted, non-chemical approach is more effective long-term, trust builds naturally. Growing public environmental awareness across Australia is helping accelerate this transition.

Promoting diversity

Currently, women make up only about 5% of field technicians in the Australian pest control industry, but Flick is actively working to change that demographic.

"On a percentage basis, our female technicians often achieve higher long-term success," John notes. "They frequently excel in communication, customer connection, and detailed problem-solving."

Addressing industry retention

With very low unemployment across Australia, retention remains a primary challenge. Where technicians once built 30-year careers like John’s, the modern industry average has shifted closer to 3 to 5 years as trained staff are frequently headhunted.

At Flick, strengthening the relationship between dedicated field coaches and new trainees is proving to be the single most effective tool for building team loyalty and reducing turnover.

Diverse wildlife interactions

While Australian urban centers face standard pest profiles, suburban and rural regions routinely require specialized approaches for feral animals (birds, rabbits, feral pigs and cats) and native wildlife, including venomous snakes and spiders.

World-class biosecurity efforts

Due to its geographic isolation, Australia enforces some of the strictest biosecurity protocols in the world. A prime example is the ongoing battle against invasive Red Imported Fire Ants, originally introduced from South America via the United States 25 years ago.

  • Containment: Eradication programs in Southeast Queensland have seen investments between $500 million and $1 billion, with another decade of targeted work anticipated.
  • Flick’s role: Flick actively participates in national biosecurity containment and response campaigns, including past eradication programs for high-risk pests like the Khapra beetle.

This work is made even more critical by a growing national skill shortage: Australia currently has only around six practicing commercial urban entomologists nationwide, as traditional university entomology programs have gradually wound down.

Looking ahead

Reflecting on a career that started as a temporary six-month pitstop, John Murray remains focused on preparing the next generation of technicians for a rapidly changing landscape. By combining rigorous accredited training, global technical alignment, and a commitment to environmental stewardship, John and the Flick team continue to lead the way across Australia and New Zealand.

female technician going to a customer

Accreditations and Awards

  • Wayne Naylor Award for Excellence in Pest Management 2024. The prestigious award was presented during Pesticon 2024, the annual conference hosted by the Australian Environmental Pest Managers Association (AEPMA).
  • AEPMA Industry Association Vice President and National Board Director - Special Expertise
  • Qualified Field Biologist - Member of Institute of Field Biologists
  • BuildSkills Australia - Technical Committee Member Pest Management Training Package: accredited to provide expert advice, identify any impacts on learners, and possible implementation issues. A Technical Committee member will also identify any additional stakeholders that should be included in the consultation strategy to assist with a Technical project.
  • BuildSkills Australia - Property Services Advisory Body Member: The Property Services sector encompasses service providers who interact with the Construction, Property and Water Sector in different ways at different points in an asset’s lifecycle. These include the use of land, planning and design, construction and refurbishment, and occupation management and use. The Property Services Advisory Body will provide expert industry input, advice, feedback, and direction on a range of issues on workforce and skills needs facing the Property Services sector.
  • Federation of Asian and Oceania Pest Managers Associations (FAOPMA): Chair and speaker, FAOPMA Pest Summit Auckland 2026
  • Facilitated a federal traineeship subsidy program valued at approximately $5,6 million (2020-2024).
  • Supported successful ASQA RTO audits in 2009, 2014 and 2021.
  • Anticimex Group: member of the Pest Management Global Technical Advisory Group (2016-Present) and member of the Biocide Reference Group (2022-Present).

National Training Package Development

Contributed to the development, review and implementation of national pest management training products through BuildSkills Australia, Artibus Innovation, the Property Services Industry Reference Committee, technical advisory groups and the Construction and Property Services Industry Skills Council.

  • CPP30126 Certificate III Urban Pest Management.
  • CPP30119 Certificate III Urban Pest Management.
  • CPP41619 Certificate IV Urban Pest Management.
  • National skills reform, industry consultation and training package redevelopment initiatives

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