Still boots on the ground: Michelle Downs on leadership, connection and creating opportunities
Fourteen years after entering pest management, 2026 AWPMA Excellence Award winner Michelle Downs remains firmly connected to the practical work of the industry. Her career has been shaped by curiosity, technical judgement, generosity and a determination to make the path a little easier for those who come after her.
Michelle Downs has never followed the expected career path.
Before pest management, there was panel beating and spray painting. She built hovercrafts, became a mother and later moved into conservation and land management.
After completing a Certificate II in Conservation and Land Management, Michelle worked in vegetation restoration, weed treatment and pest control. Her field experience included work on North Stradbroke Island and with the Gold Coast City Council, eventually helping her progress to a Certificate III.
It was work that taught her to look closely, assess risks, handle chemicals responsibly and think about the effect each decision could have on the surrounding environment. Those lessons became the foundation of the pest manager she is today.
Michelle started Lethal Pest Control as a natural extension of her conservation and land management work. Both required an understanding of environments, the ability to identify risks and the judgement to manage problems in a targeted and responsible way. She initially built the business alongside her other work before pest management became her full-time focus.
Fourteen years later, Michelle is still very much boots on the ground. She carries out inspections, general pest and termite work, quoting, treatment planning, customer education and follow-up. Remaining active in the field keeps her connected to the real needs of customers and the practical pressures facing pest management technicians.
Earning trust through the work
Michelle is proud of the business she has built, but the achievement that means the most to her is the trust she has earned from other people in the industry. Operators call her when they are stuck, under pressure or unsure what to do next.
She has helped people work through difficult termite jobs, business challenges and the early stages of setting up their own pest management businesses. She has attended jobs without charging, shared technical knowledge, provided contract opportunities and helped operators gain the experience and licensing needed to move forward properly. In one case, she paid for another operator’s QBCC licence so they could progress.
“Leadership is not always a title or a public role,” Michelle says. “Sometimes it is answering the phone when somebody is stuck, sharing your knowledge or checking on someone who may be struggling quietly.”
The isolation of working alone
Michelle is also honest about the challenges that come with running a solo business. A technician may spend the day travelling between jobs, speaking with customers and making important technical decisions, but still feel isolated.
Michelle believes that isolation can affect morale, confidence and mental wellbeing across the pest management industry, particularly among solo technicians and small business owners. “We cannot always wait for connection to come to us,” she says. “We need to create it for ourselves and for each other.”
Creating another pathway into pest management
One of Michelle’s most significant current projects is the School Hours Re-Entry Pathway for Mothers in Pest Management.
The pathway provides a flexible and supported introduction to pest management during school hours. Participants may begin in administration, customer service or field support roles, gaining practical exposure before deciding whether they would like to progress into formal licensing or technical work.
“There is a real place for you in this industry,” she says. “You do not have to fit an old stereotype of what a pest technician is supposed to look like.”
This article is based on Michelle Downs’ completed 2026 AWPMA Excellence Award winner interview and official presentation material.