Matthew is the RRAG Chair and industrial supervisor for a University of Reading PhD project regarding rodenticide resistance and dissemination of pathogens by rats and mice. In his role at Killgerm Chemicals, Matthew advises on all aspects of public health pest control and provides training, technical audits and technical literature. He was the Chair of the 9th International Conference on Urban Pests 2017 and holds a PhD from Aston University.

After completing a PhD in Wild Rat Feeding Behaviour it was a natural step for me to join Rentokil in 1994 to run the R&D department's Rodent Unit. I spent my first few years testing and developing new rodenticide formulations. I have worked in the field of rodenticide resistance for the last 20 years as a member of the global industry group - Rodenticide Resistance Action Committee.

Dr Alan Buckle is a Visiting Research Fellow at the University of Reading and the Chairman of the Campaign for Responsible Rodenticide Use UK. He has spent his career studying the science of pest management, mainly the management of rodent pests, first as a government scientist both overseas and in the UK, then in industry with R&D roles ICI, Zeneca and Syngenta. Alan was Chairman of the Cefic Rodenticide Working Group, the Chairman of the international Rodenticide Resistance Action Committee, the Rodenticide Resistance Action Group. He is the author of hundreds of research papers, book chapters, articles and reports, and co-author with Professor Robert Smith of “Rodent Pests and their Control”.

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.

Saira Cawthraw works at the Animal & Plant Health Agency, in the Central Unit for Sequencing and PCR which is part of the Surveillance and Laboratory Services Division. As part of her role, She analyses the genetic data obtained from DNA sequencing of the Vkorc1 gene in rodents to identify genotypes that are resistant to anticoagulant rodenticides. This information contributes to the choice of effective rodenticides to curb rodent populations.

I have been in the industry over 25 years, starting out as a technician working for local government, leading onto Pest control Manager. and in May 2019 become the Chief Operating Officer of the NPTA. I have a broad interest in the future of the Pest Control industry in these ever-changing times and want to assist in this change for the benefit of the industry.

Sharon is a member of both the RRAG and RRAC (Rodenticide Resistance Action Committee) committees. Sharon has been working actively with rodents and rodenticides for over 30 years. In her role at BASF, she is the Global Technical Marketing Manager for rodenticides, responsible for advising and training on all aspects of rodent biology, behaviour, resistance and control.

Dr Colin Prescott is an Honorary Fellow at the University of Reading. Prior to his retirement from the University in 2020 he was an Associate Professor and the Director of the Vertebrate Pests Unit (VPU). He has been involved with the VPU since its establishment in July 1989, and his research has primarily focused on the management of rodent pests and the potential impact of their control on non-target species. He has a particular interest in anticoagulant resistance, and has developed a standardised methodology for both identifying and quantifying the magnitude of resistance in rats and mice using the blood clotting response methodology. Until 2020 his team were responsible for virtually all identification and mapping of VKORC1 resistance mutations in Norway rats and house mice across the UK using the new molecular methodology.

Dr Prescott is also an experienced ornithologist, and obtained his BTO “A” Ringing Licence in 1972. Since 2018 he has been involved in a project on Red Kite, fitting patagial wing tags to adult birds and monitoring their movements across the UK.

Alex Wade is a member of the RRAG and a previous member of the RRAC. Alex has worked with rodent behaviour and rodenticide efficacy formally as the Technical Efficacy Manager for PelGar International as well as running the Church Farm Training Centre for 5 years. He now runs his own independent consultancy supporting the industry through training and education.