Damon Ranger

Team Leader


Has been employed by the business since 2019. Damon began as a hand weeder and soon gained his Pest Technician Licence and commenced spraying in the 2020 veldt season. Damon is studying his Diploma in Conservation and Land Management at present. He is an energetic, enthusiastic and respected member of the team. Damon also volunteers with the Friends of Bennett Brook.


Pest Management Technician Licence (Department of Health) – 2021 (Current)

​​​​Camilo Sepulveda

Field Officer

​Has been employed by the business since 2016 and has extensive knowledge in the maintenance of all site types and the weeds found within those sites. He has worked in the Cities of Bassendean, Bayswater, Canning, Swan and Wanneroo covering numerous veldt seasons, post burn weed control, revegetation site maintenance and woody weed sites.

Pest Management Technician Licence (Department of Health) - 2021 (Current)

Our Team

Kaylee Samakovidis 

Site Supervisor

Kaylee has been employed by the business since 2016 and has extensive knowledge of weeds within a variety of sites, having worked at many locations in the Cities of Armadale, Canning, Bayswater, Swan, and Wanneroo and has an excellent eye for detail. She has headed up a Caltrop program, is instrumental in previous contracts veldt programs and has worked extensively in post prescribed burn sites. 


BSc in Conservation Biology and Environmental Management, Edith Cowan University
4 Wheel Drive Sand course (2019)

Pest Management Technician Licence (Department of Health) - 2021 (Current)

Beth Petagna 

Field Officer

Has been employed by the business since 2019 and commenced spraying during the veldt program. Beth has worked in the Landcare Weed Control contracts for the Cities of Armadale, Bassendean, Bayswater, Canning, Swan and Wanneroo. 


Certificate IV in Conservation and Land Management

Pest Management Technician Licence (Department of Health) – 2021 (Current)

Karen Schmidt

Field Officer

​Employed by the business since 2021. ​Karen came from a Local Government Supervisory role in Bushland Maintenance, and now enjoys spending more time in the field.


Diploma in Natural Resource Management (Swinburne TAFE, VIC) - 2001

Certificate IV in Assessment and Workplace Training (NT) - 2004
Certificate III in Conservation Land Management (NSW) - 2009


Matthew Coyle

Field Officer

Has been employed by the business since 2019 and began during the veldt season whilst studying at university. Matt has now completed his Bachelor of Science and is now studying his Masters in Ecology at UWA. The work that Matthew is doing with the company has assisted with his understanding at a grass roots level and provides him with a good background for his studies. 


BSc, Joondalup ECU

Nicola Lieb

Field Officer

​Has been employed by the business since 2018, beginning as a hand weeder. After her second year she gained her Pest Technician Licence and commenced spraying at the start of the 2020 veldt program. In the time since joining, Nicki has developed her knowledge of the weeds and the maintenance techniques. She also volunteers with the Friends of Bennett Brook


Pest Management Technician Licence (Department of Health) – 2021 (Current)

John Vargas

Field Officer

​Has been employed by the business since 2016 and has studied Horticulture at Murdoch TAFE. Having worked in maintenance of revegetation, post fire, wetland and woody weed sites John has excellent knowledge of the associated tasks and is currently training as a team leader. John also works on the administrative tasks such as quoting works, collating the daily reports and assisting with reporting to clients.

Basic Traffic Management - 2021
Pest Management Technician Licence (Department of Health) - 2021 (Current)

Ruben Darke

Field Officer

​Employed by the business since 2020, since the start of the veldt season. During his time with Landcare Weed Control he has become familiar with many weeds and is now taking on some of the team leader and spray unit responsibilities.  Previously Reuben worked as a gardener and has embraced the work in the natural environment passionately.


Pest Management Technician Licence (Department of Health) – 2021 (Current)

Jessica Hunter

Administration Officer​​

Wayne Walton

Field Officer

Employed by the business since 2020. Previously Wayne worked alongside John Lodge for Bennett Brook Environmental Services and also at the City of Stirling in the same capacity.  Along with his extensive knowledge in the maintenance of natural bushland and revegetation sites Wayne is passionate about the native flora and has excellent native plant recognition. 


​Chainsaw Ticket

Pest Management Technician Licence (Department of Health) – 2021 (Current)

Amber McClintock

Administration Officer/Field Officer

​Basic Traffic Management - 2021

Dominic Manguso

Small Engine Maintenance Mechanic

Dominic has been employed by the business since 2018. With his mechanical and small motor knowledge he oversees the maintenance and repair of the company’s plant and equipment. He is responsible for the repair and maintenance of a wide variety of small internal combustion engines used in the Landcare industry. His role specialises in small engines such as chainsaws, brush cutters, blowers, pole saws, augers, chippers, electric backpacks and specialised spray delivery and monitoring equipment and calibration of highly sensitive equipment used in the delivery of herbicides


Dominic has a background in forestry and was also a linesman in the USA where he had to clear trees and branches from around power lines. His knowledge and skill in this area has proven useful in the work where tree felling has been required and also in the treatment of woody weeds.

Certificate of Occupational Proficiency in the electrical line worker program, Mesa State College, Grand Junction, Colorado USA - 2003

Chainsaw Ticket

Felling Trees Ticket

Pest Management Technician Licence (Department of Health) – 2021 (Current)

Mathew Woods

Team Leader


Has been employed by the business since 2016 and has worked across the Cities of Swan, Bassendean, Bayswater, Canning and Wanneroo, undertaking various weed control techniques including veldt grass control. Mathew was President of the Murdoch branch of the Wildflower Society of WA and has an excellent knowledge of the native flora of the region and can be seen giving guided walks during the spring. He also volunteers with the Friends of Bennett Brook.


Diploma in Conservation and Land Management, Challenger Institute of Technology - 2014

Snake Capture and Relocation Licence - 2014
4 Wheel Drive Sand course - 2019
Chainsaw certificate - 2014
Pest Management Technician Licence (Department of Health) – 2021 (Current)

Solomon Toussaint

Field Officer

Employed by the business since 2019. Sol predominantly worked in post burn and revegetation maintenance plus spraying of exotic grasses in the 2020 season and has continued to work effectively within a range of bushland communities. Currently he is studying for his BSc.


Pest Management Technician Licence (Department of Health) – 2021 (Current)

John Lodge

Owner/Manager

John commenced the business Landcare Weed Control in 2008 with a single spray unit and has grown the business to see a fleet capable of providing 8 spray vehicles at any given time and a dedicated support vehicle. In this time the company under his leadership has grown from himself and at most 4 casual workers to a team of up to 32 fulltime, parttime and casual workers at the height of the busy season (June to December).

John started work in this field with the Bennett Brook Environmental Services in the year 2002 and during the time with this company completed Certificate IV in Land Management. Through this work John acquired the skills that would see him start Landcare Weed Control. His knowledge of methodology, of weed and native flora species and of equipment allows him to accurately quote, train and give advice for all aspects of the work.


Certificate IV of Land Management, Midland TAFE – 2001.
Certificate III of Horticulture, South Metropolitan TAFE, Murdoch Campus – 1999
Pest Management Technician Licence (Department of Health) - 2002

Emilie Hethey

Organisational Manager

Emilie has been employed by the business since 2012. She grew up on a bush block in Darlington where she gained an appreciation of native flora and fauna which has stayed with her for life. When she joined Landcare Weed Control Emilie quickly engaged and built upon the skills she had acquired from both Weeding Women and in the nursery at Murdoch campus South Metropolitan TAFE (where she was also studying Conservation and Land Management).

With her ability to learn quickly, previous team leading, teaching and managerial skills she was soon leading teams then scheduling day to day works for the company. In May 2017 Emilie assumed the position of Organisational Manager, taking on the responsibilities of reporting, site assessment, quoting, site management and communicating with the Principal’s representatives along with the daily scheduling for the company. 


Certificate II and III in Conservation and Land Management, Challenger Institute of Technology – 2012
Pest Management Technician Licence (Department of Health) – 2021 (Current)

Alex Dowden

Senior Site Supervisor

Alex has been employed by the business since 2015 and has extensive knowledge of post burn site maintenance, revegetation site maintenance, woody weeds, exotic grass control, hand weeding, chemical and mechanical weed control techniques.

With his knowledge of the specifics of seasonal variation within sites Alex provides invaluable feedback to the project manager in order to be able to better manage the timing of treatment at the various sites for the different requirements.


Bachelor of Science (Climate Change Management and Environmental Management),  Murdoch University - 2015

Environmental Rangers Course - CYO’Connor - 2015

Pest Management Technician Licence (Department of Health) - 2021 (Current)

                     

Te-Anau Merito

Team Leader

Te-Anau​has been employed by the business since 2016. Previously she had worked in the same capacity for various local councils then took time off to raise a family. Back on the job she quickly became one of our expert team leaders.

TeAnau has worked across a broad range of site types including maintenance of revegetation sites, natural vegetation, post burn and arson sites, wetlands, coastal dunes and has worked extensively in woody weed removal. She also holds working at heights accreditation. TeAnau has a great eye for detail and is passionate about the reserves in which she works. 

Certificate IV of Conservation and Land Management, Midland TAFE - 1998

Diploma of Environmental Science (Management), Leederville TAFE – 2000

Bachelor of Environmental Technology, Murdoch University- 2001 

Chainsaw Ticket
Pest Management Technician Licence (Department of Health) – 2021 (Current)