There’s no getting around it — day two of the 2024 ISSA Cleaning & Hygiene Expo truly stepped things up a notch. A flood of attendees was waiting for the doors to open, eager to try out the latest products. A fair few had already enjoyed the inaugural Women in Cleaning and Facility Solutions breakfast, presented by the ISSA Hygieia Network.
Featuring speakers The Hon. Jodie Harrison MP, Dr Jennifer Semple, Kim Puxty and Brodie West, the breakfast panel set the stage for a day focused on leadership, diversity, sustainability and future trends in the cleaning and facilities industries.
Panellists discussed the evolving role of women in the cleaning and facilities sectors, which have traditionally been male-dominated. Harrison, the NSW Minister for Women, Seniors and the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, spoke about the importance of women finding allies in a world where men still dominate positions of power.
“Politics is all about allies and you can’t get things done unless you’ve got them,” Harrison said.
She explained she has had “really quiet allies” who have provided valuable advice throughout her career.
“When you’re thinking about putting yourself forward for something, you don’t necessarily know who the real decision-makers are. Getting an understanding of how structures work is the sort of useful information you can find out from trusted allies.”
Semple, senior manager of sustainability and education programs at Accord Australasia, noted the male-dominated nature of the cleaning and hygiene industry, saying that “most of the companies have women within them, but at a top level, there’s only really a few which have a female leader”. Women in senior roles often found the industry challenging, she said.
“This industry is very relationship-driven on the whole, and it is much harder work. There’s frustration that comes with trying to be a woman at this level and to make those connections within this traditionally male-dominated environment.”
West, president of the Restoration Industry Association (RIA), added that there were already positive signs of change in the restoration industry. The RIA’s management committee now has 50 percent female representation at the management level.
“More than 30 percent of businesses now have gender parity and more than 90 percent of businesses are now employing more than 25 percent females,” West said.
There was also much discussion are the need for women to be willing to adjust their mindset to move forward in the industry. Puxty, CEO of Building Services Contrators Association of Australia, highlighted the value of learning from mistakes and embracing them as opportunities for growth. West shared that becoming a mother was a significant turning point, as it made her realise she wanted to be a good role model at home and at work. Semple talked about her transformation from being “the shyest person you’ve ever met” to one who was more comfortable with “embracing that opportunity and [realizing] the world didn’t stop spinning [if you made a mistake].”
A more inclusive workplace
This breakfast discussion seamlessly transitioned into education panel sessions later in the morning, when Donna Willmette and Rochelle Lake spoke about the strides made in gender parity and the remaining challenges women face in these male-dominated sectors. Lake, who is head of marketing B2B at Essity Australia, said young people coming into the workforce were looking for inclusive organisations that were welcoming to women and LGBTQIA+ people.
“The more inclusive you are, the more supportive you are of your workers in general,” Lake said.
“One thing about being supportive of your employees is that it builds loyalty.”
The panel also discussed historical challenges women have faced in the workplace because of pregnancy, motherhood or menopause — factors that are often poorly understood in a male-dominated industry.
“We see 10 percent of women stop work when they have severe menopause symptoms,” Lake said.
Willmette, national key account manager at Rapid Group Co-Operative, added that more women are speaking out about these issues, and companies are starting to recognise and support them. Workplace education about women’s health would help — and she has seen men interested in learning more — while a shift towards more flexible work environments has already made a big difference for many women.
“It used to be almost unheard of to have flexible working hours, especially for parenting,” Willmette said.
“And if it was available, it was always looked down on or frowned upon.”
Going green
Sustainability and environmental initiatives took centre stage later in the day, with panellists Dr Jennifer Semple (Clean Power Expo), Chris Poullaos (CEO of Enviro LCS) and Ginny Bebbington (account manager at Cleanstar/XPOWER) discussing how businesses are responding to global and local demands for sustainability.
Semple said Australia needed to align with international trends around climate change and plastic pollution, while Poullaos added that government policies and corporate tenders are increasingly requiring businesses to adopt strong environmental management practices. While implementing sustainability initiatives can be time-consuming and costly, companies that invest in these strategies can position themselves as leaders in the market.
The panel also explored the strategic benefits of sustainability, with Bebbington highlighting the importance of being ahead of the curve. She argued businesses that have already implemented eco-friendly practices will have a competitive edge as environmental regulations become stricter.
Semple said focusing on energy efficiency can lead to significant cost savings, making sustainability not just a compliance issue but a smart business strategy. External certification of a company’s efforts to become more sustainable was important to that strategy.
“It’s not good enough to just say you’re doing something,” Semple said. “Increasingly, you need external validation to back it up.” Certifications provide credibility and reassurance to customers, ensuring that companies are meeting recognised environmental standards.”
Looking to the future, Bebbington discussed the increasing focus on repair laws and the circular economy. She pointed out that the Australian Government has tasked the Productivity Commission with an inquiry into boosting the circular economy, signalling that more eco-legislation is likely on the horizon. As businesses face mounting pressure to meet environmental standards, staying informed and adaptable will be critical.
Looking forward to the future
Other panels also recognised the rapid changes facing the industry. For ‘The Future Is Here’ Tom Culver (CEO at The Robot Factory), Dan Graoroski (solution architect at iQCheckPoint) and Badi Noble (general manager of Olinga Services) discussed how technology is changing the way cleaning is managed and the new opportunities it offers.
The tone was largely optimistic, with Noble saying he didn’t see robots wholly replacing humans at any point soon.
“It is scary, but at the same time, it’s exhilarating, as it’s providing opportunities for better margins and better outcomes,” Noble said.
It wasn’t all about the future, with sessions also focusing on how to train companies and operators on the proper use of existing products, how to adapt to recent changes in legislation, and how to upskill staff for safety.
The People’s Choice awards
The big news was saved for the end of the day, as ISSA announced the winner of the People’s Choice award — with one of the winners from the previous day’s ISSA Excellence Awards selected by the attendees for the ultimate honour.
This year that hotly contested honour went to T-Cell Passive Air Care System from Rubbermaid Commercial Products.
From the challenges and triumphs of women in leadership to the growing focus on sustainability and environmental stewardship, the final day of the 2024 Expo highlighted how the cleaning industry is looking to the future.
With a focus on leadership, inclusivity and environmental responsibility, the industry is becoming a place where diverse voices are heard and businesses are ready to meet the demands of a rapidly changing world. Here’s to next year!
