HYSIA at FAOPMA Pest Summit 2025 — Advancing Pest Risk Management Across APAC

Pest management is no longer just about what we remove (reactive); it’s about what we protect (proactive). At FAOPMA Pest Summit 2025 in Penang, this shift was front and centre. 

Over 1,300 pest professionals, thought leaders, and industry partners from 24 countries across the Asia Pacific gathered to explore the future of pest management.

The summit also featured 48 sponsors and exhibitors, along with a diverse lineup of both local and international speakers, highlighting global collaboration and innovation in the industry.

HYSIA was honoured to contribute to this milestone event shaping the evolution of our industry.

Building Self-Motivated Teams in Pest Management

On Day 1, Mr. Taro Kanazawa, CEO of HYSIA and President of FAOPMA (2023–2025), delivered the opening keynote, “Creating a Self-Motivated Team.” He shared grounded leadership strategies for cultivating resilient, high-performance organisations in today’s fast-changing landscape.

He emphasized that while technical excellence remains vital, the long-term success of pest management operations increasingly hinges on cultivating intrinsically motivated teams. 

Drawing from Daniel Pink’s framework of Autonomy, Mastery, and Purpose, he illustrated how empowering field technicians with decision-making authority, investing in specialized training, and reinforcing the public health impact of their work can transform performance and service quality. 

By fostering a culture of ownership, continuous learning, and shared purpose, pest control leaders can build resilient, high-performing teams that are not only operationally effective but also deeply committed to their role in safeguarding communities.

Applying the Pest Risk Matrix for Smarter Pest Management

On Day 2, Ms. Jo Lynn Teh, BCE and Director at HYSIA Singapore, delivered a session titled “Pest Risk Matrix for Effective Pest Risk Management.” She introduced the Pest Risk Matrix, a quantitative framework designed to assess pest risks by evaluating both the probability of occurrence and the severity of impact.

The matrix enables organizations to prioritise interventions and make smarter, data-informed decisions. By assigning risk scores to various pest scenarios such as entry via deliveries or harbourage within structural gaps—teams can proactively allocate resources to where they’re needed most. 

More than just a tactical tool, the matrix aligns pest protection efforts with broader enterprise risk objectives, supporting operational continuity and audit readiness across high-risk sectors such as healthcare, logistics, and food manufacturing. It provides the strategic foundation for sustainable Pest Risk Management (PRM), emphasizing proactive, preventive action over reactive responses.

Key Takeaways from FAOPMA 2025

• Pest management is evolving beyond elimination to focus on risk prevention, compliance, and operational excellence.
• Across APAC, demand is growing for sustainable, science-driven pest solutions.
• Effective pest risk management is increasingly recognised as a cross-border, collaborative priority requiring shared standards and innovation.

FAOPMA 2025 was a clear reflection of this transformation, demonstrating how thoughtful leadership, evidence-based frameworks, and peer collaboration are collectively reshaping the future of our industry.

HYSIA is proud to support this evolution. We remain committed to translating FAOPMA insights into action, helping organisations across sectors strengthen their pest risk programmes, build resilience, and deliver better outcomes over time.

Thank you, Penang and Malaysia, and FAOPMA 2025 organisers for the warm welcome and world-class summit. We look forward to continuing the conversation at FAOPMA 2026 in New Zealand, where over 2,500 pest experts are expected to gather.

Explore how PRM can boost compliance, resilience, and brand trust in your operations. Schedule a consultation with HYSIA.