COVID-19 Update: We continue to operate and process samples. Since our team in the UK is working from home there may be some minor delays. You can contact us in the UK on +44 0 1970 821 918 or uk@techion.com.
Starting as a laboratory assistant, Alice has been part of the Techion team since late 2018. In that time, she’s worked as a laboratory technician and the stand-in laboratory manager as well as testing Micro-I 100s and double checking FECPAKG2 kits before they’re distributed. Alice is experienced preparing samples, using the Micro-I 100 and analysing results. She’s helped develop and refine our standard operating procedures and now she’s road testing our client management.
Alice came to Techion following her graduation from the University of Otago in December 2018. After three years of intensive study she graduated with a Bachelor of Applied Sciences with a major in molecular biology and minor in microbiology. Alice explains her studies included biochemistry, microbiology and genetics provided an overview of scientific practice.
After growing up and undertaking all her schooling in Taupo, Alice moved to Dunedin for her studies and now she claims to have fallen for the charms of the south. Outside of Techion Alice is a keen gamer and movie buff.
If you have questions about using FECPAK, submitting samples or analysing results please reach out to Alice. She can be contacted on email mail@techiongroup.co.nz or phone Alice on 03 477 7555 or on our freephone, 0800 332 725.
You’ll have to move fast to catch UK Sales and Relationship Manager Hefin Rowlands - as well as flying the flag for Techion he’s an ultra-marathon enthusiast who has a number of endurance events under his belt.
A career in the farming industry was inescapable for Hefin - his grandparents were dairy farmers and his mother and uncles all work in the industry too. From a young age he worked on the family farm before leaving school and working on farms around the district milking, shepherding and lambing. Then he had a stint shearing fulltime, which allowed him to travel to Norway, France and New Zealand. While downunder, Hefin’s shearing prowess was recognised when he won New Zealand’s Junior Golden Shears title in Masterton.
In 2015 Hefin ditched his shearing mullet and moustache, married and returned home to the rolling countryside of Mid-Wales, beginning work with Wynnstay in the Welshpool area. Working as an Animal Health Hefin’s day to day role was visiting farms advising on animal health issues and ensuring best practice. It was this experience which ignited his passion for parasitology.
While at Wynnstay Hefin studied to become a SQP (Suitably Qualified Person), meaning within the United Kingdom he is qualified to provide advice to farmers and prescribe them animal health products that fall within the POM-VPS category.
In 2018 Hefin was named National and Farm SQP of the Year, an honour bestowed upon him at the UK’s National SQP Awards. The win was all the more significant as the competition received a record number of entries that year.
Upon winning the award, Hefin told local media the biggest on-farm challenge was the ever-increasing issue of anthelmintic resistance. He commented: “In one instance, I wish I’d taken a photo of the farmer’s face when he asked how to get rid of resistance – and I told him that you can’t.”
At Wynnstay, Hefin had responsibility for one of company’s FECPAK G2 systems and used it regularly to assist his clients. After frequently recommending FECPAKG2 to farmers as an impartial and effective way to monitor parasites and reduce resistance, Hefin joined Techion in 2019.
Hefin uses his practical knowledge and understanding of farming practice in the UK to illustrate to farmers the advantages to their stock and the potential savings in money and time they can expect by investing in and using Techion’s FECPAKG2 technology. He’s passionate about supporting farmers trying to slow down anthelmintic resistance and helping them get the best stock performance.
When he’s not talking to farmers or enjoying time with this wife and young daughter, Hefin trains for endurance events. He’s successfully completed many ultra-marathons including the Welsh 3000 - topping all 15 of the mountains over 3000 foot in Wales within the space of 14 hours!
He’s training to complete the Paddy Buckley round in 2020 – a challenge that circumnavigates 61 miles visiting 47 peaks in the Snowdonia National Park with 28,000ft of elevation.
