The Professional Executive Housekeepers’ Network (Victoria) – known affectionately as PEHN – was the very first executive housekeepers’ network to be formed in Australia and was done so some years prior to its official formation.

The network first began with a group of Melbourne’s executive housekeepers meeting for a glass of champagne a couple of times a year to exchange ideas about issues such as laundries, room attendants’ trolleys, chemicals and staff management issues by visiting and touring each other’s properties after hours. These unofficial discussion meetings were formed around the basis of networking with others who had similar problems and issues in the workplace and whilst friendly competition existed, more importantly, friendships and bonds were forged.

A decision to be represented in the hospitality industry saw a few dedicated members meeting regularly to plan the launch of the Professional Executive Housekeepers’ Network (Vic). These founding committee members each donated $50 to buy food and drink and on the 24 June, 1996 PEHN was officially launched at through a successful event at Melbourne’s Windsor Hotel.

Today, more than 13 years later, PEHN still remains a non-profit organisation comprised of executive housekeepers, assistant housekeepers, senior supervisors and associate members (who are suppliers to the hospitality industry and have a particular affinity with housekeeping) as network members. Whilst established in Victoria, PEHN members come from everywhere across Australia including Queensland, New South Wales and Western Australia.

Anyone who is employed or has been employed in the hospitality, healthcare or tourism industry as an executive housekeeper, assistant housekeeper or floor supervisor can become a member of PEHN. Associate memberships and student memberships are also granted to companies or industries involved in supplying products for the housekeeping area or to individuals enrolled in a minimum of a certificate III in accommodation studies and employed for a minimum of 15 hours a week in the accommodation sector of the hospitality industry.

PEHN members must accept a code of ethics as the basis for professional conduct and dedication to uphold a high level of ethical behaviour. This code of ethics includes knowing the responsibility of the position held and to exemplify loyalty and conscientiousness at all times to the company engaged by; to uphold the principals of honesty and integrity; to share knowledge, encourage ambition and to inspire and train current employees for the future of the profession; to strive to improve management techniques; to comply with rules and regulations of the network; to give loyalty and support to both the network and all its members in all facets of the profession and to promote the network to peers, colleagues and the hospitality industry, thereby assisting in the growth and strength of the network by raising the profile.

The PEHN network is coordinated by a committee that is made up of a president, vice president, secretary, treasurer and committee members. Each year this committee is open for re-election at the annual general meeting held at the end of the financial year.

The current committee is, president: Monique Russell - Melbourne Marriott; vice president: Marian Stratford - Crown Ltd; secretary: Karen Bingham - Crown Ltd; treasurer: Christina Pak - Bluestone Personnel and committee members are: Gary Grant – Cleantec, Melissa Starbuck - Sealy of Australia, Deborah de Smet - Triangle Hospitality Services, Jenny Trimboli - Alto on Bourke and Marie Lapiejko – Zemyna Massage Therapy.




PEHN aims to raise the profile and recognition of executive housekeepers; support fellow members; be at the forefront of new ideas and technology; expand the knowledge of the housekeeping area; source technical expertise to provide training and further education for members; increase awareness of environmental issues; develop a recognised qualification for executive housekeepers and promote the advantages of membership. PEHN also has the long-term goal of developing a certificate program for executive housekeepers, which will include several nominated modules that can be facilitated to members.

Do you have a hardworking housekeeping department that needs recognising?
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