Sydney Royce, Technical Sales Territory Manager at Ivory Egg takes a deep dive into pioneering KNX in Australia.
By Katie Rose
KNXtoday: Tell us about your journey to working in your current role as Technical Sales Territory Manager for Ivory Egg Australia.
SR: I started working with Ivory Egg in 2018, when we were a very, very small company. Initially I worked in internal logistics, ordering products and implementing processes. Slowly I moved into internal sales, quoting HVAC (Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning) gateways and building intercom quotes. During the ordering and logistics process, I learned about the products and fell in love with the concept of KNX and the smart and sustainable elements it brings to life. I eventually took the KNX certification course and began attending education sessions with overseas suppliers.
I already knew some of our customers when I became the Technical Sales Account Manager. The first few years were challenging, as my customer base was an established group of experienced KNX integrators and it took time to earn their trust, especially as a younger woman. However, I have loved proving myself in the industry and showing my customers that I care as much as they do.
KNXtoday: What do you enjoy most about your role?
SR: I love the industry, the products and what we can achieve in a building. Ivory Egg has a unique place in the Australian market; we are brand-agnostic and focus on finding the correct product for each project, encompassing the entire concept of KNX. As we sell a vast range of products, we can meet the requirements of many different types of project and building. Some key projects I have worked on include Parliament House, the Sydney Sirius Building and Canberra Hospital. And there are plenty more that we are currently specifying with KNX.
I love problem-solving and piecing together products that meet our clients desired outcomes. It is amazing how many products and solutions KNX offers and there is always more to learn, so you can never get bored!
KNXtoday: Founded by Colin Price in 2005, Ivory Egg was the first KNX supplier to the residential market and established the first UK KNX training centre. When did Ivory Egg expand into Australia, and how is your work developing there?
SR: We hit our ten-year anniversary this year. Since joining in 2018, I have seen Ivory Egg and KNX grow tremendously in Australia. Before that, not many people knew what KNX was; now I have consultants and integrators contacting me for assistance on KNX specifications for upcoming projects. Finally seeing that people know about KNX is a great achievement. We still have more growth ahead, which is the most exciting part!
KNXtoday: What’s your view of the current situation for women working in tech in Australia?
SR: More women are entering the industry, but it takes time and I feel we still have a long journey ahead. Women bring a different perspective, which I believe is very important. It can be daunting coming into a male-dominated industry, but once you prove yourself, you earn respect. Andy Moore, Sales Manager, Building Automation at Theban Australia, introduced me to Women in KNX, and I hope the initiative supports and encourages more women to enter the industry.
KNXtoday: As leaders in educating tech professionals, how is Ivory Egg encouraging and supporting women in the industry?
SR: The Ivory Egg Australia team now includes quite a few women. Our Finance Controller, Kellie Brown has been with the company since the beginning, and has been a huge part of growing the business to where it is today. Lara Baian is our full-time marketing manager, Shaena Um is our customer service specialist, and I hope our sales and support team continues to grow and include both men and women. Ivory Egg has been extremely supportive and encouraging of my growth in the industry, female or not, for which I am very grateful.
KNXtoday: Ivory Egg reached its 20th anniversary this year – how have you been celebrating and what innovations are you looking towards in the future?
SR: Here in Australia, we have been celebrating our 10-year anniversary with special offers and promotions around the number 10, and would be happy to speak to anyone interested in finding out more.
As we continue to grow the company internally, we are focused on offering the best technical support and knowledge to the Australian market. With so many great products being released every year, we want to build awareness of KNX commercially and residentially.
KNXtoday: Work aside, tell us about your outdoor adventures, including diving with whale sharks!
SR: I love outdoor adventures, especially anything that involves extremes and adrenaline. My love for traveling and crazy activities originates from my childhood – I grew up in Mexico part-time, living in a trailer in the desert with my family, surfing and four-wheel driving. When I was 19, I lived in Fiji for a few months, diving and feeding bull and tiger sharks, which then led me to move to Australia. Sadly, I do not dive as much now, but I take part in races, ultra-marathons and other sports events as an excuse to travel the world.
KNXtoday: How can people connect with you?
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sydney-royce
Sydney Joyce is Technical Sales Territory Manager at Ivory Egg Australia. Ivory Egg is a technical distributor of state-of-the-art building technologies, supplying, educating and supporting trade installers to deliver the very best solutions for their projects.
