For most of us, cleaning is the last thing we feel like doing. For David Gagovski, it’s the first thing on his mind every day.

In 2008, Gagovski established Cleaning Melbourne. Originally a team of two site cleaners, the company has grown into a nationally recognized organization with over 500 employees servicing more than 1,500 sites.

For Gagovski, Runner-Up Professional Services Executive of the Year at The CEO Magazine’s 2025 Executive of the Year Awards, his professional achievements are extremely personal.

“My mom worked as a cleaner and was often underpaid and disrespected,” he recalls. “Her experience inspired me to build something better, to bring fairness and dignity to an industry where my family and countless others had experienced exploitation.”

From day one, the CEO and Managing Director made sure to pay award wages and create genuine career pathways for his ever-growing team. Today, over 90 percent of the Cleaning Melbourne and Cleaning Brisbane office teams started their career on the front line.

“I’m proud of the change we’ve driven: proving a cleaning company can lead with integrity, innovation and social impact,” he says.

“Through sustainability initiatives, robotics and compliance technology, we’ve set new benchmarks and twice earned a place on the AFR Fast 100.”

A step ahead

The professional cleaning services offered by Cleaning Melbourne and Cleaning Brisbane range from offices, strata, events and car parks, pressure washing, carpet cleaning and property maintenance. The entire spectrum is affected by the rapidly evolving considerations of the industry, such as sustainability, technological innovation and growing demand for transparency.

In response, Gagovski has worked hard to keep Cleaning Melbourne and Cleaning Brisbane ahead of these issues by combining environmental leadership with operational innovation.

“We’ve rolled out chemical-free cleaning technology, reduced chemical use and single-use plastics, and transitioned our fleet to hybrid and electric vehicles,” he reveals.

“We’ve also introduced digital reporting platforms that give clients real-time visibility. Robotic cleaning supports efficiency, letting our teams focus on high-detail work. We’re not just adapting, we’re helping shape the future standards of service delivery.”

Gagovski’s lasting concerns with how his parents, both unskilled migrants, were treated upon arrival in Australia have galvanized his approach to company culture. Cleaning Melbourne and Cleaning Brisbane are values-driven and people-first, anchored by a CARES value system – Customers, Accountability, Respect, Excellence and Safety & Sustainability – unlike anything his railway worker father and cleaner mother would have known.

“We treat cleaners as professionals and provide real career pathways,” he says. “Safety and quality are embedded in everyday operations, and our CARES framework guides decision-making.”

The results speak for themselves. Cleaning Melbourne’s team is full of people who’ve been with the company for five-to-15 years, with several retiring after long and satisfying careers.

Gagovski’s commitment to ethical employment and long-term recognition have helped build a stable, high-performing workforce, and contributed to his Runner-Up Professional Services Executive of the Year Award.

“Our CARES values guide my decisions, but it’s my team who live them daily,” he explains. “I set a clear vision then empower my team to bring it to life, listening closely to those on the front line.”

Family values

Gagovski describes his leadership philosophy as being built on humility, integrity and impact.

“I lead by example, staying grounded and ensuring my actions reflect our values. I set a clear vision, then empower my team to bring it to life.”

Staying grounded holds particular resonance for Gagovski, who counts the advice as some of the best he ever received.

“It came from observing my parents’ resilience as young migrants who built a life from almost nothing,” he says.

“That early experience taught me that leadership isn’t about titles or accolades; it’s about responsibility, humility and creating opportunity for others.”

However large Cleaning Melbourne and Cleaning Brisbane grow – and both continue to grow year on year – Gagovski says that lesson will stick with him.

“It guides every decision, keeps me connected to our people and ensures our success is built on genuine values,” he adds.

When Gagovski says he wants to see the cleaning and facility services recognized as a pillar of community wellbeing and sustainability rather than just a support function, it’s easy to see his parents’ influence.

“My hope is that fair wages, ethical practices, innovation and environmental leadership become the norm industry-wide,” he says.

“Through Cleaning Melbourne and Cleaning Brisbane, we’re determined to lead that evolution.”