For Jon Nichol, no two days are the same. As State Sales Manager for Queensland, his role takes him from coastal farms to factory floors, from boardrooms to bush trails.

How do I start each day? “After the weather disruptions we’ve had this year, I start the day by checking the forecast! Jokes aside, I start most mornings checking off a few phone calls and emails and an early morning cross-functional leadership meeting where we review and plan around key metrics for the state.”

From there, Jon’s either in-market with his team, meeting avocado growers in Far North Queensland, meat processors in Brisbane, or beverage manufacturers on the Gold Coast. Jon also works across teams to ensure Opal’s products and services meet evolving customer needs.

A career built on leadership and transformation

Jon brings decades of experience in FMCG, having begun his career in sales at Coca-Cola before moving into senior sales and leadership roles at Samsung, Lion and Fletcher Building. After leading several transformation projects and state and national sales teams, Jon joined Opal in mid-2023, drawn to the opportunity to return to manufacturing.

“I’ve always loved working with people and solving customer problems,” he says. “Opal’s down-to-earth, get-it-done culture really resonated with me — as did the chance to work across a diverse marketplace with an experienced and passionate team.”

A customer-first philosophy

Supporting his team to deliver for customers is Jon’s top priority.

“Our people are the frontline — ensuring we deliver the right products, on time, with service our customers can count on,” Jon explains. “But we also need to listen. I spend a lot of time talking to customers about what’s changing in their world. That insight helps us anticipate demand, improve, and innovate.”

Off-grid and on the trails

Outside work, Jon’s life is full of action — and mud. Whether it’s building a two-storey cubby house for his 3 daughters or exploring Queensland’s outdoors in a 4WD and caravan, weekends are packed with family adventures.

He’s also a keen trail runner, regularly competing in ultra-distance races over 50km. “Ultra’s are a crazy mix of physical and mental endurance, community and connection to nature,” Jon says. “Living on an acreage next to a national park in Brisbane, I get to train on mountain trails right from my backyard. There’s nothing like running through the bush before the sun comes up.”