Powered by our people: Colby Ede

What does your role involve? 

My role is very diverse with aspects that focus on staff development, creating new market opportunities and supporting our business on industry concerns across the northeast region. It also involves working with our key customers and buyers from our livestock business to achieve market success. 

What are some of the key skills required to be successful in your role? 

Communication is key as well as good people skills. You also need to be great lister to others and manage your time well. The big thing is also to not be afraid to make mistakes – fail quick and learn quicker. Learn to use the people and network around you to help solve the day-to-day problems, collaborate, and use their resources and knowledge. 80% is people management and the balance is controlling the things you can control, don’t spend large amounts of your time on things outside your control. Sourcing right talent is so important to our business, especially the talent to match our customers’ needs for the future. 

How does your role contribute to the wider Nutrien purpose? 

Livestock is a critical part of the broader Nutrien business and helps to cross-sell many of our other services and products. Our generational relationships with our livestock customers have successfully contributed to broader success across every aspect of the business including outside of livestock. The success is also that we are present with our people on the ground and are really engrained with the ag community.  

What do you enjoy the most about your job? 

Our people. Creating a great team culture. Staff development and sourcing the best talent for the future is essential. Creating new opportunities for our staff is something I thrive on. It’s all about the people. Being successful as business along with a great team environment is what we need to continue to achieve each day. 

Can you share some of your career journey to date? 

I started as a Livestock Trainee in Rockhampton in 2002 for one of Nutrien’s legacy businesses and did that for 6 months. I then moved to Roma as a Livestock Trainee for 12 months. I then had the opportunity to take on a Livestock Account Manager role in Mackay, and then went back to Rockhampton to commence as a North Qld Stud Stock Account Manager role. I spent 8 years there and then I transitioned to the Southern QLD stud stock role for 4 or 5 years which included South QLD divisional livestock role and then in the last 12-18 months I moved into the role I am in today as Regional Livestock Manager for the Northeast region. 

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time? 

I love watching NRL – I support the Dragons who unfortunately haven’t been doing too well, I also enjoy extreme sports like water skiing, motor bike riding, snowboarding & horse riding. I also love spending time with my family on our property south of Toowoomba. 

What inspires you at work? 

The side-by-side investment in our people and in various digital technologies is going to put us in a better and exciting position in the future. In addition, I am motivated by the fact that Nutrien offers a career pathway to take your career as far as you want. Nutrien offers you the pathway and support to get you there.  

For more information on how you can grow your career with Nutrien Ag Solutions visit: Careers | Nutrien Ag Solutions