Caught in the Headlights - Shannon Lomas - Logistics Manager
From Liftie to Logistics, Meet Shannon Lomas
Rewind to post-university life. Shannon found himself in Canada, working at a ski resort as a liftie during the snowy months. Once the sun melted away the snow, he transitioned to working on the same resort’s golf course. He spent one more season there before returning to Australia a year and a half later, ready to start his career.
Arriving home and armed with a degree in IT (that he had no plans to use), he contemplated carpentry due to his love for working with tools. As Shannon considered his future path, he took on some casual warehousing work through agencies.
Interestingly, his path into the logistics industry began in a warehouse that is now part of Morrows Logistics, where he secured his first significant role with Mainfreight after a series of contracts at places like Visy.
Reflecting on his transition to Mainfreight, Shannon recalled, “I approached the Operations Manager at Visy and was told the work was driving a forklift—that was all.” This prompted his move to Mainfreight, where he embarked on a nine-year career that culminated in a logistics manager position at Morrows Logistics.
One of Shannon’s notable achievements during his tenure at Mainfreight was establishing a satellite site from scratch. “Opening up a satellite site from scratch was a significant milestone for me,” Shannon explained. I managed the entire setup, from equipment and technology to team recruitment and development.
Shannon’s passion emerged as he built a solid team and mentored future leaders. “The most enjoyable part was building a very solid team with potential for leadership and a pipeline of people to take on new challenges,” he said. Moving away from solely focusing on individual performance, Shannon embraced a role as a support and enabler for others to thrive in their positions.
Today, as the Logistics Manager for Warehousing at Noble Park, Shannon’s focus extends beyond day-to-day operations. “I spend a lot of time working with our team to refine processes and enhance our team structure,” he explained. “We prioritise a strong team culture and emphasise the importance of operating collectively towards common goals.”
Outside work, Shannon cherishes family time with his two young children, admitting that his love for golf has taken a backseat. He indulges in hobbies like woodworking, crafting pieces of sentimental value—like the cedar wood chair he made for his mother-in-law, using wood from their family home to ensure she always has a piece of their shared history.
Shannon’s story exemplifies how a winding path through diverse experiences can lead to finding one’s true passion and purpose.