Jonathan Martin: A Resilient Innovator, Shaping the Future of Australian Oil and Gas Sector with Innovative Solutions

Jonathan Martin, Founder, COHO Resources PTY LTD

Entrepreneurship isn’t solely about launching a business; it’s about embracing a mindset that thrives on innovation and resilience. It’s an exhilarating journey into the unknown, where the road ahead is fraught with challenges yet teeming with boundless opportunities. You’re constantly treading on unfamiliar terrain, facing obstacles that seem insurmountable at times. But it’s precisely these challenges that set the true entrepreneur apart from the rest. In the world of entrepreneurship, success isn’t guaranteed, and failure is often part of the process. Yet, it’s those who dare to dream big, who refuse to succumb to setbacks, and who relentlessly pursue their vision that ultimately win through. They understand that entrepreneurship is about more than just financial gain; it’s about daring to defy the status quo, pushing boundaries, and making a meaningful impact on the world around us. And, among these fearless, innovation minds stand Jonathan Martin, the visionary founder of COHO Resources Pty Ltd.

Born and raised in a modest household, Jonathan’s early years were shaped by the industrious spirit of his parents. His father, a school teacher, and his mother, a secretary, instilled in him the values of hard work and creativity. Yet, it was the evenings and weekends spent with his father, observing him craft pottery in the family garage, that ignited Jonathan’s entrepreneurial spark. From a young age, he witnessed firsthand the concept of a side hustle, as his dad leveraged his passion for pottery to supplement the family’s income.

Reflecting on those times, Jonathan fondly recalls the monthly family outings to art galleries in places like Banff and Canmore where his father would drop off boxes of his pottery to sell.  The family also frequented local markets where they all would take turns attending the pottery booth. These early experiences planted the seeds of innovation and business acumen in Jonathan’s mind. This entrepreneurial spirit was further reinforced when, in high school, he initiated his own lawn care business to earn some extra pocket money. He started door-to-door lawn-cutting ventures in the neighborhood, charging $20 per lawn. This initiative eventually evolved into Jonny’s Lawn Care and Snow Removal, marking Jonathan’s inaugural experience as an entrepreneur. Soon, he garnered 4-5 clients and swiftly grew his enterprise, eventually hiring friends to assist, offering them $15/hour. By working together, they significantly increased efficiency, cutting three times as many lawns in an hour as Jonathan could manage alone, solidifying the venture as a win-win for all involved.

A Bold Leap into Entrepreneurial Territory

Growing up in Calgary, Canada, Jonathan found his calling in the thriving gas sector of Alberta. While initially pursuing a business degree, he shifted gears towards engineering at the encouragement of a friend’s father who owned a small service company in the gas sector. Enticed by promises of job security in the booming gas industry, Jonathan and his friend seized the opportunity, eventually finding themselves working on rigs shortly after graduation. Over the span of a decade, he honed his skills at a small oil and gas company in Calgary until the onset of the Global Financial Crisis prompted him to seek new avenues.

Eager for a fresh start, he reached out to his old engineering peers. Fortunately, one of them was working for a major operator in Australia and mentioned they were hiring. Newly married with no children, Jonathan and his wife decided to move to Australia, where he spent a year in Brisbane working for a major operator. There, he was tasked with transitioning the company away from traditional in-ground fluid storage to more eco-friendly above-ground options—a familiar challenge he had tackled back home in Canada. The company, eager to reduce its environmental impact, welcomed Jonathan’s expertise. However, just a year into his stint, Jonathan received an enticing offer from a small startup gas operator and decided to take the leap. 

Fast forward two years, and Jonathan received an unexpected call from his former employer, inquiring about the progress on the above-ground storage initiative. “I had passed this project on to other engineers who had either left the company or had struggled to get traction on getting rid of sumps.  I saw there was a huge opportunity with not only this large gas producer but the other 2 major operators in Southeast QLD, and I started Coho,” shares Jonathan. 

Established in 2014, COHO Resources Pty Ltd swiftly garnered attention, leveraging above-ground fluid storage alternatives to traditional in-ground pits, catering to major operators in Southeast QLD. Today, COHO Resources continues to evolve, pioneering sustainable solutions for the gas sector while reshaping industry standards.

Overcoming Hurdles with Tenacity

Jonathan encountered numerous hurdles during his journey as an entrepreneur. One major challenge was getting his ideas and innovations off the ground. Even though clients liked what he had to offer, gaining traction was tough. While Coho could demonstrate the effectiveness of their proposals elsewhere, breaking into the Australian market required more than just promising results from overseas. Jonathan and his team had to roll up their sleeves, import the equipment, and conduct trials locally to prove its efficacy. However, the slow pace of adoption by Australian gas operators added another layer of complexity, extending the trial process to nearly a year. Yet, Jonathan’s perseverance and strategic outlook guided COHO through these challenges. “The way COHO overcame this is simply by playing a long game and knowing it isn’t a sprint here it’s a marathon.  It may take some time to get work with the operators here, but once you get in with them and show value it’s a great partnership from there on,” asserts Jonathan. Over a decade, COHO steadily nurtured partnerships and expanded organically with this longer-term vision in mind.

Leading with Trust, Accountability, and Empowerment

Jonathan’s leadership philosophy revolves around empowering his team by hiring competent individuals and giving them the freedom to excel without micromanaging. “I truly believe it’s important to hire people smarter than myself and surround myself with people who are smarter and capable, as it ultimately benefits the entire team,” opines Jonathan. He also places a strong emphasis on accountability and trusts his team to take ownership of their responsibilities. 

Recognizing the demanding nature of their industry, where operations run around the clock, Jonathan encourages a “work hard, play hard” mentality, understanding the importance of occasional downtime to recharge. While he values results and tracks performance through visual scoreboards, he prioritizes outcomes over processes, allowing his team the freedom to operate as long as objectives are met. 

Driving Sustainable Change within the Gas Sector

Through COHO Resources, Jonathan aims to introduce environmental innovations from around the world to Australian gas producers and integrate them seamlessly into the local market. Collaborating closely with operators, Coho advocates for greener practices, persuading them to embrace sustainability and reduce their ecological footprint. Jonathan emphasizes, “The positive impact comes with the partnership with the Operators, as they must buy in to become greener and reduce their footprint. The good news for Coho is that a greener approach to doing business has been welcomed with open arms by every gas operator we’ve dealt with. So, it’s great to see this willingness to embrace new innovations for a more sustainable industry.” 

Furthermore, COHO is committed to actively seeking out new ideas and innovations globally, to introduce several new concepts to the Australian market each year. While not all may succeed, Jonathan hopes that by introducing 4-5 new innovations annually, at least one or two will prove valuable to clients and contribute to progress within the industry.

On a personal level, Jonathan aims to continue bolstering the incredible team they’ve built at COHO. His vision for COHO is clear: to stand out as the safest and finest in Australia. “We don’t want to be the biggest, we don’t intend to be international, but we do want to be the safest and best in Australia.  We want to have long-term positive relationships with our clients and try to have some fun along the way.  For Coho we will continue to focus on safety, providing good innovative solutions and great service,” concludes Jonathan.