Damien Cody

Damien Cody is Managing Director Director of Cody Opal (Australia), a leading Australian opal exporting company with markets around the globe. He is also Managing Director of The National Opal Collection, a company which operates retail opal stores and museums in Australia. His companies have received Australian and Victorian Government awards for both exporting and tourism.

He is co-author of a top-selling book ‘The Opal Story’ which has been written in five different languages. Around 60,000 copies have been distributed around the globe.

In 2018 his company produced a limited release of opal master sets. Each set contains 216 opal samples from all of the world deposits to assist with identification, classification and grading of opal. Major laboratories and gemological institutes availed themselves of this resource and the release was quickly over- subscribed. This initiative earned Cody Opal Australia a JNA Honoree award for Industry Innovation of the year.

In 2023 Damien was elected President of the International Colored Gemstone Association (ICA). In addition, he has held various industry positions including Director of ICA and ICA Ambassador to Australia. He served four years as Vice President of the ICA. He has also served on the Opal Committee of Jewellers Association of Australia (JAA) and The National Opal Miners Association. 

He was the founding Chairman of ICA’s charity ‘Gems Keep Giving’ and is currently serving as Vice Chairman of the newly formed independent Board.

In 2023 Damien’s industry achievements were recognized by being selected as a recipient of an ‘Extraordinary 40 Award’, a Jewellery World Awards (JWA) accolade presented to 40 inspiring individuals whose talents, achievements and commitment to excellence have helped shape and continue to make a positive difference in the Jewellery industry today.