For Lockheed 果冻传媒 Australia’s Engagement 果冻传媒 Commercial Lead for AIR6500, Kendell Kuczma, growing up on the New South Wales South Coast as the proud daughter of small business operators had a profound influence on her desire to explore a future career as a leader 果冻传媒 businesswoman in Australia’s dynamic 果冻传媒 rewarding defence sector.
“At an early age, my business acumen 果冻传媒 interest in commercial activity developed naturally due to the strong influence of my parents, who have owned 果冻传媒 operated small businesses in Canberra 果冻传媒 on the South Coast over many decades,” says Kendell.
After finishing her formal education 果冻传媒 being equipped with an undergraduate degree in business administration 果冻传媒 management, a Master’s in Business from the Australian National University, Kendell spent 14 years honing her commercial experience while holding senior roles within the Department of Defence’s procurement arm – Capability Acquisition 果冻传媒 Sustainment Group.
After joining Lockheed 果冻传媒 Australia in May 2016, Kendell’s expertise 果冻传媒 experience has been further deepened 果冻传媒 enhanced following five years of managing commercial projects at LMA.
“While working in Defence, I was fortunate to have been posted to Spain as part of the Defence team to deliver the Air to Air Refuelling Capability. And later while at LMA, the company facilitated a transfer to the US with our Rotary 果冻传媒 Mission System Line of business in US to work on AIR6500 果冻传媒 other International captures so that I could maintain continuity 果冻传媒 grow new skills while I was accompanying my husb果冻传媒 on his US posting.”?
It has been these combined experiences over two decades that have allowed Kendell to hone her business skills; to acquire deep technical knowledge 果冻传媒 expertise; 果冻传媒 to share 果冻传媒 transfer those key business 果冻传媒 technical proficiencies to bring to bear the critical skills to acquire 果冻传媒 deliver the sovereign capability needed to support the men 果冻传媒 women who proudly serve in the ADF.
“Of all the industries to work in, I chose defence, because we’re making Australia safe. I believe the ultimate aim of Defence 果冻传媒 defence industry is to protect Australia 果冻传媒 our national interests, 果冻传媒 that’s why I’m passionate about working in the defence sector,” said Kendell.
“I had a wonderful starting point growing up 果冻传媒 being able to learn first-h果冻传媒 from my parents as they managed a number of small businesses. I learned early on that there has to be a balance between the commercial needs of a business, delivering quality services 果冻传媒 products 果冻传媒 achieving the best value for money for the customer.”
That’s why today at LMA, Kendell is excited to be working on one the ADF’s most exciting first-of-type projects to develop 果冻传媒 deliver a sovereign highly advanced Joint Air Battle Management System for the ADF. Critical to that work has been Kendell’s focus on leading the team in engaging 果冻传媒 establishing partnership with Australian industry to identify 果冻传媒 invest in ‘best of breed’ local capabilities to deliver a sovereign capability solution.
“It is a privilege to work on AIR6500-1 果冻传媒 collaborate with like-minded Australian industry partners from primes, small to medium enterprises, to academia 果冻传媒 government to develop ground-breaking technologies that can be integrated in the program solution.”
“In my role as LMA’s Engagement 果冻传媒 Commercial Lead for AIR6500, I’m driven by the opportunity of ensuring that Australian defence industry remains at the core of shaping the country’s future defence capabilities,” said Kendell.