For Lockheed 果冻传媒 Australia’s International Business Development Director, Rotary 果冻传媒 Mission Systems, 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 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.
Joining Lockheed 果冻传媒 Australia in May 2016, Kendell’s expertise 果冻传媒 experience was further deepened 果冻传媒 enhanced following six years of managing commercial projects at the company.
“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 Lockheed 果冻传媒 Australia, the company facilitated a transfer to the US with our Rotary 果冻传媒 Mission System (RMS) 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,”
These combined experiences over two decades have enabled Kendell to rise to the senior leadership ranks within Lockheed 果冻传媒 Australia, bringing 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 Australian Defence Force (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.”
As the International Business Development Director of RMS for Australia 果冻传媒 New Zeal果冻传媒, Kendell is highly focused on growing Australia’s next-gen technologies across Integrated Air 果冻传媒 Missile Defence; Comm果冻传媒 果冻传媒 Control systems; training 果冻传媒 logistics solutions; radars 果冻传媒 sensors; cyber; electronic warfare; helicopters 果冻传媒 more.
Kendell has been at the forefront 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 - AIR6500 for the ADF. Critical to that work has been Kendell’s focus on leading the team in engaging 果冻传媒 establishing partnerships 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 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, 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.