Lockheed Martin establishes Mentor-Protégé Partnership with local high-tech innovator, Clearbox Systems

Lockheed Martin establishes Mentor-Protégé Partnership with local high-tech innovator, Clearbox Systems Lockheed Martin to provide support and guidance to enhance the local industry’s access opportunities into the global supply chain and sustainable business growth. AVALON AIR SHOW, Thursday February 28: Lockheed Martin Australia today announced the establishment of a relationship with Clearbox Systems to assist the small, but highly innovative high-tech company, to successfully compete for future prime and subcontractor contracts in both local and global supply chains. The Mentor-Protege relationship, being overseen by Lockheed Martin Australia’s Office of Australian Industrial Participation, is based on a highly successful US program where Lockheed Martin will act as a Mentor to Clearbox Systems to provide dedicated assistance and market advice to open opportunities for technology transfer, innovation and local skilled jobs. The Mentor Protégé Program will see Lockheed Martin provide subject matter expertise and mentoring to Clearbox in areas such as Competitive Intelligence, Ethics, Human Resources and Workforce Planning, Cyber Security and Product Management. Upon graduation, Clearbox will have undertaken world-class and contemporary training that will provide them the foundations for taking their company even further on the global stage. Clearbox Systems is a leading Australian player in the field of secure communications. In 2018, they came to Lockheed Martin Australia’s attention during industry briefings held to inform small to medium enterprises (SMEs) about partnership opportunities on the development of future joint battle management capabilities for the Australian Defence Force. Chief Executive of Lockheed Martin Australia and New Zealand, Vince Di Pietro, said the relationship, a first for Australia, is at the heart of the Company’s enduring commitment and Australian presence as an industry partner and sovereign capability enabler. “At Lockheed Martin Australia, we work with like-minded industry partners, such as Clearbox Systems, to provide meaningful guidance and support to raise the technology base in Australia and to help develop these businesses to grow sovereign capability to ensure our Australia defence capability remains at the cutting edge.” he said. “Our approach is to work with Australian industry, small to large, to discover and evolve the best of breed technology and to build that capability for Australia and global customers. By partnering with them we provide the opportunity to showcase their technology on the world stage and with it the potential to access global supply chains. Strong partners are vital to our mutual success and this program is a global exemplar of the benefits of partner development.” Clearbox Systems was an obvious choice for the partnership having displayed entrepreneurial leadership who have been keen to collaborate, and keener still to strengthen their business and value proposition as well as being export-ready” Executive Director of Clearbox Systems, Jeremy Hallett said it is a privilege to be selected as the first Australian company to have this unique relationship with Lockheed Martin Australia. “Receiving mentoring and training from the world’s largest Defence company means we will be better placed to continue deliver sovereign capability to the Australian Defence Force. We also believe this will be an opportunity for us to become more competitive on the world stage positioning us for more export opportunities,” said Mr Hallet. “The establishment of this program is an exciting development for the wider Australian defence industry too. It is great to see Lockheed Martin be proactive in helping mature local Australian businesses.”