Adelaide-based space and defence company Inovor Technologies is the third Australian small-to-medium enterprise selected for the program, aimed at developing their business and helping open the door for export opportunities for the US and beyond.
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Under the program, Inovor executives will receive an intensive 12-month mentoring program covering best business practice across human resources, business ethics, contracting, product management, export controls, quality management systems, supply chain risk management, competitive intelligence, and cyber security readiness.
They will also be given access to Lockheed Martin subject matter experts both in Australia and in the US.
The program is designed to help Australian businesses flourish globally, Warren McDonald, Lockheed Martin Australia and New Zealand chief executive, explained.
“Our Mentor Protégé Program is one way we’re working with leading Australian SMEs, such as Inovor, to help accelerate their development, so they can be competitive on the global stage.
McDonald added, “All of the non-US Mentor Protégé Program participants to date are from Australia, which underscores not only the world-class standard of our local industry, but also the trust we share with the US.”
The companies outlined that the program is jointly sponsored by Lockheed Martin Space and Lockheed Martin Australia’s Office of Australian Industrial Participation as part of their Global Supply Chain Program.
David Ball, Lockheed Martin Australia’s regional director for space, recognised Inovor’s determination.
“Inovor impressed us with their innovative technologies, the clarity of their vision, and their determination to seek sustained growth through securing export opportunities in the US and further afield,” Ball explained.
“Their commitment to making the necessary investments to compete for global supply chain contracts made them ideally suited for the Mentor Protégé Program.
“Our investment in Inovor’s participation in the Mentor Protégé Program is part of our commitment to developing Australia’s space industry sector, including through our support of STEM learning initiatives and focus on key programs such JP 9102,” added Ball.
Founder and CEO of Inovor Technologies Matt Tetlow hopes that the program will enable Inovor to grow its domestic and international client base.
“We see the Mentor Protégé Program as a transformational opportunity that coincides with a series of strategic initiatives, including the expansion of our state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in Adelaide and a rapidly maturing flight heritage.
“At the conclusion of the program, Inovor will have the scale, experience, capabilities, and corporate knowledge required to meet the growing needs of our Australian customers and pursue the international export opportunities that can accelerate our growth exponentially,” Tetlow added.
“Through its programs and initiatives, such as the Mentor Protégé Program, Lockheed Martin consistently demonstrates its ongoing commitment to building the capacity and capabilities of SMEs and creating growth opportunities for the Australian industry.”