TFTC - The Future Through Collaboration
TFTC is an Australian not-for-profit collaboration running a 12-month structured mentoring program that pairs women in STEM roles across the Australian Defence Industry with senior mentors, funded by approximately 19 supporting Defence organisations including major primes and government entities.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersSydney, Australia
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What TFTC - The Future Through Collaboration does
TFTC (The Future Through Collaboration) is an Australian not-for-profit collaboration that runs a 12-month structured mentoring program for women working in STEM-related disciplines within the Defence Industry. Founded in 2014/2015 and operational since 2016, TFTC matches female mentees with senior Defence Industry mentors based on goals, objectives, and professional backgrounds, with monthly meetings, quarterly facilitated peer sessions, and induction training. The program has mentored over 600 women across engineering, project management, IT, cyber, and technical fields, and has been recognised with the 2017 Support/Services Essington Lewis Award and finalist status at ADIA19 and AIDIA.
The program is funded by supporting organisations who nominate participants; these include major Defence primes and government entities such as BAE Systems, Thales, Leidos, Royal Australian Navy, KBR, Jacobs, Hanwha Defense Australia, Amentum, Airservices Australia, Nova Systems, Rohde & Schwarz, Navantia, and 19 in total in 2025. TFTC has no independent ABN — its administration is run through Kinexus (Kinetic Defence Services Pty Ltd), and program training and facilitated sessions are delivered by Leading Well. The operating model is fundamentally a B2B2C collaboration: sponsoring organisations fund the program and nominate employees, TFTC provides the structural framework and facilitator network, and Leading Well delivers the coaching content.
TFTC operates with a small team of approximately 8 employees based in Sydney, with program delivery occurring across Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. There is no proprietary technology platform, no direct revenue charged to participants, and no publicly disclosed financials. The program is positioned as an industry-wide DEI initiative to increase representation and retention of women in Australia's Defence Industry, functioning as a shared capability-building mechanism rather than a commercial enterprise.
TFTC - The Future Through Collaboration firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- TFTC - The Future Through Collaboration
- Legal name
- The Future Through Collaboration (TFTC)
- Website
- https://tftc.net.au
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- TFTC is an Australian not-for-profit collaboration running a 12-month structured mentoring program that pairs women in STEM roles across the Australian Defence Industry with senior mentors, funded by approximately 19 supporting Defence organisations including major primes and government entities.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
TFTC - The Future Through Collaboration industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Defence Industry Mentoring Program
- NAICS
- Professional and Management Development Training (611430)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Coaching, Mentoring & Facilitation Services (BPACANAI)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Learning Strategy, Instructional Design & Content Development (BPACANAG)
Keywords
Where TFTC - The Future Through Collaboration is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sydney
- HQ country
- Australia
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices2 records
Markets served
TFTC - The Future Through Collaboration business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Supporting Organisation Funding: The TFTC Mentoring Program is funded by supporting organisations who nominate participants. TFTC is described as a Not-For-Profit collaboration, with administration run through Kinexus. No direct revenue is charged to participants.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
TFTC - The Future Through Collaboration product offering
Product offeringCore offering
TFTC delivers a single 12-month structured mentoring program for women working in STEM-related disciplines within the Australian Defence Industry. Participants are matched with senior Defence Industry mentors based on their goals, objectives, and professional backgrounds, and meet monthly with support from induction training and quarterly facilitated peer sessions. The program is administered by Kinexus and training/facilitation is delivered by Leading Well, with the program funded by supporting Defence Industry organisations that nominate participants.
Product overview
TFTC operates as a single, unified mentoring program offering. The TFTC Mentoring Program is an award-winning 12-month structured mentoring initiative for women working within STEM-related disciplines in the Defence Industry. Participants receive induction training, are matched with mentors based on goals and professional backgrounds, meet monthly, and are supported through facilitated group sessions delivered by Leading Well. The program is administered by Kinexus.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- TFTC Mentoring Program A 12-month structured mentoring program that pairs women working in STEM-related disciplines within the Defence Industry with senior Defence Industry mentors. Mentors and mentees are matched based on their goals, objectives, and professional backgrounds and meet monthly to develop skills and create networks designed to enhance the Defence Sector capability in Australia. Participants receive induction training and are supported through quarterly facilitated peer sessions delivered by Leading Well. Participation is by nomination from supporting Defence Industry organisations that fund the program.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 600 women mentored through the program
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use TFTC - The Future Through Collaboration
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
TFTC - The Future Through Collaboration technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
TFTC - The Future Through Collaboration partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
16 partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- KinexuscoreKinexus is a founder of TFTC and administers the program. The Terms and Conditions state that TFTC administration is run through Kinexus (Kinetic Defence Services Pty Ltd ABN 55 096 816 974). CEO Amelia De Angelis serves as TFTC Chairperson while also serving as COO of Kinexus. Kinexus handles all related invoices and program administration.
- Leading WellcoreLeading Well is an expert in leadership, business coaching and mentoring programs. They deliver all program training and facilitated sessions. The company has been involved with TFTC since its inception in 2015, facilitating all peer cohort meetings. Key facilitators include Vanessa Fudge (founder), Dean Mason (Melbourne), and Sonya Trau (Queensland).
- Leidos AustraliacoreLeidos Australia is a 2025 supporting organisation that nominates participants to the TFTC Mentoring Program. They appear as a supporter with their Leidos and Leidos Australia Centre for Defence Engineering logos displayed.
- BAE SystemscoreBAE Systems is a long-standing supporting organisation that nominates participants to the TFTC Mentoring Program. Multiple BAE Systems employees have served as mentors and mentees in the program.
- Airservices AustraliacoreAirservices Australia is a supporting organisation that nominates participants to the TFTC Mentoring Program. Multiple Airservices employees have participated as mentors.
- Royal Australian NavycoreRoyal Australian Navy is a supporting organisation of the TFTC Mentoring Program. Commodore Rachel Durbin serves on the TFTC Steering Committee as Director General Engineering, Navy.
- ThalescoreThales is a 2025 supporting organisation that nominates participants to the TFTC Mentoring Program.
- Hanwha Defense AustraliacoreHanwha Defense Australia is a 2025 supporting organisation that nominates participants to the TFTC Mentoring Program.
- KBRcoreKBR is a 2025 supporting organisation that nominates participants to the TFTC Mentoring Program.
- JacobscoreJacobs Australia participates in the TFTC Mentoring Program. Managing Director Mike Walkington has publicly spoken about the benefits of mentoring and the program's value to participants and organisations.
- AmentumcoreAmentum is a 2025 supporting organisation that nominates participants to the TFTC Mentoring Program.
- Nova SystemscoreNova Systems is a 2025 supporting organisation that nominates participants to the TFTC Mentoring Program.
- Rohde & SchwarzcoreRohde & Schwarz is a 2025 supporting organisation that nominates participants to the TFTC Mentoring Program.
- SypaqcoreSypaq is a 2025 supporting organisation that nominates participants to the TFTC Mentoring Program.
- NavantiacoreNavantia is a 2025 supporting organisation that nominates participants to the TFTC Mentoring Program.
- Thrustmasters (UBH)coreThrustmasters (operating as UBH) is a 2025 supporting organisation that nominates participants to the TFTC Mentoring Program.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
TFTC - The Future Through Collaboration competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Soldier On: Australian Defence-focused not-for-profit delivering mentoring, employment and wellbeing programs for veterans and their families. Directly comparable as a Defence-affiliated mentoring collaboration funded by industry supporters.
- Australian Women in Security Network (AWSN): Australia-based not-for-profit offering mentoring, scholarships and networking for women in security and cyber. Directly comparable to TFTC as a women-in-Defence-adjacent-technology mentoring initiative with similar industry-sponsor funding model.
- STEM Sisters: Australian mentoring and outreach initiative focused on women and girls in STEM disciplines. Comparable in mission (women in STEM mentoring) and not-for-profit collaborative funding model, though primarily school/early-career focused rather than Defence Industry.
- Women in Technology (WiT): Australian not-for-profit running mentoring and leadership programs for women in technology. Comparable as a women-in-STEM mentoring program with industry sponsorship and structured mentee/mentor matching, though with a broader tech (not Defence-specific) remit.
- Chief Executive Women (CEW): Australian not-for-profit advancing women in leadership through mentoring, advocacy and programs. Highly comparable as a female-focused professional mentoring organisation operating a structured mentee/mentor model, though focused on senior executives rather than Defence STEM.
Broad incumbents
- Million Women Mentors: Large-scale international STEM mentoring initiative supporting girls and women across MENTOR's global ecosystem. Comparable as a high-profile, industry-funded women-in-STEM mentoring umbrella program, operating at significantly larger scale and broader geographic reach than TFTC.
Others
- Kinexus: Australian Defence Industry recruitment and workforce partner that administers TFTC. Related rather than a peer; comparable in that it serves the same Defence Industry talent market and operates mentoring-adjacent workforce programs.
- Leading Well: Australian leadership, business coaching and mentoring consultancy that delivers all TFTC training and facilitated sessions. Ecosystem partner rather than a direct peer, but operates adjacent leadership-mentoring services in similar Defence-adjacent industries.
Emerging players
- TechWomen (U.S. State Department): U.S. State Department-led mentoring and exchange program for women in STEM from Africa, Central Asia and the Middle East. Comparable as a structured women-in-STEM mentoring program with industry/government backing, though operating internationally rather than within a single country's Defence sector.
Regional players
- The Athena Network (UK): UK-based mentoring and networking organisation for women in STEM and leadership roles. Comparable in offering structured 1:1 mentoring for women in male-dominated industries, but serving a UK rather than Australian Defence market.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
TFTC - The Future Through Collaboration social profiles
Digital presenceTFTC - The Future Through Collaboration financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
TFTC - The Future Through Collaboration leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
TFTC - The Future Through Collaboration funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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TFTC - The Future Through Collaboration M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
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Frequently asked questions about TFTC - The Future Through Collaboration
What does TFTC - The Future Through Collaboration do?
TFTC delivers a single 12-month structured mentoring program for women working in STEM-related disciplines within the Australian Defence Industry. Participants are matched with senior Defence Industry mentors based on their goals, objectives, and professional backgrounds, and meet monthly with support from induction training and quarterly facilitated peer sessions. The program is administered by Kinexus and training/facilitation is delivered by Leading Well, with the program funded by supporting Defence Industry organisations that nominate participants.
Is TFTC - The Future Through Collaboration a public or private company?
TFTC - The Future Through Collaboration is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was TFTC - The Future Through Collaboration founded?
TFTC - The Future Through Collaboration was founded in 2014. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is TFTC - The Future Through Collaboration based?
TFTC - The Future Through Collaboration is headquartered in Sydney, Australia, in the Oceania region.
How does TFTC - The Future Through Collaboration make money?
One revenue line is on record: supporting Organisation Funding.
Who are TFTC - The Future Through Collaboration's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Soldier On, Australian Women in Security Network (AWSN), STEM Sisters, Women in Technology (WiT) and Chief Executive Women (CEW). Million Women Mentors is listed as a broad incumbent. Others are Kinexus and Leading Well. TechWomen (U.S. State Department) is listed as an emerging player. The Athena Network (UK) is listed as a regional player.
Does TFTC - The Future Through Collaboration have an API?
No public API is recorded for TFTC - The Future Through Collaboration.
What industry is TFTC - The Future Through Collaboration in?
TFTC - The Future Through Collaboration's product category is Defence Industry Mentoring Program. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPACANAI, Coaching, Mentoring & Facilitation Services, with a secondary code of BPACANAG, Learning Strategy, Instructional Design & Content Development. Its NAICS code is 611430 and its SIC code is 8200.