Staff spotlight – Leonardo Gonzalez

Leonardo has recently stepped into a step-up Supervisor role with Corporate Protection Australia. In addition to his new responsibilities, he is also the Lead Trainer for new staff commencing on the wharves at the Port of Brisbane and an all-round dedicated Maritime Security Guard.

This year, Leonardo was recognised for his outstanding professionalism and commitment, receiving the Stuart Callaghan Award for 2025 a remarkable achievement that highlights his dedication to excellence and leadership within the team.

We thought this was a great opportunity to learn more about Leonardo, his career journey, and what drives his success both within and before Corporate Protection.

What is your professional background?

I’m originally from Argentina and grew up on a naval base due to my family’s Navy service. After finishing high school, I joined the Army’s military academy in Buenos Aires, yes, not the Navy, I suppose I’m a bit of a traitor!

I served in the Argentine Army for 18 years, retiring as a Captain in 2015. My career was in the Infantry, with the last 8 years in Special Forces, specializing in jungle warfare, parachuting, and counterterrorism. I had the opportunity to lead and plan operations across South America, at Fort Benning in the U.S, and serve on a UN mission in Haiti.

After retiring, I moved to Australia, a decision I’m very grateful for, especially since I’m now happily married here (I’ll make sure my wife sees this).

My transition into private security started as Venue Security Coordinator at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, which set the foundation for my current career in the industry.

Where are you working now?

I work as a Maritime Security Guard across various wharves and clients for CPA since 2023, and I currently conduct a role as a Step-up Supervisor Maritime at the head office as needed.

What other Corporate Protection sites have you worked?

This is my first role with the company.

What are your primary responsibilities?

I serve as a Maritime Security Guard and lead training for new team members. I’m finalizing a Training Plan Manual, now in its final stage ready to roll out, and developing my skills in a step-up Supervisor role.

What do you find most challenging or fulfilling in your role?

I would say that one of the most challenging aspects of my role as a trainer is delivering maritime procedures to people from diverse cultural backgrounds. Since Australia is a multicultural country, and having English as my second language, I understand the additional challenges that can come with that. On top of this, our security guards vary in professional backgrounds, which means I need to constantly adjust my training approach to suit different learning styles.

Despite these challenges, it’s incredibly fulfilling to see the guards succeed and grow in their new roles. However, the training process requires ongoing feedback and continuous improvement to ensure its effectiveness.

And what do you do in your spare time?

In my free time, I love making great memories with my family – traveling, photography, and outdoor activities such as hiking, scuba diving and skiing. I recently completed the 42.195 km Sydney Marathon as part of the Abbott World Marathon Majors.

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What would your manager say?

My manager would describe me as reliable, and calm under pressure. Recently, I had the opportunity to step into the role of Supervisor Maritime in Brisbane, and I believe that with a positive attitude and strong teamwork, we can continue delivering great service and, most importantly, keep our clients happy.