Hutchies’ Chairman Scott Hutchinson holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) which he completed in 1981 at the University of Queensland. He subsequently completed a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in 1986 at the same university after travelling extensively across Europe, North Africa and the UK. Scott attributes his MBA learnings to the success of Hutchies’ flat organisational structure and culture built on empowerment.
Scott entered the family business full time as the fourth generation Hutchinson in 1986 when the company’s turnover was just $6M. He has been Chairman of Hutchinson Builders since 2001, a role he moved into after Greg Quinn was selected as Hutchies’ first non-family Managing Director. Scott was previously Managing Director from 1991 for ten years. Under their direction, Hutchies’ turnover has since grown to $2.8B.
In 2019, Hutchies won Philanthropist of the Year for its support of not-for-profit organisations including AEIOU, Bravehearts, National Association of Women in Construction, YoungCare and many other charities. The award was also attributed to Scott’s urban honey bee initiative which has seen the addition of bee hives across Hutchies’ office rooftops nationally.
Hutchies also won the Queensland Government’s 2020 Business Reconciliation Award for its work developing Statim Yaga, an indigenous employment initiative which has so far trained and employed over 500 First Australians. It has also previously twice won the Australian Training Awards’ Large Employer of the Year for other training achievements and programs.
Scott’s personal interest is in preserving Brisbane’s live music scene and this is where Hutchies’ philanthropic contribution has been substantial and significant for the region.
Inner city live music venues across the world are in crisis as the value of land increases leading to their purchase and demolition to make way for residential high rise. This means venues end up on the edge of town, isolated and clinical. Hutchies has bought inner city high rise sites and built music venues which has kept Brisbane music alive. These purchases were not at all commercial.
The most significant of these is The Fortitude Music Hall which now anchors Fortitude Valley’s live music precinct and importantly replaces the legendary Festival Hall which was demolished in 2003 for a high rise residential project.
Scott was on the board of QMusic from 2005 to 2017 and has since been named its official Patron. Over the years he has also sponsored and supported young bands and music festivals throughout Queensland.
Scott also owns Brisbane icon Rock and Roll George’s car which is now proudly exhibited in the Queensland Museum. He commissioned a drivable replica of how it looked in the 1970s to further pay homage to George’s memory.
