This article is sponsored by Hutton Consultancy
For Fiona Hutton, founder and managing director, service is not a business tactic; it is a way of leading. Drawing inspiration from a family legacy of community care and her own career in school leadership, Hutton established Hutton Consulting Australia (HCA) with the belief that true leadership is determined by “the measure of what you do for others”.
This ethos translates into a relational, not transactional, approach. Every engagement at HCA begins with understanding the unique needs of each client, prioritising face-to-face meetings across Australia and forging genuine partnerships with school communities.
“This approach fosters trust, builds long-term relationships and seeks to provide small acts of service that are not advertised on our business website,” explains Hutton. “This foundational team culture is one where we are committed to ensuring that we go above and beyond to support school boards/councils, principals and leadership candidates by reducing their cognitive workload in relation to each project.”
Delivering lasting value
HCA’s approach to recruitment transcends simply filling vacancies. Each leadership appointment is about finding the right individual who aligns with an organisation’s mission, values and aspirations.
With an impressive 96% success rate of placed leaders remaining in their roles beyond the industry standard of two years, HCA’s focus is on sustainable impact and organisational fit.
Beyond recruitment, HCA offers strategic planning, leadership development and organisational reviews, helping educational communities thrive long after an appointment is made.
Measurable impact
Central to HCA’s delivery is the commitment to relationships and smooth leadership transitions. Its candidate care model, which includes family relocation support and personalised feedback for all applicants, has set a new industry benchmark. This human-centred approach ensures that leaders and schools are supported every step of the way.
HCA is also a leader in promoting equity and diversity in educational leadership, as Hutton believes in “giving back to the sector that has given me so much in my career”.
Over the past five years, she has worked with governing boards and councils to ensure remuneration packages include wellbeing allowances and professional supervision to support executive leaders in schools to be physically, spiritually and emotionally well in what have become very demanding and complex jobs.
Hutton sees the importance of encouraging women to have confidence to apply and step into more executive leadership roles, and so the team’s commitment to knowledge sharing and investment in presenting at aspiring leader conferences is a further commitment to the development of leaders.
Additionally, HCA provides sponsorship for aspiring leaders in remote areas, providing the opportunity for these leaders to engage in professional development to support their career progression.
Notably, Hutton’s advocacy for equitable remuneration has driven significant change, particularly in the independent girls’ school sector, where salary packages are now more aligned with those of their male counterparts.
Legacy of service
Proving how successful the firm has been, in just nine years HCA has completed nearly 500 educational leadership placements, including 80 principal positions, and provided leadership development to over 8,500 leaders nationally and internationally.
“In schools and in business, leading with a servant heart is not just a leadership style; it’s a cultural foundation,” Hutton says. “The whole HCA team is exceptional at anticipating needs, exceeding expectations and building leadership capacity.”
For more information, go to hutton.education.