Former Chancellor Belinda Hutchinson AC has been admitted to the degree of Doctor of the University of Sydney in recognition of her outstanding leadership and eminent contributions to business and philanthropy.聽
Ms Hutchinson was honoured at a ceremony held on Monday, presided over by current Chancellor David Thodey AO who paid tribute to her extraordinary career and the transformative impacts of her tenure as one of the University's key leaders. 聽
鈥淒uring her nearly 12 years as Chancellor and leader of the University鈥檚 Senate, Belinda contributed to many of the University鈥檚 key transformational projects across governance, infrastructure, finance, strategy and philanthropy,鈥 said Mr Thodey.聽
鈥淭he University鈥檚 campuses were transformed with major new buildings enabling innovative approaches to multidisciplinary research and cutting-edge teaching.聽聽
鈥淏elinda led with energy, integrity and determination to make a wonderful university better today and to secure its future for tomorrow.鈥澛
From trailblazing alumna to sought-after business leader聽
Ms Hutchinson is an alumna of the University who graduated with a Bachelor of Economics in 1976. She began her career at the consulting firm Accenture before spending 11 years at Citibank working in corporate finance and leading their Financial Institutions Group.
Her impressive dealings with Macquarie Group landed her an invitation to join their advisory business and establish its Equity Capital Markets division. In the mid-1990s, she put aside her frontline business leadership to look after her young family while continuing to consult for Macquarie Group.
It wasn鈥檛 long before offers from diverse, high-profile companies were forthcoming and she later joined the boards of Telstra, Coles Myer, AGL Energy and St Vincent鈥檚 Health Australia.
In 2010, Ms Hutchinson was appointed Chairman of QBE, the largest insurer in Australia and one of the world鈥檚 top 20, operating in 37 countries.聽
Three years later, she became the 18th Chancellor of the University and served in the role for over a decade.聽
Ms Hutchinson鈥檚 time as an economics student and her work with not-for-profit organisations instilled in her a strong sense of the value of education and the critical role of tertiary education and research in securing Australia鈥檚 social and economic future.聽
These experiences guided her significant contributions as Chancellor to the University鈥檚 campuses and community.聽
Belinda led with energy, integrity and determination to make a wonderful university better today, and to secure its future for tomorrow.
Chancellor David Thodey AO
Contributions beyond the campus聽
In 2015, Ms Hutchinson and her husband Roger Massy-Greene made a generous donation to the University to encourage science, technology, engineering and maths students to teach at some of NSW鈥檚 most disadvantaged schools.
The former Chancellor made a further substantial gift last year as part of the University鈥檚 MySydney Entry and Scholarship Scheme for students from low-socioeconomic areas, and recently graciously agreed to act as Patron of the University鈥檚 new ambitious philanthropic campaign which launches later this year.聽聽聽聽
Ms Hutchinson鈥檚 philanthropy extends far beyond the University. She and Mr Massy-Greene also established the Eureka Benevolent Foundation which supports education and community-based projects to overcome disadvantage, such as the Hunger Project in Malawi, Africa.聽聽
Among her many accolades, Ms Hutchinson was named a Member of the Order of Australia in 2007 and a companion in the Order of Australia in 2020.聽
The prestigious awards recongised her eminent service to business, tertiary education and scientific research, as well as her philanthropic endeavours to address social disadvantage.聽
The University renamed its Abercrombie Building as the Belinda Hutchinson Building in late 2024, paying tribute to Ms Hutchinson鈥檚 highly successful career as a business leader.聽聽
From left: Deputy Chancellor Mr Richard Freudenstein, Chancellor David Thodey AO, Belinda Hutchinson AC, Dean of the Business School Professor Leisa Sargent and Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost Professor Annamarie Jagose.
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