Penelope Hutchinson

Penny’s career began in chartered accountancy, in England, before she migrated to Australia in 1983. Penny was a Deputy Secretary in the Department of Premier and Cabinet from 2000-15, primarily as Director Arts Victoria, also acting in other Deputy Secretary roles and serving on secondment to the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning.

At BDO, Penny led the consulting division which focused on a core client base across many portfolios in the Victorian Public Sector – including health, transport, treasury, environment and community services. Before that, she was a senior policy officer at the Department of Management and Budget and the National Companies and Securities Commission.

From 1985 to 1993, Penny tutored in accounting at Ormond College, University of Melbourne and from 1980 to 1993 she also held the position of Director of Studies for Commerce.

Penny has served on various boards, including Medibank Private, Swanston Trams, Federal Airports Corporation, Victorian Rehabilitation Services Pty Ltd, the Victorian Council of Social Service, the Victorian College of the Arts and Monash University.

From 2005-11 Penny was a member of the Regional Council of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and was Chair in 2009.

Penny has a degree in German and Music from the University of London. She has a diploma of music performance in the clarinet, a Masters in Public Policy at the University of Melbourne, is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia and a graduate of the Institute of Company Directors.