#260: Captain Jim Hutton, OBE

Jim has over 44 years of service in the British Royal Navy, Royal Marines Commandos and now the Royal Australian Navy. His focus throughout his military career has been on leading and preparing men and women for operations. From his early experience of three tours of duty in Northern Ireland through later operations in Bosnia, Belize, Sierra Leone, Iraq, Kosovo, and Afghanistan his service has been on the ground, at sea, in operations rooms and joint headquarters, planning and conducting operations and leading in adversity. Since coming to Australia in 2011 he has supported the development of the new amphibious capability through coaching and mentoring of the three amphibious ships’ crews, and commanders and staffs of the amphibious headquarters, over a ten-year period.
His career highlights include planning and conducting the amphibious assault into the Al Faw in Iraq in 2003 and the recent 20th anniversary saw him join with over 200 veterans from 40 Commando Royal Marines to remember the fallen and share tales.

He commanded an Australian Joint Task Group of four warships around the south-west Pacific in 2018 for which he was awarded an ADF Gold Commendation. He uses his experience of leading and commanding on operations in the past to support the development of leaders today.

Through his coaching company, 1 Life Coaching, he continues to coach and mentor amphibians within the Australian Defence Force and has worked with high performing business CEOs, COOs, and senior leadership as well as Defence leaders, offering anecdotal evidence and operational experience on what works in high-pressure environments.

As one of the senior Navy coaches he is sought after to work with new coaches and is regularly asked to speak and facilitate in leadership fora around the ADF on leadership in adversity, change management and preparing for the certainty of uncertainty. He provides both Group and Individual Coach Supervision for Navy Coaches and conducts tailored coaching, mentoring, and facilitating for high quality individuals seeking to exploit their potential and build their resilience as leaders.