Julie Hutchison

abrdn plc - Charity

Profile

Now a non-practising member of the Law Society of Scotland, Julie uses the depth of her cross-sector expertise to support charities and public bodies resolve complex governance issues. Her problem-solving skills are informed by a unique blend of experience which spans private, public, charity and academic fields.

Her expertise in understanding, changing and creating decision-making processes and structures has seen her involved in notable pieces of regulatory and legal review work for the Scottish Government and public bodies in Scotland. She has co-authored a piece of trustee regulatory guidance for OSCR, the Scottish Charity Regulator. Julie also has regular involvement with institutions operating in NHS Scotland, and was appointed by the Scottish Government to Chair the Review of Governance of NHS Endowment Funds. This Review made recommendations in 2021 on strengthening the historic governance arrangements of NHS-linked charities in Scotland, the implementation of which will require legislation.

Her part-time client work for abrdn plc typically involves her acting as a sounding board for the CEOs, chairs or trustees of abrdn’s charity and institutional investment clients, including several public bodies. Julie originally joined the firm as an in-house lawyer in 2004 and has been the Charity Governance Specialist since 2015.

Julie’s public body work is further reflected in her board role with SEPA, Scotland’s Environment Protection Agency. Her private, public and charity sector activities are complemented by her academic experience, including her role as Visiting Professor in Governance and Innovation at Edinburgh Napier University. A firm believer in the benefits of lifelong learning, Julie has continued her own studies in public administration and crisis management at the Hertie School of Governance in Berlin.