Susan Hutchison is the Executive Director of the Charles and Lisa Simonyi Fund for Arts and Sciences, a philanthropic foundation based in Seattle which has provided $100 million in grants to arts, science, and education programs during her 10-year leadership. Major grantees include The Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton; Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST); Seattle Symphony; Seattle Art Museum; Russian National Orchestra; Metropolitan Opera Broadcasts; Seattle Public Schools Inquiry Science Program; and Seattle�s Museum of Flight.

Susan is well known in western Washington as a distinguished TV news anchor, serving the Puget Sound region as a broadcaster and community leader for more than 20 years. During her career at KIRO-TV (CBS), she anchored the highest rated newscasts in Seattle, receiving numerous awards, including five Emmys for producing, writing, and reporting news and documentaries.

In 2009, Susan ran for the non-partisan office of King County Executive and won the primary with Democratic and Republican endorsements. She also received the endorsement of the Northwest�s largest newspaper, Seattle Times, but lost in the general election. Even so, her campaign is credited with changing King County government by persuasively advocating for sound fiscal policies.

Susan has served in leadership positions on numerous non-profit boards and is currently Vice Chair of Young Life International, Finance Chair of the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington, D.C., and a member of the Seattle Art Museum board and Seattle Community Colleges Chancellor�s Advisory Council. She has also served on the boards of the Smithsonian�s Air and Space Museum, Seattle Children�s Hospital, and as Chair of the Seattle Symphony and Chair of CRISTA (World Concern).

At the request of the King County Executive, Susan served on the 10-member King County independent Task Force on Elections, which provided recommendations to the county and state to improve the fairness and accuracy of elections following the disputed 2004 Washington gubernatorial race. She was appointed to the Governor�s A+ Commission for Education and the NCAA Committee for Compliance at the University of Washington.

As an adjunct professor for Seattle Pacific University�s MBA program, she instructed graduate students in Managerial Communications based on her 10 years as a communications consultant. Through her business, Susan Hutchison Presents, she has trained more than 100 high tech executives in companies such as Microsoft to effectively communicate to audiences. She is a graduate of the University of Florida with a B.S. in Journalism.