Farewell to outgoing ADA President, Dr Mark Hutton

This article was first published in the ADA's News Bulletin, December 2022.

What led you to the President’s chair, back in 2020?

It happened organically. After being a member of Federal Council (FC) for 10 years, I mentioned to several people that it was probably time for me to step down and make way for someone else. They suggested that I should use my experience to contribute as a member of Federal Executive (FE) and after some thought I nominated and was subsequently elected to the FE.

I believed I could positively contribute to the ADA as president after gaining knowledge and skills from being a member of FE and assessing what needed to be done. 
 

You will always be the one who steered the ADA through a global pandemic! Can you tell us your most memorable moments?

It was certainly an interesting time to be President and I wondered for some time if I would be the first president to never chair a face-to-face FC meeting. We need to remember though that Dr Carmelo Bonanno had weathered the beginning of the pandemic as president along with our hard-working FC and committees, especially the Infection Control committee.

Virtual meetings are challenging to chair when situated at home, particularly when there are more than 20 participants and there is no secretarial support in the room, just three computer screens and a stack of printed papers in front of you. The meetings worked well though, probably because we all knew each other really well and had a lot of contact before the pandemic. The most memorable moment to me was the virtual handover to me with Damian Mitsch wearing a cut-out mask of my face and Dr Carmelo Bonanno placing the chain of offce around his neck. It had been well thought out and I was impressed with the effort that they had gone to, although a grey wig for Damian would have helped!
 

Apart from pandemic-related moments, what have been some highlights of the role for you?

I have really enjoyed the comraderie of those I have worked with across the whole profession and meeting and discussing issues with various stakeholders. Great memories include having the privilege to present ADA awards to members for outstanding service to the ADA dentistry and the community on several occasions, and working with incredibly dedicated and talented contributors to the ADA. I am also delighted that we are developing a new Strategic Plan, which had been delayed by the pandemic, but is close to completion and that a Governance Review is underway.
 

What do you think or hope will be your legacy as you step down, and what has the role given you to take away, in terms of lessons learned or skills gained?

I said at the beginning of my presidency that at the end of my term I would like to look back at a more united, smoothly running and coherent organisation. I believe we have moved a long way down that path and we have become focused and effcient with, for example, two-day FC meetings becoming one-day meetings without loss of effectiveness and at each meeting reviewing our advocacy priorities.

Both the Federal Body and Branches have signed a Core Behaviours document and I have been impressed by the improvement in culture which has occurred. I am excited to see the talented members who are moving into leadership positions both at a Branch and Federal level and look forward to the momentum continuing. The continued evolution of the National Advisory Committee and the ADA Inter-Organisation Working Forum have facilitated improved Federal-Branch relations.

The role has provided me with improved analytical, leadership and governance skills which hopefully will be useful in future endeavours.
 

We saw you take on plenty of media coverage – what was that like, being in the spotlight?

My view of the media is a little different to others and is influenced by a medical reporter of a large newspaper many years ago telling me that the media is primarily in the game of entertainment. I also believe that we should use experts in the topics being addressed, given the president is not an expert on every aspect of dentistry or the organisation. I did some interesting interviews including one addressing the myth that lying causes pimples on the tongue! I began my ADA involvement at the Branch level with the media as a radio talk back dentist in 1989 and lost the excitement of being in the spotlight many years ago. I am always wary of the media and am careful to be well prepared and briefed. Even so I was fascinated but not surprised a couple of times with the very selective reporting and spin put on my comments.
 

What advice do you give the incoming president, and what can they look forward to?

I have always believed that all members of FE should be involved in the leadership of the ADA, and that the Vice- President should work with the President and not just fill a position on FE. This facilitates a smooth transition from one President to another and ensures the organisation follows its strategic plan. Our incoming president, Dr Stephen Liew has worked with me and has been of great assistance to me as Vice-President, as well as taking leadership on some issues. I believe that future executives can look forward to continuation of this inclusive leadership style from which the ADA and its members will benefit greatly.
 

What are your plans now?

My contribution to ADA will not completely end and I have already been nominated for and been appointed to an external committee – I will just be no longer involved in the day-to-day governance of ADA but will be happy to contribute if asked.

I sold my practice a couple of years ago but still work in it two days a week. I will continue to administer a recently personally established charitable enterprise, and hope to spend more time at my beach house with my wife Debb and friends. It will also be nice to get away a little more with Debb in our caravan. I have a shed full of tools and future projects and am looking forward to spending much more time in it.
 

A final word from Mark

There are many to thank. I am grateful for the support that I have been given by FE and FC members and know that I have made some lifelong friends with many of them. I am grateful to the ADA Secretariat who have supported me so well.

I am grateful to my colleagues and staff in my practice who have been behind me along my whole ADA journey – they are very special people. And I am so grateful to my wife Debb who has been so positive and supportive to me.

It is because of this support that I can say that being president of the ADA has been an honour and a real blast!