Simon Nitschke

Simon is a managing director for our Technologies group based in our Brisbane, Australia office.

Simon is a people-first leader who fosters inclusion, values diverse perspectives, and leads with empathy. Since joining Hatch, he has become known for his supportive mentorship and ability to make others feel valued. His ability to build a culture of collaboration has inspired those around him to grow with confidence and be their authentic selves. 

In recognition of his efforts, Simon was one of the recipients of the 2025 Positive Change Awards, a program to recognize employees who contribute to building Hatch’s inclusive organization, who exemplify the values of our Manifesto, and who actively work towards strengthening our diverse teams.

Why do you believe in diversity and inclusion?

Our professional lives account for a significant portion of how we choose to spend our time and energy. Because of this, it is critically important that all our colleagues feel they can be genuine and authentic in their workplace interactions. This is only achievable when we collectively embrace a culture that values not only our shared principles but also the diverse ways we approach challenges.

At Hatch, the work we do is challenging, and the success of our teams depends on innovative ideas—ideas that are uncovered through an inclusive environment and brought to life through the diversity of our approaches.

What do you think we need to do as individuals to improve inclusivity?

Our Manifesto Driven Leadership training intentionally emphasizes empathy as a key emotional quality that helps us approach situations in ways that lead to the best possible outcomes. Being able to consider the perspectives of others is often the first step toward fully recognizing the value of alternative solutions and approaches that we might not have discovered on our own. This inclusive mindset unlocks the full potential of our teams in ways that cannot be achieved through individual intellectual ability alone.

What does positive change mean to you?

For me, positive change means being able to reflect on our professional careers and recognize that our work has contributed to improving our communities. Through our projects, these changes are often large in scale and clearly visible. However, just as important are the smaller, incremental impacts that come from our daily interactions with colleagues, such as opportunities for professional mentoring or simply showing genuine interest in the lives of our team members.

My own career has been deeply influenced by several informal mentors I have had the privilege of working with over the years. My vision for positive change is to create similar experiences for the team members who are delivering our projects today.

What do you think are the toughest challenges facing our clients?

More than ever before, our clients are expected to consistently seek innovative approaches in their businesses, with a focus on increasing efficiency and productivity while also reducing emissions and ensuring a positive social impact. Balancing these objectives is highly complex and requires multidisciplinary teams that span a wide range of technical and business expertise.

Building long-term collaboration with trusted partners, rather than relying on transactional service delivery, is essential for success. This approach is evolving rapidly for our clients, particularly in the co-development of new technology.

What are you most proud of? 

Few professional experiences are more rewarding than seeing colleagues you have hired, mentored, or managed thrive in roles that exceed their own expectations. I have been fortunate to witness and support the growth of many young engineers throughout my career at Hatch, and this continues to be one of my greatest sources of professional satisfaction and pride. On a more personal note, I love that my kids still think it is exciting that Hatch designs and builds machines that make lava. It has been the subject of many school presentations for them over the years!

What do you like most about working at Hatch?

I have been privileged to experience many distinct stages in my career at Hatch, working across our global offices. It is these opportunities to collaborate with new teams in different locations that have filled my professional journey with experiences I could never have imagined as a graduate. 

Although there have been times that were incredibly challenging, both personally and professionally, I have come to recognize that these same experiences often turn out to be the most rewarding once they are behind us. Our culture is built on the understanding that we consciously choose to take on difficult and complex projects as a business. Most importantly, we always face these challenges together as teams, united by a shared desire to create positive change, which remains a powerful source of motivation for each of us.