The opportunity to be on land and be close to water drew the former Minerals Council of Australia chief executive officer (CEO) to the area.

Together with his wife and three daughters, Mr Hooke has called Glenquarry home for nearly six years.

The family bought land in Glenquarry in 2011, but Mr Hooke spent much of his time in Canberra until 2013, when he retired from the Minerals Council of Australia after 12 years in the top seat.

"I knew I was getting too old to do my first love, which is the land, and we've always loved the atmosphere in the Southern Highlands," he said.

"The idea of having water appeals to me.

"We love being here."

Although retired, Mr Hooke still keeps tabs on the many industries he worked for during his extensive 30-year career.

He's worn many hats including inaugural Australian Food and Grocery Council CEO, Grains Council of Australia executive director, Trade Policy Group chair, Climate Change Policy Group chair and Australian Government's Reconciliation Australia Group member, to name a few.

In all of his roles, he has been at the forefront of major change in each of the industries he's worked in.

"Very few people have been has fortunate in their careers as I have," he said.

"Every period in my career has come with remarkable change in the industry."

This includes his involvement in the deregulation of wheat during his time as CEO of the Grains Council of Australia.

However, it's not just the agricultural, mining and food industry that he's had an impact on. Mr Hooke led the Memorandum of Understanding on Indigenous employment and enterprise development between the government and the Minerals Council. He was also a member of the government's Reconciliation Australia Group on Constitutional Reform.

His involvement with the Indigenous community stems from his firm beliefs about mutual respect and cultural understanding.

"My favourite word is engagement because you have to have cultural understanding," Mr Hooke said.

"It's important to always make people feel comfortable in your presence.

"You have to build mutual respect, it's the key."

But, he dedicates his successful career to the people who supported him through it.

"Nobody is an island," he said.

"Nobody does what I did in my career without incredible support."

One of these people was Melanie Stutsel.

"She brings out these skills in you that in no way, could I have made the contribution that I did to Indigenous people without her and other Indigenous leaders," Mr Hooke said.

"I grew up in a generation where people had no idea of the life of Aborignal people and no idea of the difference between assimilate and integrate.

"One of the biggest deficiencies in corporate Australia is people skills and cultural respect by understanding other people's values and not imposing your own."

Mr Hooke reflects on his time working with the Indigenous community as an "amazing" one.

Recently, his contributions have been recognised nationally with his induction into the Order of Australia as a member (AM).

The award came as a surreal surprise to Mr Hooke, who said it was particularly special for his 92-year-old mother.

"Mum and dad came out of the war and they went out of their way to get us educated," he said.

Reflecting on his many positions and experiences, Mr Hooke said standards and values were crucial to his success and contributions.

"Even when you disagree with people, mutual respect creates mutual discourse, which creates empathy and if you get empathy, you get equity and interest and there is no greater compliment than that," he said.