He was a Liberal member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly from September 2008 to March 2017, representing the electorate of Mount Lawley.
Sutherland's parents met whilst his father was serving as a Warrant Officer in the South African Army in Egypt during the Second World War.
His mother spoke French, Arabic, English and some Italian and Greek, and he grew in a city of diverse nationalities, religions and backgrounds.
[citation needed] After matriculating from The Hill High School where he was head boy, Sutherland undertook national service in the South African army, and then proceeded to complete a Bachelor of Arts at the Witwatersrand University, where he majored in history and international relations.
Whilst teaching, he studied as an external student at the University of South Africa, graduating with a teacher's diploma and law degree.