60 Seconds with Dominique Burnett - Thought Leaders 4 Private Client Magazine

What has been the best piece of advice you have been given in your career?

Having a conversation is key – finding that common ground, whether it’s a client, an intermediary or a colleague. Get the communication right and the progress follows.

What motivates you most about your work?

Finding solutions to problems. Whether it’s a client who needs help finding their way through a generation transfer, or a colleague who wants to talk through a situation, I enjoy figuring out how to make things work.  

What is the most significant trend in your practice today?

Trying to future-proof structurally and jurisdictionally in this uncertain world.

Where has been your favourite holiday destination and why?

Melbourne: I loved its laid-back vibe, cool museum, quirky suburbs and the largest chocolate éclair I’ve ever encountered while snacking in a Greek/Turkish bakery.

What does the perfect weekend look like?

That would be a blend of routine and trying something new. So having a family brunch in our local café then heading out to see an exhibition or go to a film we all want to see. Eating features heavily in our favourite things to do, which makes living in Singapore ideal!

What would you be doing if you weren’t in this profession?

Teaching English literature to undergraduates.

What advice would you give to your younger self?

Say yes to the things that scare you.

What cause are you passionate about?

Ensuring continued funding for public libraries; they are a source of free education for all, and one of the few places in modern life that you don’t have to pay to exist in.

What is one important skill that you think everyone should have?

The ability to put yourself in others’ shoes. It’s too often talked about as if it is innate, but it is developed through practice.

What has been your most memorable experience during your career so far?

My first trip to Shanghai. Everything about the city was remarkable: the size, the scale, the ambition and mix of old and new in everything, from buildings to food and culture. I was told Shanghai is not just a city for the Chinese, but a city for the world, and it certainly felt that way to me.