Dominic Barton

Speaking topics

Presentations listed below include in-person and virtual keynotes, as well as workshops, fireside chats, and other presentation formats.

• Leadership

  Dominic Barton has had the privilege to speak with over 3,400 senior leaders during his career- including those from academic, business, cultural, non-profit, religious, and sporting organizations.

  Despite this, Barton still calls himself a student of leadership and will share his ideas and insights on “the who and the what” of leadership, and the imperatives and implications for those leading organizations (big or small) in today’s ever accelerating world.

• China

  Dominic Barton lived in China from January 2003 to September 2009 and then again from September 2019 to January 2022 when he represented Canada as Ambassador to China. He wrote his book China Vignettes while living there as an exercise to better understand Chinese culture and society. Barton remains fascinated by the culture, the economy and especially innovation in China and can offer insights from his frequent visits to China.

• Board Governance

  Dominic Barton is currently Chair of FTSE listed Rio Tinto, a diversified mining company with operations in 35 countries, and Leapfrog Investments, an impact investment firm with investments in Africa and South-East Asia. He has previously chaired a number of other organizations and national and global initiatives and can offer experience and insights on a range of board governance topics, including strategy, talent, succession, board performance, and board process, all tailored to a wide range of organizations.

• Capitalism

  Dominic Barton co-authored Re-imagining Capitalism, which asked if capitalism can still improve wealth and well-being for many. Adam Smith wrote that “it’s the duty of the entrepreneur to take care of the society in which they operate” (The Theory of Moral Sentiments -1759), which Barton argues remains highly relevant today.

  Barton offers thoughts and his perspectives on the interdependence between business and society, and how that symbiosis helps to foster true long-term value creation at a time when organizations are feeling the impacts of climate change, global economic shifts, and other significant forces that are acting upon the world and society.

• The Future of Agfood

  Dominic Barton chaired Canada’s Advisory Council on Economic Growth from 2016-2017 during which the Council made recommendations to unleash the potential of the Canadian Agfood sector leveraging the country’s advantages (natural resources, food safety, agfood research capabilities, and industry productivity).

  Barton can offer his insights on key global agfood trends, opportunities (i.e., the emerging market demand for higher value food such as proteins), and constraints (i.e., supply constraints driven by climate, water, and carbon emissions).