Home Contact

Domini Stuart

I write about business, health and technology for hard copy and online publications. I have a particular interest in social justice and human rights.

Scroll down to see examples of my work.

My Articles

Company Director •

The Australian Business Growth Fund is helping SMEs access funding - AICD

“The two biggest limiting factors to SME growth in Australia are access to funding and to the right sorts of skills,” says Anthony Healy MAICD, CEO and managing director of the Australian Business Growth Fund (ABGF). “We set up ABGF as an innovative way to overcome these challenges.”

ABGF is a public-private partnership between the federal government and six leading banks — National Australia Bank (NAB), Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Westpac Banking Corporation, Australia and New Zealand B...

How boards need to work collaboratively for better outcomes for First Nations people - AICD

The relationship Australia has with its First Nations people is one of the most, if not the most, important issues facing the country today, according to Colin Carter AM FAICD, senior adviser at The Boston Consulting Group. He was speaking at the 26 May webinar, National Reconciliation Week: How organisations can create lasting social impacts, moderated by Louise Petschler GAICD, General Manager, Education & Policy Leadership AICD. Joining Carter on the panel were Cath Brokenborough GAICD, execu...

Human-centred design in the insurance industry

Within one year of its launch in 2020, Singapore-based insurtech company bolttech achieved unicorn status. Series A funding of US$210 million — said to be the highest ever in this sector — lifted its valuation to over US$1 billion. Within two years, the company had a presence in more than 30 countries across the Asia Pacific, Europe and the Americas.

“The vision of bolttech is really quite simple — to connect people with more ways to protect the things they value,” the company’s chief customer...

UniSA pursues lead for First Nations enrolments - AICD

Uncle David: The University of South Australia (UniSA) has a proud and celebrated history in Aboriginal education. The university’s founding legislative function is to provide education opportunities for Aboriginal Peoples and its mission is built on the work of pivotal antecedent organisations, including the Aboriginal Studies and Teacher Education Centre (Western Teachers College), Aboriginal Task Force, Anangu Tertiary Education Program, and the School of Aboriginal and Islander Administratio...
Business Research and Insights •

Pioneer's next move | Business Research and Insights

Dr Derek Mahony was a trailblazer in early orthodontic intervention in Australia. Now he’s set to extend his successful model into a whole new market. When Dr Derek Mahony moved to the UK in 1988, he left a traditional dental practice behind. He returned to Australia three years later with a life-changing business plan.
“Completing a Master’s degree in orthodontics in London introduced me to the concept of early intervention,” he says.
“The traditional approach to orthodontics is to wait until...

Championing First Nations Art Through Reconciliation Action Plans - AICD

As a peak body for museums, galleries and Aboriginal cultural centres, prioritising First Nations art and cultural heritage has always been key to our work.
Our first RAP was developed soon after our organisation held a Keeping Places & Beyond summit in 2011. One of the recommendations from this summit was the establishment of the Aboriginal Culture, Heritage and Arts Association (ACHAA), an Aboriginal-led peak body for Aboriginal cultural centres across NSW with M&G NSW playing a secretariat ro...
ACUITY •

How are women shaping the future of AI?

When AI creators are mostly men, there’s a danger that bias will disadvantage women. Here’s how one group is preventing this.By day, Angela Kim is head of insights, reporting and data analytics and AI at health insurance provider AIA. In her free time, she volunteers as ambassador and chief education officer at the not-for-profit Women in AI (WAI).
Launched in Paris in 2016, WAI has grown from a small Facebook group into a community of more than 8000 members in 140 countries. It has a mission to...

Navigating risk in the evolving D&O insurance landscape - AICD

In 2018, the big news in Directors and Officers (D&O) insurance was soaring premiums. Successive years of underpriced capacity and rising claims activity had triggered a “hard market” phase that was to last for four years. Today, higher rates are attracting new carriers, increasing competition and driving down costs — at least for the time being. Insurers may need to increase premiums to offset increases in the cost of defending a claim and any compensation caused by global inflation.
“During th...

Technology is redefining business models - AICD

Board members are highly experienced and, in the past, this was all it took to do a good job. Ongoing education was shrugged off as unnecessary. Times are changing.
“We have to recognise that what we knew yesterday will not serve us well tomorrow,” says Associate Professor Lynn Gribble of the UNSW School of Management and Governance, known for her work with AI and higher education. “Even if we desire just to stay where we are, that requires constant learning and constant adaptation.”
The develop...
Photo by lalesh aldarwish on Pexels

Update on the Modern Slavery Act Review - AICD

Most new legislation with untested regulatory impact is subject to a three-year review. In March last year, Professor John McMillan AO was appointed to lead such a review of the Modern Slavery Act 2018 (the Act) with the support of the Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Branch. An Emeritus Professor at the Australian National University, McMillan has extensive experience in conducting major investigations and providing legal and policy advice. He has also reviewed the medicinal cannabis regula
Business Research and Insights •

A brilliant career built on dedication and determination

“I feel very fortunate to do what I always wanted to do.” President of The Australian & New Zealand Association of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons Dr Patrishia Bordbar tells us about her incredible journey from a young girl in Iran to her career today as a renowned surgeon.

By the time she was 13 years old, Patrishia Bordbar had left behind her home in Tehran during the Iran-Iraq War, lived and studied for two years in Germany, then settled in Australia. Even at that young age, she was determined
Business Research and Insights •

From rural health recruitment to 65 medical centres

While practising in the NSW outback, doctors Hamish Meldrum and Ross Lamplugh had a passion to improve rural and remote healthcare. Today, the result is Ochre Health - a national network of 65 medical centres and two medical recruitment businesses. And they're not done yet.

It was Christmas 2001 and Dr Ross Lamplugh was about to miss out on his holiday. He and Dr Hamish Meldrum were working as procedural GPs in the NSW outback town of Bourke and had planned a break at the same time. Despite giv

Insurance for cryptocurrency: how can we cover digital currencies?


• Cryptocurrencies offer significant opportunities for insurers, although there are challenges to overcome.
• The volatility of the currencies is a major concern.
• There is a pressing need for clear and consistent regulation globally.


The transaction volume of cryptocurrencies tracked by blockchain data platform Chainalysis grew to US$15.8 trillion in 2021, up 576 per cent on the previous year. Over the same period, criminals acquired cryptocurrencies worth US$14 billion — a significant bu
Business Research and Insights •

Four brothers, 13 pharmacies: How risk equalled reward

It took a brave relocation to regional NSW to kick-start Fawaz Khodary’s pharmacy career. Today, it’s paid off handsomely as he and his three pharmacist siblings grow their Your Discount Pharmacy brand.

When Fawaz Khodary gained his degree in pharmacy he feared he’d made a big mistake.

“All pharmacists need to work as a supervised intern before they can be registered but, in 1991, jobs were hard to find,” he says. “I approached 50 or 60 Sydney pharmacies without success.”

The sense of having

The insurance industry’s net zero commitment - AICD

Climate change is creating an insurance crisis in Australia. An average rise in the global temperature of 1.44oC over pre-industrial levels has already increased the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, driving up both the number of claims and the cost of premiums.



“Insurance is the bellwether for climate impacts in Australia across a range of sectors, and rising temperatures are having an impact on the availability and affordability of insurance in this country,” says Andrew
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels

Importance of acquisition strategy

A 2011 article published in the Harvard Business Review pegged the overall failure rate for M&As as between 70 and 90 per cent. Since then, this has been widely quoted. A decade later, Aoris Investment Management examined 1,000 of the largest M&A deals over the past 50 years and put the failure rate at 60 per cent. Aoris also identified the two most likely causes as the size of the deals and how far the acquirer strays from their core business.

“While many of the risks associated with cross-ind

How boards need to work collaboratively for better outcomes for First Nations people - AICD

The relationship Australia has with its First Nations people is one of the most, if not the most, important issues facing the country today, according to Colin Carter AM FAICD, senior adviser at The Boston Consulting Group. He was speaking at the 26 May webinar, National Reconciliation Week: How organisations can create lasting social impacts, moderated by Louise Petschler GAICD, General Manager, Education & Policy Leadership AICD. Joining Carter on the panel were Cath Brokenborough GAICD, execu
Photo by ALTEREDSNAPS on Pexels

The insurance industry’s net zero commitment

Climate change is creating an insurance crisis in Australia. An average rise in the global temperature of 1.44oC over pre-industrial levels has already increased the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, driving up both the number of claims and the cost of premiums.



“Insurance is the bellwether for climate impacts in Australia across a range of sectors, and rising temperatures are having an impact on the availability and affordability of insurance in this country,” says Andrew
Photo by Alp Ar Tunga Jabbarli on Pexels

The benefits of transport sustainability - Company Director magazine

The arguments for a switch to greener transport options tend to focus on reducing global emissions, and with good reason. In 2020, transport was responsible for 18 per cent of Australian carbon emissions, with cars accounting for around 47 per cent of that amount. However, a switch also introduces significant opportunities.



“Incorporating smart and green technologies will bring a number of key benefits to businesses, particularly cost savings, enhanced competitiveness, operational efficienc
Australian Securities Exchange •

Gaming leader re-focuses on Australia and Canada

When Sam Swanell founded PointsBet in 2015 his initial aim was to build a profitable Australian business. By 2022, the company was generating net revenue of just under $200 million a year and had a five per cent share of the local online gaming market.

“We’re on a clear path to securing a top four position in Australia,” says group chief financial officer Andrew Mellor.

Swanell also had an eye on North America, where a federal law banning gambling on football, basketball, baseball and other sp
Australian Securities Exchange •

Kiwi ingenuity behind ground-breaking Rett syndrome treatment

In March this year, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Neuren Pharmaceuticals’ Daybue (trofinetide) as the first treatment for Rett syndrome, which is a rare, genetic neurological disorder that almost exclusively affects girls. In April, the drug was launched in the US by Neuren’s partner, Acadia Pharmaceuticals.

“This was an enormous moment,” says Jon Pilcher, Neuren’s CEO/MD. “In our clinical trials and now in ongoing treatment, caregivers have reported some very meaningful im

How the resources sector beat COVID-19 - AICD

The 130 members of the Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia (CMEWA) produce all Australia’s iron ore and lithium — and a significant proportion of the nation’s gold, oil and gas. CEO Paul Everingham suggests that lessons learned from past outbreaks of measles and influenza gave resources a significant jump-start on other industries when it came to managing the contagious disease. “As soon as it became clear that COVID-19 was highly infectious, our members came together to work on

Current events - AICD

NRMA member research shows that — after the purchase price — accessibility to public charging infrastructure is the biggest barrier to adopting EVs. “The major piece of infrastructure required is a connected national EV charging network,” says NRMA’s CEO of membership and motoring, Emma Harrington MAICD. “This is a significant investment requiring government support because Australia is a large country with a small population — which makes connection difficult. We also need to invest in the elec
Australian Securities Exchange •

Online education comes of age

He’s also determined the decision to study online should not be based on cost. Universities set tuition fees, but the aim is for courses to cost the same, no matter if they are delivered by the university face-to-face or through Keypath’s online format.


Along with geographical expansion, Keypath is improving how programs are delivered through its platform. Healthcare is an area of focus, which is a sector in which there is significant unmet demand for online education resources.

“Healthcare
Load More