Is currently the President of the Asia Pacific at Golin Group, providing effective solutions for major brands through a variety of specialties in key practice groups: Consumer, Corporate, Healthcare and Technology.
Previously, President and Vice-Chair of Weber Shandwick China, Darren has spearheaded the agency’s growth and transformation into one of the region’s most exciting and forward-thinking integrated communications agencies.
His passion for nurturing creativity, driving innovation and delivering results-oriented campaigns has helped Weber Shandwick win no less than ten industry “Agency of the Year” awards over the past two years. Burns himself was named Australia China Alumni of the year for Corporate Achievement in 2015 and named to the inaugural APAC Innovator 25 list by industry publication the Holmes Report in 2016.
Burns breadth of experience extends from market entry planning, launching new companies to guiding brands and industry leaders through a range of high profile, mission-critical situations. He has also lead the creation of new services and offerings developed in China that have now been adopted in western markets.
Burns is a visiting lecturer at Shanghai’s prestigious Fudan University, where he co-delivers a course on strategic communications. He is also a frequent communications awards industry judge, most recently at the 2018 PRWeek Global Awards and the Cannes Lions.
Burns holds two undergraduate degrees in international business management and Asian studies from Griffith University in Australia, and has completed executive education at Harvard Business School. Functional in Mandarin Chinese, Burns is a regular industry commentator in the Chinese and regional press.
