David Burt is a Bermudian politician and business executive who has served as Premier of Bermuda since 2017. A member of the Bermuda Progressive Labour Party, he has also held the position of Minister of Finance and has represented constituency interests as a Member of the Bermuda House of Assembly since 2012. ^[1]

Education

Burt graduated from George Washington University with a BBA in Finance and Information Systems in 2001 and an MS in Information Systems Development in 2003. He obtained a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification in 2009. ^[2]

Career

Burt began his professional career in technology and project management. In 2004, he founded GMD Consulting Ltd., an information technology consulting company in Bermuda, where he served as president until 2016. The company focused on IT services and project management. During this period, he also co-founded HITCH Limited and served as lead developer of the HITCH Mobile App, a platform designed for taxi services in Bermuda. Burt entered public service in 2010 when he was appointed as a Government Senator, serving until 2012. He was elected to the Bermuda House of Assembly in December 2012, a position he has continued to hold. From 2011 to 2016, he also served as president of GMD Consulting Ltd. In 2016, he became leader of the Bermuda Progressive Labor Party.

In July 2017, Burt was elected Premier of Bermuda and appointed Minister of Finance, becoming the youngest person to hold the office at age 38. He served as Premier and Minister of Finance from 2017 to 2018, then as Premier from November 2018 to February 2022. In February 2022, he resumed the combined role of Premier and Minister of Finance, continuing in both positions. During his tenure, Burt’s government introduced several policy initiatives, including establishing a statutory minimum wage, amending cannabis possession laws, adjusting payroll taxation, expanding funding for education and professional development, implementing affordable housing programs, and providing financial support for first-time homeowners and seniors. His administration also focused on digital finance initiatives and fiscal reforms, including achieving a government budget surplus after more than two decades of deficits.

Burt has served on several public and business organizations, including the Bermuda Tourism Board, the National Training Board, the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce, and the Bermuda Economic Development Corporation. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance and Information Systems and a Master of Science in Information Systems Development from George Washington University. ^{[1] [5]}

Interviews

Global Finance & Tourism

At the 2025 ForbesBLK Summit in October, Burt discussed his transition from a technology entrepreneur to a political leader and the lessons that shaped his approach to governance. Burt emphasized the importance of identifying problems clearly, communicating solutions effectively, and adapting strategies when circumstances change. He described the challenges of applying an entrepreneurial mindset within government but noted that leadership allowed him to streamline processes and advance initiatives such as pension reform and economic development. He also discussed Bermuda’s 2018 decision to create a regulatory framework for digital asset businesses, explaining that the initiative was developed in response to an opportunity to build on the country’s financial services expertise while maintaining strong oversight and attracting reputable companies, including Coinbase, Circle, and Kraken. Burt highlighted Bermuda’s broader economic strategy of positioning itself as a knowledge-based economy, attracting skilled professionals, encouraging knowledge sharing through programs such as fintech education, and developing a tourism model focused on niche experiences, cultural events, and luxury hospitality rather than mass tourism. He also outlined policies implemented to expand economic opportunity, including mortgage assistance, tax reforms, minimum-wage measures, childcare support, labor protections, and increased access to education. Looking ahead after his tenure as premier, Burt expressed continued interest in technology, artificial intelligence, and football administration, while encouraging entrepreneurs and leaders to pursue excellence, build strong relationships, collaborate, and focus on long-term value creation rather than shortcuts. ^[3]

Future of Financial Infrastructure

At the 9th Annual Blockchain Central Davos event in March 2026, Burt discussed Bermuda’s digital finance strategy and the evolution of its blockchain sector. He explained that Bermuda’s digital asset journey began in 2017 when the government identified an opportunity to apply its established expertise in financial regulation and insurance to emerging digital asset markets. This resulted in the creation of a task force and the introduction of the Digital Asset Business Act in 2018, which helped establish a regulatory framework that supported the growth of dozens of digital asset businesses and insurers. Burt highlighted Bermuda’s partnership with companies such as Circle and Coinbase to advance the goal of becoming a fully on-chain economy while ensuring digital finance adoption benefited local businesses and residents.

Burt emphasized that Bermuda’s focus had shifted toward making digital finance accessible beyond institutional investors by enabling individuals and small businesses to use stablecoins, tokenized assets, and other blockchain-based financial tools. He discussed initiatives such as digital finance forums and USDC distributions that introduced residents to digital financial services while demonstrating potential use cases for everyday adoption. Burt also described Bermuda’s role in influencing global digital asset regulation and argued for greater international collaboration between governments, regulators, and industry participants. He highlighted the connection between Bermuda’s insurance expertise and tokenization opportunities, as well as the Bermuda Monetary Authority’s work on emerging areas such as DeFi supervision, positioning the jurisdiction as a regulatory hub for digital finance innovation. ^[4]