Richard Burnet

He focused on marketing during his studies at the University of Melbourne, even when formal majors were not yet available.

“I always had a deep desire to get into sport and sports marketing and that’s why I did focus as heavily as I could at the time on marketing within the commerce degree,” he says.

After a successful tenure at BP, where he held multiple roles globally, Burnet faced a crucial decision: stay in the corporate world or venture out on his own. He chose the latter, excited to merge his professional experience with his love for sports. His transition from BP to the Essendon Football Club and, later, the Greater Western Sydney Giants was a significant step in realising his dream.

“It was about marrying those two things up – the passion for sport and getting a business for myself that I was able to drive and shape,” Burnet explains.

Before committing to entrepreneurship, Burnet dabbled in various ventures that gave him a taste of business ownership.

This paved the way for his most significant venture: Body Fit Training (BFT).

Navigating the fitness landscape

Burnet partnered with Cameron Falloon, a former trainer for AFL athletes, who had already established four successful trial sites. The pair wanted to develop the concept of group training that focused on both strength and cardio. Together, they spent six months creating the BFT brand, backed by a robust business model, which laid the groundwork for what would become a thriving global franchise. Burnet's corporate and franchise experience at BP and his roles with football clubs meant he had a unique perspective on business operations.

Being present

Burnet's journey hasn’t been without its challenges. He and his wife, Danielle, came face to face with heartache when their first two sons, Sebastian and Charlie, were diagnosed with an extremely rare and deadly genetic condition, Multiple Sulfatase Deficiency, a form of leukodystrophy, which affects the brain’s white matter.

The condition meant the boys passed away before becoming teenagers. Burnet says being Sebastian and Charlie’s dad profoundly changed him, made him more empathetic and gave him a greater understanding of what it meant to be part of the lives of people living with disability.

“I feel incredibly blessed to have had our boys,” he says.

I am a person who now has… much deeper empathy for others because of what they have taught me, I’m so grateful that they’ve been part of my life.

His wife, Danielle, was the one who gave the family strength.

“She sacrificed so much… I owe her everything, because I certainly couldn’t have been an entrepreneur without her support,” he says.

Now, as a dad to daughter Taylor and son Christian, Burnet says the flexibility that entrepreneurship offers allows him to be present for his family in a way he couldn’t have imagined.

“I don’t want to miss a thing, I want to be so present,” he says.

I’m so lucky and feel so blessed that entrepreneurship gives me… the opportunity to be so present for my family.

Looking ahead

Burnet's vision for BFT continues to grow. With 350 studios now open worldwide and a total of 750 sold, global expansion is well underway.

Burnet estimates he’ll reach his goal of 1000 franchises – a figure he was once too “embarrassed” to include in any strategy documents – in the next five years.