ASIC has banned Dominique Grubisa, the Sydney-based CEO and director of DG Institute Pty Ltd, from engaging in credit activity, providing financial services, performing any function in a credit entity, or controlling a credit entity or financial services business for four years.

Ms Grubisa is a lawyer and the CEO of the DGI group of companies, which includes DG Institute and DGI Wealth Pty Ltd. Through DG Institute, Ms Grubisa provided training courses and services covering asset protection and wealth management, which were delivered through live seminars and broadcast online.

ASIC found that Ms Grubisa:

• Represented that she and her company DGI Wealth held an Australian financial services licence and Australian credit licence when neither she nor DGI Wealth held those licences,
• Represented that she was an ‘ASIC licenced debt specialist’, despite no such licence existing at that time,
• Failed to rectify these misrepresentations despite being made aware they were false,
• Was in the habit of stating she held licences when she did not and had a tendency to embellish her qualification to create credibility,
• Encouraged her students to use data from the Family Court list for an improper purpose, such as to identify people in financial distress, with the hope of buying property under value,
• Has a habit of not telling the truth, and
• Failed to conduct herself with the professionalism of someone providing financial and credit services

ASIC also found that Ms Grubisa is not a fit and proper person to engage in financial services or credit activities and is likely to continue to contravene financial services and credit law.

The banning is recorded on ASIC’s banned and disqualified register.

Ms Grubisa has the right to appeal to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal for a review of ASIC’s decision.

Background

Other companies within the DGI group of companies include DGI Debt Management Pty Ltd, DGI Finance Pty Ltd and Master Wealth Control Pty Ltd.

Master Wealth Control’s ACL was cancelled on 5 May 2021 because it had not engaged in credit activity since it was granted.

Editor's note 1:

On 31 March 2022, Ms Grubisa lodged applications with the Administrative Appeals Tribunal for a review and stay of ASIC’s decision. ASIC was notified of these applications on 5 April 2022.

Editor's note 2:

On 4 May 2022, Ms Grubisa withdrew the stay application. The Review application remains on foot.

Editor's note 3:

On 16 March 2023, the matter was listed for hearing on 11 to 14 April 2023.

Editor's note 4:

The matter was adjourned on 13 April 2023 and will resume on 30 May 2023.

Editor's note 5:

Following conclusion of the hearing on 30 May 2023, the AAT has reserved its decision.