Investment banker extraordinaire, patron of the arts, gastronome, raconteur and regular Squiz’er Simon Mordant gives us three minutes

How and where do you Squiz?
I Squiz at home early morning pre going to gym.

What was the first album you ever owned?
1975 Debbie Harry Blondie – her debut album.

Name four people – living or dead – you’d kill to sit down to dinner with.
Nelson Mandela, Bill Gates, Michelle Obama, Indira Gandhi.

Your favourite writers?
Boris Johnson. Tom Wolfe. Samuel Beckett. Donna Leon.

Where were you born?
London, England.

What was it about your wife Catriona that capitivated you the first time you met?
We met at a blind date at the Opera in the Park and went on a second date some weeks later we were engaged 13 days after that and married 4 weeks later. We didn’t stop talking throughout the Opera. We were in total synch and have remained that way for 29 years.

What skill or talent do you not have but wish you did?
I would love to sing in tune!

Which historical figure do you most identify with?
The Medici Family given their focus on the arts and community.

What is your favourite type of performance art, and why?
I love Tino Sehgal’s work. The performance work he did at Documenta 13 in 2012 was poetic.

What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
Temperance.

What’s your worst and best habit?
Worst – smoking cigars.
Best -getting up at 4am every weekday wherever I am in the world.

You are a generous benefactor of the arts in Australia. If you could only gaze upon one artist’s work for the rest of your life, who would that artist be?
I couldn’t possibly pick one-the joy of art is you resonate with a work depending on your mood. Currently I am fascinated by work in virtual reality as it blocks out any distractions.

The best bottle of wine you’ve ever drunk?
1955 Biondi Santi Brunello Montalcino.

You have good friends over and you’re putting on a slap up meal. What’s your go to recipe?
Caviar, chopped eggs and onions with vodka followed by tuna and salmon sashimi of course.

What qualities do you most value in a friend?
Passion and thoughtfulness.

What would you say is the most currently overlooked news story Australians should know about but don’t?
The state of many indigenous communities in Australia. It pains me the circumstances that many members of the oldest continuous culture in the world face.

What’s the most important attribute required to be successful in business (we’re asking for a friend…)?
Listening skills and passion.