Burnett was appointed Dingwall Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary in 1983 and promoted to Ross Herald of Arms in Ordinary in 1988. He retired as an officer of arms in ordinary in 2010 and was appointed Ross Herald Extraordinary for a period of five years, demitting office on 31 December 2015.
In 1983, Burnett was appointed Dingwall Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary. In 1988, he was promoted to Ross Herald of Arms in Ordinary and retired from his position as an officer of arms in ordinary in 2010. He served as Ross Herald Extraordinary for five years starting in 2015, resigning on December 31, 2015.