2024 IFA APAC Regional Conference Speakers
DAVID BRADBURY
Deputy Director of the Centre for Tax Policy and Administration at Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)
David is a global public policy leader with over 20 years of experience in the law, government and executive leadership. He plays a key role in the OECD's work on taxation, which aims to promote fair, efficient and transparent tax systems that support sustainable growth and development.
David will be a speaker for Plenary 1: Tax Reform and Society
MICHAEL LENNARD
Chief of the International Tax Cooperation Section in the Financing for Sustainable Development Office at The United Nations (UN)
Michael's work focuses on ensuring the fairness and workability of international tax norms for all stakeholders, including achieving greater developing country input into those norms, and encouraging cooperation to improve tax systems as a spur to sustained development that benefits all stakeholders in tax systems. He currently leads the UN Secretariat work on tax, trade and investment, and on taxation of the digitalized and globalized economy.
Michael will be a speaker for Plenary 3: The New(?) United Nations Tax Convention
PROFESSOR KEES VAN RAAD
Chairman of the International Tax Center Leiden & Of Counsel at Loyens & Loeff
Professor Raad is a past Professor of International Tax Law at the University of Leiden. He has been a member of the IBM's Board of Trustees and belongs to the steering group for OECD's International Network for Tax Research.
Professor Raad will be chairing Plenary 3: The New(?) United Nations Tax Convention
MR. TODD BEUTLER
Partner at BMT Law Group
Todd is a Partner at BMT Law Group. His practice focuses on tax, trust, and business matters for individuals, fiduciaries and family-controlled businesses throughout the world, as well as litigation and tax controversy.
Todd will be a speaker for Workshop 3: Tax Transparency: Past, Present and Future
MR. PETER CHEN
Partner at Chan & Jamison LLP
Peter is both a certified public accountant and an attorney with more than 20 years of experience in tax advisory and planning. He has advised China, Hong Kong and US and other multinational corporations and high net worth individuals on their inbound and outbound transactions, China and international tax issues, investment structuring, regulatory, and business issues; mergers and acquisitions; and the reorganisations of multinationals in China and the Asia Pacific region; structuring of trusts, foundations, estate planning and asset preservation for individuals. He has represented companies and individuals to resolve tax disputes with tax authorities in China and the US.
Peter will be a speaker for Workshop 6: Growing Disparities Between Tax Residence Rules - Are We Heading to Global Anarchy?
MR. ANDREW CHOY
Partner at Ernst & Young
Mr. Choy is a partner at Ernst & Young and is the leader of Greater China International Transaction Tax Services and the International Corporate Tax Advisory. He is also the China North Tax Market Segment Leader. Mr. Choy has 25 years of professional experience and specializes in structuring cross border transactions, pre-acquisition tax analysis for PRC investing clients and Chinese clients investing overseas. He has extensive knowledge in post-acquisition restructuring and integration for multinational companies.
Mr. Choy will be a speaker for Workshop 7: Latest and Hottest Tax Developments in Asia: Do You Really Know What Happens Next Door?
MR. LUIS CORONADO
EY Global Tax Controversy Leader and Transfer Pricing Partner at Ernst & Young Solutions LLP
Luis has worked in Asia since 2005 and has more than 25 years of advisory experience in international tax, transfer pricing, tax policy and controversy issues. Before relocating to Asia, Luis spent several years serving domestic and multinational companies in Latin America, namely Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Peru, and Venezuela. Luis is a frequent speaker at tax seminars and universities in the Americas, Asia, and Europe.
Luis will be a speaker for Workshop 1: Practical issues behind Pillar 2
MR. NICO DERKSEN
Owner at International Tax Management (ITM) Pte Ltd
Trained as a tax lawyer, Nico started his career at the Dutch revenue service. After almost 9 years, he left as a chief inspector to join the international tax practice of Ernst & Young. Early 2012 he decided to start his own niche practice in Singapore, purely having a focus on international tax advisory with clients ranging from large multinationals, start up entrepreneurs, high net worth individuals, family offices, private equity funds, hedge funds, to governmental institutions.
Nico will be a speaker for Workshop 5: Domestic v. Global Anti-Avoidance Principles - Convergence and Challenges
MR. ALIFF FAZELBHOY
Senior Partner at ALMT Legal, Advocates & Solicitors
A senior partner with ALMT Legal with more than three decades in the profession, Aliff Fazelbhoy has an all-round practice and heads the tax and employment law practice at the Firm.
Aliff is known for his practical and solution oriented approach to complex problems and has been consistently recognised by global legal publications like Legal 500, Asia Law, Chambers and Partners, etc as a leading lawyer in the M&A tax and employment practices. The India Business Law Journal and Asian Legal Business has consistently ranked Aliff within the top 100 private practice lawyers and Super 50 India Lawyers in India.
Aliff will be a speaker for Workshop 2: Indirect Taxes: VAT and Customs in Asia
MS. DIYA GABIJA
Principal Associate at ALMT Legal, Advocates & Solicitors
Diya is a principal associate in the Tax and M&A practice with ALMT Legal. Apart with being a qualified lawyer, Diya is also a qualified chartered accountant.
Diya brings on board diverse skill sets and experience of direct, indirect and international tax including expertise on accounting standards and valuation methodologies and has over a decade of experience advising and assisting clients in their domestic as well as cross border tax structuring for M&A and other business transactions. Diya has been recognized by the Asian Legal Business as a ‘rising star’ in their 2023 India edition.
Diya will be a speaker for Workshop 7: Latest and Hottest Tax Developments in Asia: Do You Really Know What Happens Next Door?
PROFESSOR CLÉMENCE GARCIA
Professor at Gakushuin University
Professor Garcia is a professor at Gakushuin University in Tokyo. Her academic research focuses on corporate reporting and taxation. She is a member of the European Accounting Association research group on intangibles and WICI Japan.
Professor Garcia will be a speaker for Plenary 2: Tax and ESG
MR. JARED GARFIELD
Associate Attorney at Hone Maxwell LLP
Jared Garfield, an associate attorney at Hone Maxwell LLP in Singapore, specializes in offering U.S. international tax and business law advice to both companies and individuals. His expertise includes aiding U.S. citizens and green card holders in complying with U.S. international tax reporting obligations, as well as assisting taxpayers in Asia with U.S. assets and beneficiaries. Jared's unique position as a California-licensed attorney based in Singapore allows him to facilitate cross-border transactions, serving as a conduit for Asian investors and businesses looking to enter the U.S. market while ensuring U.S. tax and business law compliance.
Jared will be a speaker for the YIN Seminar: Tax Compliance, Tax Administration and the Standard Business Reporting
MR. IGNACIO GEPP
Partner at Puente Sur
Ignacio is partner at Puente Sur, chair of IFA's Global YIN Committee and member of IFA’s Supervisory Board. He is also a columnist for Bloomberg, Diario Financiero, and La Tercera as well as a published author on the topic of VAT on digital services (IBFD), Pillar Two from the perspective of developing nations (Bloomberg), among others. Furthermore, Ignacio is Bloomberg's International Tax Contributing Author of the year 2022.
Ignacio will be a speaker for the YIN Seminar: Tax Compliance, Tax Administration and the Standard Business Reporting
PROFESSOR YOSHINORI IKEDA
Professor at Meiji University
Yoshinori IKEDA is a Professor of tax law, Meiji University; and an Advisor at Hongo Tsuji Tax & Consulting. Besides being a professor of tax law, he manages the day-to-day operations of international taxation, including transfer pricing. He started working for the National Tax Agency in 1985, and have held positions as the Regional Commissioner, Okinawa Regional Taxation Bureau (2019–2020), Director, Large Enterprise Division (2017–2019), Director, Office of International Operations (2015–2017), Director, Office of Mutual Agreement Procedures (2008–2009), and visiting researcher at Georgetown University Law Center (2004–2005). He earned his LLB from Waseda University in 1985 and an LLM from Harvard Law School in 1996.
Professor Ikeda will be a speaker for Workshop 3: Tax Transparency: Past, Present and Future
MS. YOU LEE JUNG
Partner at DAERYOOK & AJU LLC
Ms. Jung is the former Director of the Tax Crime Investigation Department of the Seoul Northern District Prosecutors' Office. With her extensive experience in various criminal investigations and trials, she has attained profound expertise in the field of taxation during her tenure at the prosecution.
Ms. Jung will be a speaker for Plenary 2: Tax and ESG
MR. THENESH KANNAA
Executive Director of TRATAX Sdn Bhd
Thenesh has experience on advising government agencies and NGOs on tax policy matters, and various multinational enterprises on strategic tax matters comprising of both direct and indirect tax aspects. He is an exco member of IFA’s Malaysian branch, a member of ACCA’s expert panel on taxation and the Chairperson of Chartered Tax Institute of Malaysia (“CTIM”)’s technical committee of direct taxation. Thenesh is also the author of three (3) published books on Malaysian taxation, and chapter-in-book for various international tax publications including IBFD and IFA Cahiers.
Thenesh will be a speaker for Plenary 1: Tax Reform and Society, and Workshop 2: Indirect Taxes: VAT and Customs in Asia
MR. JESSE KAVANAGH
Partner, Hong Kong Tax Reporting & Strategy Leader at PwC Hong Kong
Jesse is a Partner at PwC Hong Kong, with 25 years of tax experience in advisory, financial services and technology. His roles include serving as the Tax Reporting and Strategy Leader for Hong Kong and the Financial Services Tax Transformation Leader for Asia Pacific. Jesse also leads PwC Hong Kong's Pillar Two taskforce.
Jesse will be a speaker for Workshop 1: Pillar 2: Developments and Practical Issues
MR. STEVE KIM
Partner, Senior Foreign Attorney at Lee & Ko
Mr. Kim has about 15 years of experience in the field of international tax. Mr. Kim's experience in international tax encompasses, amongst others, corporate restructuring tax advisory, permanent establishment risk assessment and planning, transfer pricing planning & policy setting, tax dispute prevention and resolution (APA/MAP) support, and other tax advisory works involving corporate tax, VAT, and withholding tax. His practice also involves helping clients with tax audit defense and ensuing tax controversies and disputes.
Mr. Kim will be a speaker for Workshop 7: Latest and Hottest Tax Developments in Asia: Do you Really Know What Happens Next Door?
MS. JI SUK KIM
Prosecutor at Seoul central Prosecutor's office
Ms. Kim has extensive experiences in investigating various tax evasion, money laundering, and tracking and freezing the proceeds of crime. During her 16-year career as a prosecutor, she has specialised in investigating various tax crimes, money laundering crime.
Ms. Kim will be a speaker for Workshop 4: Tax Evasion and Money Laundering
PROFESSOR YURI MATSUBARA
Professor at Meiji University
Yuri Matsubara is a professor of tax law at School of Commerce at Meiji University, Tokyo, Japan. Since 2006 she has joined in IFA. Currently, she is a member of WIN Global Committee. Her main research area is “tax and tech”. Recently, she attended as a panel of WIN seminars at IFA APEC Singapore (2023) and IFA Cancun (2023) respectively. Apart from her native language Japanese, she can speak English, German (fluently), French (basic).
Professor Matsubara will be a speaker for the WIN Seminar: Artificial Intelligence: What Does It Hold for Practitioners and Administrators?
MR. ABHISHEK MUNDADA
Partner at Dhruva Advisors LLP
Abhishek is a fellow member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, with about 17 years’ experience in Direct Tax & Regulatory matters. He has all round expertise and specialisation in Corporate/International Tax Advisory, Transaction and Deal Structuring, Tax Litigation, Individual Taxation, Exchange Control matters amongst other things.
Abhishek will be a speaker for Workshop 5: Domestic v. Global Anti-Avoidance Principles - Convergence and Challenges
MS. MAYUKO NAKAMURA
Attorney at Nishimura & Asahi
Duly admitted in Japan and New York, Ms. Nakamura practices in international tax and tax dispute as well as corporate matters including M&A. From 2017 to 2019, she worked as deputy director at Economic Treaties Division, International Legal Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan.
Ms. Nakamura will be a speaker for Workshop 7: Latest and Hottest Tax Developments in Asia: Do You Really Know What Happens Next Door?
PROFESSOR NOAM NOKED
Associate Professor of Law at Chinese University of Hong Kong
Noam Noked is an Associate Professor of Law at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. He has published extensively on international tax policy, tax transparency, tax administration and compliance. He is also a U.S. tax consultant in the Hong Kong office of Baker McKenzie, advising clients on U.S. and international tax matters.
Professor Noked will be a speaker for Workshop 3: Tax Transparency: Past, Present and Future
MR. PVSS PRASAD
Senior Partner at Prasad & Prasad Chartered Accountants
Mr. Prasad is presently the Chair of IFA India and Senior Partner of Prasad & Prasad Chartered Accountants, Hyderabad, India. He has been a regular speaker and presented papers on Taxation, International Taxation, Accounting Standards, Corporate Governance including Transfer Pricing, Permanent Establishment and other key areas of International taxation etc., at various fora.
Mr. Prasad will be a speaker for Workshop 6: Growing Disparities Between Tax Residence Rules - Are We Heading to Global Anarchy?
MR. ICHWAN SUKARDI
Managing Partner - Tax at RSM Indonesia
Ichwan is the Managing Partner – Tax, RSM Indonesia with more than 25 years experience. Ichwan is experienced in a range of international tax issues, including tax treaties, international transfer pricing, tax structuring and international tax planning. He is a regular contributor for taxation issues in some reputable magazine, newspaper, and other online tax publication such as Bisnis Indonesia, the Jakarta Post, IBFD M&A section, IBFD Asia Pacific Tax Bullettin, International Tax Review, and Orbitax.
Ichwan will be a speaker for Workshop 7: Latest and Hottest Tax Developments in Asia: Do You Really Know What Happens Next Door?
MRS. ANNE QUENEDEY
Chair of WIN Hong Kong Branch & Registered Foreign Lawyer at Baker & McKenzie
Anne has been a tax partner and practitioner across international law firms for almost 20 years, and has extensive experience in international taxation and international project management.
Anne will be chairing the WIN Seminar: Artificial Intelligence: What Does It Hold for Practitioners and Administrators?
MR. RADHAKISHAN RAWAL
Senior Advisor at Dhruva Advisors LLP India
Radhakishan is Senior Advisor to Dhruva Advisors LLP India and has more than 26 years of professional experience. Radhakishan has advised several MNCs and domestic companies on variety of tax and regulatory issues. He is a former sub-committee member of the United Tax Committee and actively participates in the work of UN Tax Committee.
Radhakishan will be a speaker for Plenary 3: The New(?) United Nations Tax Convention
MRS. RACHEL SAW
Head, Asia-Pacific at IBFD
Rachel is the Head, Asia-Pacific of IBFD.
Rachel will be a speaker for Plenary 3: The New(?) United Nations Tax Convention.
DR. VEERINDERJEET SINGH
Senior Adviser on Tax Policy at KPMG Malaysia
Dr. Veerinderjeet has over 40 years of experience in tax matters and is a noted authority on Malaysian taxation. He has served as a Tax Partner/Executive Director at Arthur Andersen and Ernst & Young in Malaysia and has also served in the Malaysian Inland Revenue Department. He has had wide experience across the public sector, academia, private practice, professional bodies (as Past President of the accounting and tax institutes in Malaysia) and the corporate sector (as an Independent Non-Executive Director on various public entities). He is on the Board of Trustees of the IBFD and Vice Chair of the Global Tax Commission of the ICC.
Dr. Veerinderjeet will be a speaker for Plenary 2: Tax and ESG
MR. NAOHITO SUZUKI
Director of Taxation Management Division at National Tax Agency of Japan
Mr. Suzuki is leading initiatives against fraudulent refund of consumption tax (value-added tax) in Tokyo. He has also dealt with actions against high-net-worth individuals and corporations that conduct cross-border transactions and tax avoidance schemes. As a senior advisor in Transfer Pricing Unit of the OECD Centre for Tax Policy & Administration, Mr. Suzuki worked on Action 8-10 and 13 of the OECD/G20 BEPS Project in Paris from 2013 to 2016.
Mr. Suzuki will be a speaker for Workshop 2: Indirect Taxes: VAT and Customs in Asia
DR. SURANJALI TANDON
Associate Professor at National Institute of Public Finance and Policy
Dr. Tandon is Associate Professor at the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy, New Delhi and Visiting Senior Fellow at Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and Environment, LSE. Dr. Tandon's areas of expertise are sustainable finance and taxation.
Dr. Tandon will be a speaker for Plenary 2: Tax and ESG
MR. LUCAS TING
Chair of YIN Hong Kong Branch & Senior Tax Adviser at HKWJ Tax Law & Partners Limited
Lucas has over 10 years of experience in providing solutions in complex tax arenas, tax planning solutions for a global network of corporate and expatriate, tax and legal advice for corporate/individual clients as well as tax and legal advice for ASIC regulated funds and establishing commercial enterprises under CEPA.
Lucas will be chairing the YIN Seminar: Tax Compliance, Tax Administration and the Standard Business Reporting
MR. JEFF VANDERWOLK
Partner at Squire Patton Boggs
Jeff has extensive experience in private practice and government and agency work, most recently as head of the Tax Treaty, Transfer Pricing and Financial Transactions Division at the OECD's Centre for Tax Policy and Administration in Paris. He has also worked at the heart of US tax policymaking, gaining deep knowledge of tax reform and its practical applications. He has advised clients in Asia Pacific, Europe and the US on tax planning, structuring and compliance across numerous industry sectors.
Jeff will be a speaker for Workshop 1: Pillar 2: Developments and Practical Issues
MR. THOMAS VANHEE
Founding Partner at Aurifer
Thomas is the Founder and Partner of Aurifer Middle East Tax Consultancy with offices in UAE and KSA. He is also an Affiliate Professor of Tax Law at Solvay Brussels School of Economics and Management.
Thomas will be a speaker for Plenary 1: Tax Reform and Society
MS. GRACE WAWORUNTU
Grace is a tax practioner since 1998. She is a registered tax consultant brevet C meaning that she is eligible to handle International issue. She has worked in many area of taxation such as tax administration, tax cases and also preparing Transfer Pricing documentation.
Grace will be a speaker for the WIN seminar: Artificial Intelligence: What Does It Hold for Practitioners and Administrators?
PROFESSOR DR. MARTIN WENZ
Professor at University of Liechtenstein
Professor Dr Martin Wenz is a Professor of National and International Tax Law and holds the Chair for Business Taxation and the Laws of International and Liechtenstein Taxation at the University of Liechtenstein. His main research interests are the international tax policy, the re-design of tax systems, international tax standards, the international Level-playing-field on taxation, the international tax treatment of individuals, companies, private and charitable asset and wealth structures and the various aspects of the Liechtenstein tax law.
Professor Dr. Wenz will be a speaker for both Workshop 4: Tax Evasion and Money Laundering, and Workshop 8: NGOs and Tax Evasion
PROF. ASIF QURESHI
Professor of Law at Peking University
Asif H Qureshi is Professor of Law at the School of Transnational Law, Peking University in China since 2021. Prior to that he was Professor of International Economic Law, at the School of Law, Korea University, Seoul, Korea, since 2012. Between 1985 to 2012 he was Professor of Law at the University of Manchester, UK. He was called to the Bar in 1978 and has been attached to Quadrant Chambers in London, UK since 1998. He is registered as a Public Access practitioner. His specialisms include Public International Law, International Economic Law in particular WTO law, Investment Law, Monetary Law and International Taxation.
Prof. Qureshi will be a speaker for Workshop 5: Domestic v. Global Anti-Avoidance Principles – Convergence and Challenges
MR. SIMON RAE
Consultant at CP Lin & Co Solicitors & Notaries
Simon Rae is a Solicitor admitted in Scotland, United Kingdom in 1981 and in Hong Kong in 1985. Since arriving in Hong Kong, Simon has acted for major international companies in relation to investment in/out of Hong Kong and the Asian region generally. Simon also specializes in tax related transactions and disputes against the Hong Kong Inland Revenue Department and has a tax and trust practice which centers on tax, succession and trust planning for ultra and high net worth clients and disputes involving trust matters.
Simon will be chairing Plenary 4: The Future of the Tax Profession
MS. AMI LENG
US Tax Partner at East Asia Sentinel Tax Services Limited
Ami Leng is an accomplished tax professional with a wealth of experience in the field. With a focus on US taxation, Ami has successfully guided individuals and businesses through complex tax regulations, providing strategic advice and planning solutions. Her expertise lies in US individual tax, trust and estate, corporation and partnership taxation, as well as tax treaty implications and US tax planning for corporation restructuring.
Ami will be a speaker for Plenary 4: The Future of the Tax Profession
MS. SUK CHING YAP
Senior Consultant at Hans Advisory & Trust Co Ltd
Yap Suk Ching is the Senior Consultant of Hans Advisory & Trust Co Ltd. She works closely with law firms, CPAs, and investment advisors to assist the clients in setting up business structures in Labuan and UAE.
Hans Group ("HANS”) is a Licensed Trustee and Company Secretary in Labuan and the UAE. Hans Group specialises in ship and aircraft registration, tax planning for high value assets and tax planning for high networth individuals over the last 16 years.
Suk Ching will be a speaker for Workshop 7: Latest and Hottest Tax Developments in Asia: Do You Really Know What Happens Next Door?
MR. STANLEY HO
Partner, Corporate Tax Advisory at KPMG
Stanley has extensive experiences in dealing with taxation affairs of clients, particularly those involved in cross-border businesses activities, listed companies, multinational conglomerates, and international businesses. He also has extensive experience in assisting corporations to set up corporate treasury centers in Hong Kong to take advantage of the concessionary Profits Tax rate of 8.25% as well as obtaining tax residence certificates for enjoying favorable tax treatment under various tax treaties.
Stanley will be chairing Plenary 4: The Future of the Tax Profession
MS. MICHELLE KIM
Senior Foreign Attorney at Shin & Kim LLC
Michelle Minhyung Kim, a senior foreign attorney at Shin & Kim LLC, who primarily concentrates on international taxation and foreign investment advice. Ms. Kim has provided tax advice for various cross-border transactions by Korean asset management companies and sovereign wealth funds. Ms. Kim is also well seasoned in the field of tax structuring, tax audit defense and litigation in Korea.
Ms. Kim will be a speaker for the YIN Seminar: Tax Compliance, Tax Administration and the Digital Transformation
MR. JOHN LAZARO
Programs & Advocacy Staff of Development Finance Program at Asian Peoples’ Movement on Debt and Development
Political Science major with experience in political communications and partnership-building. I am currently working as Program Staff for the Asian Peoples' Movement on Debt and Development.
John will be a speaker for Workshop 8: NGOs and Tax Evasion
MR. KENNY FOO
Independent Advisor
Kenny Foo has over 20 years of experience in law and banking in Singapore, Sydney, New York, Zurich, Geneva and Hong Kong. He currently resides in Hong Kong and is a trusted private advisor to a handful of family offices in the matters of tax, trusts, succession and governance.
Kenny read law at the National University of Singapore and attained a Master of Laws in Taxation at New York University. His papers on tax evasion and money laundering have been published by the Singapore Academy of Law Journal, the Company Lawyer and the Journal of Money Laundering Control.
Kenny will be chairing Workshop 4: Tax Evasion and Money Laundering