Our Practitioners - Tax & Accounting
Trainer profiles:
Garry Payne
Qualifications:
- Bachelor of Commerce (with merit)
- Bachelor of Laws
Professional affiliations:
- Solicitor of Supreme Court of NSW
- Fellow of Taxation Institute of Australia
- Australian Tax Teachers' Association
Previous experience:
- Senior Lecturer, Australian School of Taxation (Atax) (UNSW)
- Senior Tax Writer, Butterworths/ATP
- Tax Manager at a Big 4 CA practice
Other activities:
- Creator and co-author of eight publications, including Australian Tax Handbook
- Author of materials developed by the GST Start-Up Assistance Office
- Presenter of more than 170 tax seminars for accountants, lawyers and government bodies
- Lead role in preparation of reports commissioned by the Board of Taxation and Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia
Garry combines extensive experience in writing and presenting taxation material with practical experience gained at a senior level in the Big 4 CA environment. The taxation assignments Garry has carried out for governments and various professional bodies give him a clear insight into the underlying policy that shapes tax legislation.
Heidi Rodgers
Qualifications:
- Bachelor of Commerce
- Bachelor of Laws
Professional affiliations:
- Member of Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia
Previous experience:
- Tax Manager at a Melbourne-based large second-tier practice
- Tax Adviser at a Big 4 CA practice
Other activities:
- National Presenter CPA Tax Reform Series (Small Business CGT Concessions and PAYG Reform)
- Keynote Speaker at CPA State Congresses
Heidi holds formal qualifications in both commerce and law. Combining this knowledge with high level tax consulting experience in a CA environment, Heidi is able to explain the practical implications of new legislation, cases and rulings. Possessing an engaging style of delivery, Heidi is one of our most sought-after presenters.
Roger Timms
Qualifications:
- Master of Corporate Law
- Graduate Diploma in Commercial Law
Professional affiliations:
- Fellow of Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia
- Fellow of Taxation Institute of Australia
Previous experience:
- Tax Consulting Partner at a Big 4 CA practice
- Partner in Charge of Taxation at a second-tier practice
Other activities:
- Presentation of seminars for bodies such as Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia, CPA Australia and the Taxation Institute of Australia
- Author of tax articles in various professional publications and the news media, including the Australian Financial Review and BRW
- Co-author of the Lawyers Tax Manual (Lexis Nexis publication)
- Regular writer for Inside Tax (Lexis Nexis publication)
As a former tax consulting partner at Big 4 and second-tier level, Roger has the expertise and experience to understand and interpret issues relevant to taxpayers at all levels, from multinational corporations to SMEs and high-net-worth individuals. He is able to impart this information to audiences in a practical and user-friendly manner. Roger's regular written contributions to tax technical publications provide an additional avenue by which to keep up-to-date with the changing tax environment.
Fred Schenck
Qualifications:
- Master of Taxation
- Bachelor of Business (Accounting)
Previous experience:
- Partner in a Melbourne-based public accounting practice that provides extensive tax consulting and compliance services to corporate and high-net-worth individual clients
- Senior management roles in commerce and industry, including responsibility for financial control and training and development
Other activities:
- University lecturer of taxation
Fred takes a very practical approach to the delivery of training sessions. He makes extensive use of worked examples in order to explain even the most intricate principles in an easy-to-understand manner, and develops a comfortable rapport with audiences at all levels of seniority.
Linda Kuttner
Qualifications:
- Bachelor of Commerce
- Graduate Diploma in Taxation Law
Professional affiliations:
- Member of CPA Australia
Previous experience:
- Senior Tax Adviser at a public accounting practice specialising in advising the business sector
- Financial Controller (with taxation responsibilities) in the manufacturing sector
Other activities:
- Tutor in taxation and accounting at university and TAFE colleges
When presenting training sessions, Linda draws on a wealth of experience from 'both sides of the fence' — as a tax adviser and, in the corporate sector, a receiver (and interpreter) of tax advice. Linda has the ability to very quickly identify the implications for various types of taxpayers when the tax law changes, and adopts a very practical approach when communicating that information during a training session.
Sam Ayoubi
Qualifications:
- Master of Taxation
- Bachelor of Commerce
Professional affiliations:
- Member of Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia
- Fellow of Taxation Institute of Australia
Previous experience:
- Tax Adviser at second-tier accounting practices specialising in advice to multinational and SME businesses and the government sector
Other activities:
- Facilitator of Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia's CA Program
The energy that Sam invests in the training sessions he delivers is reflected in the very positive feedback received from attendees. Whilst Sam holds impressive formal qualifications, his previous experiences in advising businesses of all sizes on their tax affairs is vital in being able to bring a practical focus to his training sessions.
Lynne Gibson
Qualifications:
- Bachelor of Arts (Accounting and Economics)
Professional affiliations:
- Fellow of Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia
- Fellow of Taxation Institute of Australia
Previous experience:
- Partner in a Sydney public accounting practice
- Tax Adviser at public accounting practices, including a Big 4 CA practice
Other activities:
- Leading the provision of professional development and training activities for staff whilst in practice
- Presenting tax update sessions to other professional practices
Lynne's background in advising a diverse range of clients in various industries means she has the ideal experience and expertise for a career in the tax training field. She has managed clients' affairs and delivered tax advice as a partner in a public accounting practice; as a practitioner been responsible for the professional development of staff; and has professional affiliations at a senior level. Lynne prepares meticulously for her training to ensure she is ready to deal with the widest possible range of issues that may arise during a session.