News from the Executive Director, Dr. Esther A. P. Koisin

Members of the CATA Management Committee held their annual Spring meeting at Marlborough House in London, UK, on the 14^th and 15^th April. Also in attendance was CATA’s President, Mr George Blankson.

The meeting discussed a wide range of issues including the preparations for the 13^th Triennial General Meeting that will take place in November of this year.  During that meeting, and in accordance with CATA's constitution, elections will be held to choose a new President and to establish the new Management Committee that will oversee the management of CATA for the following three years. 

The Committee received and discussed the audited financial statement

HMRC has confirmed the appointment of Mr Peter Finnigan as the new UK Country Representative. He replaces Mr Peter Steed who resigned from HMRC in December 2014.

Peter Finnigan has extensive experience as a direct tax professional within HMRC. He spent ten years as an international tax operational specialist with particular knowledge of transfer pricing and as a UK Competent Authority dealing with international dispute resolution. He has wide experience of working in international fora both within the EU and OECD to address harmful tax practices and good governance in that area.

Peter is at present part of the UK co-ordination team on the current G20/OECD Base Erosion and Profit Shifting project. Previously

Professor Jeffrey Owen, the Director of the Global Tax Policy Centre of the Institute for Austrian and International Tax Law at WU (Vienna University of Economics and Business), recently paid a courtesy visit to the Executive Director. During the meeting on the 2^nd February, 2015 at Marlborough House, London, the two appraised each other on the 2015 calendar events for their respective institutions.

The Institute, based in Vienna, offers wide ranging degree programs on international taxation and on occasion provides some limited scholarships to qualifying candidates. To enhance its reach, the Institute has partnered with the Academy of Public Finance based in Pretoria South Africa to offer short-term training to tax officials.

Professor Owen reiterated that his organization was ready to partner with CATA in hosting capacity building events and also by allowing staff from CATA member countries to benefit from the courses and training offered by the Institute. Some topics earmarked for this year would include specific technical issues around VAT and Excise, tax audits of the oil and gas sector, and transfer pricing. Click here for brochure.

It was agreed that

This entry marks the end of an eventful year for CATA.  It is an apt time to reflect on and take stock of some of our achievements and challenges.

First I have to record with some sadness the departure of two members of the Management Committee who have taken on other assignments.   The Vice Chairman Peter Steeds (United Kingdom) will be leaving HMRC to join the private sector while a long serving member of the Committee Peter Estey (Canada) has been reassigned to other responsibilities within the Canada Revenue Agency.  The two have been instrumental in shaping the Association and their presence and contributions will be sorely missed.  On behalf of the Management Committee and the CATA membership at large, I wish to thank both for the selfless service rendered to the Association during their tenure and also wish them every success in their new assignments.

Talking of selflessness, one cannot fail to mention HMRC and IRBM through whose support CATA continues