Ms. Saba Wahaj

Group Tax Manager
ALEC

Bio:

I have been leading tax relationships for more than 9 years of my post-qualification experience for various entities mainly covering the discipline of tax advisory, planning, governance, and compliance in respect of: Corporate Taxation (CT), VAT, International tax, Transfer Pricing , Economic Substance, WHT, and Tax Audits/ assessments resolutions. Savvy with Oracle, Oracle Fusion, Build Smart, LN and CMIC database management systems, together with experience of implementing and automating tax processes and controls in these systems. I have an extensive in-house tax experience in the business sectors of Construction services, Asset Management & Investment Banking, , Oil & Gas, Energy Generation, Import & Export, E-commerce, holding company and Facilities Management Services.

Mrs. Zuzanna Szubartowska

Tax Technology Consultant

Bio:

Zuzanna started her career as a transfer pricing consultant in Deloitte in Poland, where she worked on planning, compliance, transfer pricing policy design and documentation. From there, she moved to Baker McKenzie in London where she specialised in corporate tax and transfer pricing controversy and policy creation. In 2023, Zuzanna joined Loctax where she leverages her advisory experience to guide Loctax's customers through complexities of tax technology transformation. She is also a lecturer in data science at Le Wagon coding school and a macroeconomics books lover. Zuzanna is passionate about data and how it can help shape the future of tax technology.

Mr. Aashish Poddar

Regional Tax Manager – Engie AMEA

Bio: Aashish, a Chartered Accountant by profession, brings over 20+ years of tax experience which includes over 6 years in the Middle East. He is currently working as a Regional Tax Manager in Engie AMEA (Asia, Middle East and Africa) and is based at its Dubai.
Prior to this he worked in an Indian Conglomerate as a GM - International Taxation & Restructuring where he used to oversee European and America jurisdiction. He has also worked in the Big 4 (KPMG Transfer Pricing team and EY Tax practice)
He has been recently involved in various large M&A transactions for the Engie Group and is part of team for large tenders & refinancing projects from a Tax perspective. Further, he has been working on various tax projects in the MESCATA region viz. UAE Corporate Tax implementation, BEPS Pillar 2, ESR, VAT and Transfer Pricing

Mr. Bilal Coban

Tax Manager Middle East & Africa
Mammoet

Bio: I am Bilal Coban, 41 years old and now in UAE for more than 5.5 year. I am from the Netherlands with routes originated from Turkiye. I obtained my master’s degree in Tax Law at University in Groningen (The Netherlands). I started my profession at Deloitte as tax lawyer in the internal tax advisory practice. Thereafter I made the switch to in-house tax advisory where I worked primarily in Oil & Gas sector where I gained experience in field of Transfer Pricing, VAT and other taxes and become an all-round tax professional.

Mr. Samir Popat

Director Taxation , Nadeem & Umendra Chartered Accountants

Bio: Mr. Samir Popat is a qualified Chartered Accountant from India, with over 12 years of experience in the industry. Over the past decade, he has established himself as a prominent figure in the UAE's financial landscape, with deep insights in the fields of Auditing and Taxation.
As a Partner and Director – Taxation, at Nadeem and Umendra Chartered Accountants since 2017, CA Samir Popat has honed his skills and developed expert knowledge of UAE Tax laws. His proficiency has earned him numerous accolades, and he has conducted several seminars and webinars in the last five years. Recently, he delivered a highly informative seminar on UAE Corporate Tax to the Dubai Gold and Diamond Group and Dubai Computer Group.
In addition to his expertise in Auditing and Taxation, CA Samir Popat has extensive experience advising multinational companies on the implementation of VAT, Corporate Tax, and Transfer Pricing in UAE. His broad knowledge of these critical areas has enabled him to provide invaluable guidance to businesses looking to navigate the complex tax landscape in the UAE. His proficiency in advising multinationals underscores his ability to handle complex tax matters and makes him a valuable asset to any organization seeking expert guidance on tax compliance and optimization.

Ms. Radha Arun

Director, Indirect Tax Strategy | JSS Proo

Bio: JSS Pro is a strategic advisory and implementation solutions firm established in 2013, originating from J S Sundaram & Co. founded in 1982. The company focuses on business and people-centricity, partnering with Fortune 500 clients and startups alike to offer innovative solutions in areas such as productivity, global taxation strategies, and digital transformations.
JSS Pro has a reverse industry approach with sustainable business and people practices and has set up teams across various operations in India. The company has also established primary strategic verticals in productivity, global tax strategies, risk management, and growth strategies, enabling comprehensive consulting to help clients achieve their organizational goals. .

Mr. Nauman Asif Mian

Chief Financial Officer
Bayt.com Inc

Bio: Nauman is a distinguished financial leader, currently serving as the Chief Financial Officer at Bayt.com Inc., the #1 job site in the Middle East. With a strong background in finance and accounting, Nauman has demonstrated exceptional leadership skills throughout his academic and professional career.

His expertise and contributions to the finance industry have been widely recognized. Nauman was named one of the most influential CFOs in the GCC by Khaleej Times and was featured in the CFO Powerlist. He has also been nominated for various awards, including the "Chartered Accountant of the Year" and "Young Accountant of the Year" at the Finance & Accountancy Middle East Awards.

Nauman is a Chartered Accountant from England and Wales and a Fellow member of Chartered Certified Accountants. He is also a Certified Internal Auditor and holds multiple honorary positions. Nauman started his career with PricewaterhouseCoopers and later worked for the FTSE listed No.1 Health & Fitness provider in the U.K. He is also the first member to be elected at the ACCA Global Council from the UAE. .

Ms. Seema Sharma

Group Head of Tax
Network International

Bio: Seema Sharma brings 18+ years of tax experience which includes nearly 10 years in the Middle East. Seema is currently Group Head of Tax at Network International. Prior to that she worked with one of the Big 4 tax firms, focusing on transfer pricing and international tax and led the Transfer Pricing practice for the MENA region.

Mr Manish Kothari

Head of Group Tax
AW Rostamani Group

Bio: A Seasoned Tax Leader with 20+ years of experience in Managing all Spectrum of Taxes. Successful track record of Effectively Leading and Driving the entire Tax Function of Large & Multi Billion Dollars Corporates covering multiple Countries & Regions across the Globe.

Ms. Aparna Lakshminarasimhan

Head of Group Transfer Pricing
GFG Alliance

Bio: Aparna Lakshminarasimhan is the Head of Group Transfer Pricing at GFG Alliance, a family-owned global conglomerate operating primarily in the steel, energy and aluminium industries. She has been with GFG Alliance since 2021 and is based in Dubai.

In her current role, Aparna is responsible for all group transfer pricing related matters. In addition, she is involved in design and implementation of several centralised functions within GFG and is also heavily involved in the BEPS Pillar 2 preparatory initiative within GFG. Prior to joining GFG, Aparna worked with advisory firms including the Big Four - where she held senior positions. Aparna has 15+ years of work experience and has worked across the Middle East & Africa, India, Hong Kong and Singapore.

Aparna has also spoken at numerous events and authored several articles on Transfer Pricing.

Aparna is the founder of Women’s tax community, a recently launched LinkedIn group that is endeavouring to create a network of women tax leaders in this region through connecting, mentoring and fostering talent.

Within her organisation, Aparna is a champion of women’s issues and continuously contributes to supporting and coaching both female and male colleagues. As a mother, she tries to create a space within her organisation where women/working mothers can share their challenges and find a support network in each other.

Ms. Dhana Pillai

Group Head of Tax
Yas Holding LLC

Bio: Dhana Pillai, holds an Advanced Masters in International Taxation Law from the International Tax Centre in Leiden, The Netherlands, where she graduated in 2006-07. She has also completed an Alternative Investments program at Harvard University. With over 19 years of experience in the tax field, Dhana's expertise lies in establishing real estate investment funds, family offices, trusts, and structuring tax-efficient passive income portfolios and family inheritances. Her focus is to ensure that beneficiaries benefit from these structures in a tax-efficient manner. Dhana is highly regarded as an author, having written numerous tax publications and articles. She regularly presents seminars and participates in panel discussions on taxation. .

Mr. Mohamed Faycal Charfeddine

Group Tax Director
Aujan Group Holding

Bio: Mohamed has over 19 years of experience in international taxation and indirect tax. He started his career in a Big4 firm in Tunisia and Oman before joining MTN Dubai Ltd and later, in 2014, Muntajat Q.J.S.C. in Qatar, which has a presence in over 17 jurisdictions in Europe, MENA, and Asia. In early 2017, he joined Aujan Group, a leading group in the FMCG, hospitality, and RE business, to lead the tax function and to ensure VAT and excise tax implementation within the group. Mohamed holds diplomas in Accountancy in Business Administration (IHEC, Tunisia), Public Finance (ENA, Tunisia), Public Administration (ENA, France), and Taxation (ENI, France).

Mr. Raj Bal

Global Head of Tax, Treasury & Customs
Aramex International LLC. – Dubai

Bio: Raj is an experienced Head of Tax with over 16 years' experience of building and leading teams globally. A frequent speaker at international tax events on topical tax issues with a recent focus on tax issues impacting the Middle East & Asia Pac. Raj also contribute to articles published internationally. Raj is a Chartered Tax Advisor (CTA), Fellow with Chartered Accountant with the ICAEW and also holds a Non-Executive Director qualification.

Mr. Manish Arora

Regional Tax Manager
BSchneider Electric

Bio: Chartered Accountant with 12+ years of post-qualification experience in Direct and Indirect Taxation, especially Transfer Pricing and International Taxation with rich pre-qualification experience in Tax and Audit. Also holds Diploma in International taxation and Transfer pricing, issued by Institute of Chartered Accountants of India.

Presently working as Regional Tax Manager with Schneider Electric Dubai covering Middle East Africa (excluding Francophone). Prior to moving to Dubai, was associated with Schneider Electric India with similar profile i.e., responsible for Corporate Tax, Transfer pricing and GST matters with more emphasis on international taxation in the present role in Dubai.

Internal Tax advisor for various cross-border business transactions, especially high value projects, with respects to tax implication for both direct and indirect taxes, especially WHT, PE and VAT implications on cross border transactions.

Involved in the Group level study of BEPS action points and potential impact on the company and have prepared SOPs on various Intra-group transactions to ensure compliances from tax and TP perspective.

Have given various training on Tax, within the organization and in outside forums as well, the latest being “Workshop on UAE corporate Tax and Transfer Pricing” organized by ICAI Dubai.

Ms. Alena Swaine

Head Taxation – IFFCO Group

Bio: Alena is the Global Head of Tax at IFFCO Group, an international group based in the United Arab Emirates that manufactures and markets a well-integrated range of mass-market food products, related derivatives, intermediates, and services. IFFCO is present in 49 countries, and its portfolio spans food, chemicals, packaging, and a diverse range of products. Alena is a qualified Tax Advisor and Accountant with over 14 years of international tax experience gained with companies in the engineering, energy, mining, and consumer goods sectors working in both the Middle East and the UK.

Mr. Harsh Doshi

Assistant Tax Manager - Retail
Leading Company in Dubai

Bio: Mr. Harsh Doshi is a Chartered from India currently working as the Group Tax Manager of a reputed listed company based out of Dubai having business in real estate, financial services, manufacturing, education, healthcare and other sectors. His background and experience includes M&A Tax, Corporate tax, International tax and transfer pricing. He has headed one of the largest family headquartered business in luxury retail space having diverse operations in GCC and had worked extensively with multiple big4's in India and GCC.

Mr. Taher Kapasi

Regional Head of Education
Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)

Bio: “I believe that financial literacy is a skill that every individual should possess, regardless of their profession. I am driven to help individuals shape their lives for the better and achieve their full potential through education and guidance.”
In his role as Regional Head of Education at the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) in the Middle East, Taher Kapasi is responsible for establishing and nurturing key relationships with educational institutions as well as ensuring existing students are supported through their qualifications journey.
A committed advocate of the transformative power of education and learning, Taher, who has been with ACCA since 2016, engages with universities, national bodies, ACCA-approved learning providers, the ‘Big 4’ firms and key employers, in order to support the profile and presence of ACCA in the Middle East alongside assisting our key stakeholders in shaping their accounting and finance talent.
ACCA, founded in 1904, represents more than 20,000 students, affiliates and members in the region. With a global reputation for excellence, its rigorous qualifications are recognised by employers worldwide, making ACCA-certified professionals highly valued and sought after.

Ms. Ewelina Maka

VP Tax – J P. Morgan

Bio: Ewelina is a tax advisor with several years of experience in indirect tax department of Big4 company, both in Poland and Middle East, followed by in-house roles. Ewelina is currently Vice President Tax for GCC in JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. focusing on the direct and indirect tax matters in the region.

Mr. Vinit Gala

CA,DIIT Tax Director, Premier Brain Global

Bio: Vinit has been actively involved in advising clients on international-tax mattes (under Tax Treaty and BEPS initiatives) arising out of their cross –border transactions. In UAE, Vinit is directly engaged in tax related engagements with major focus on ESR related advisory and compliances, tax structuring, transfer pricing and other international-tax advisory matters. With the introduction of Corporate Tax in UAE, Vinit now also focuses on Corporate tax planning and implementation projects.

Ms. CA Roopali Jawa

Tax Manager, Apparel Group

Bio: Roopali has close to 11 years experience in the field of taxation and has been been extensively working in the areaof Tax Structuring, International Taxation, Transfer Pricing, Tax Planning and Optimization and Tax Compliance.

Currently, she is working as a Tax Manager for the GCC Region at the Apparel Group and is responsible for theCorporate Tax Implementation, Transfer Pricing, Pillar 2 evaluation, restructuring and optimization. Besides thecorporate implementation, she is responsible for direct and indirect compliances around GCC including Withholdingtaxes, treaty analysis and litigation.

Her prior experience include managerial role with Andersen in the UAE and EY India

In her tax role with Andersen, she was responsible for implementing inbound marketing strategies that help herclients increase brand awareness, generate leads, and acquire new customers. She has been working on direct andindirect tax in UAE, KSA, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman. She supports all the UAE based middle east businesses withrespect to compliances on Zakat, Corporate Tax & DTAA and has been working on UAE VAT since implementation.

In UAE, Roopali lead Tax projects for number of clients including big family groups, Free zones, local andMultinational entities with operations across GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council ). She worked with clients in Retail &distribution, Manufacturing , Trading , Healthcare, ports and terminals , hospitality and Free Zone Authorities. Shehas performed tax diagnostic reviews of various multinational companies, identifying potential revenue and taxleakages in their existing structure and recommending planning opportunities to mitigate tax exposure. She has alsohandled representation before the VAT authorities in various States to seek clarification on various issues in UAE.

As a tax consultant with EY India, she was responsible for the taxation of the expatriates part of the multinationals.This included Analysis and interpretation of the double taxation avoidance agreements (DTAA) between countries toclaim foreign tax credit for minimizing the income tax liability. She successfully represented expatriates beforeincome tax authorities for scrutiny assessments and obtaining NOC before exiting the country