Founder and Partner
DGS Consulting Group
Total years of experience :24 years, 8 Months
Founder and Partner DGS Consulting Group, Melbourne Jun 2013 - Present
• On sabbatical leave and undertaking part time private consulting, including for property and hospitality developments.
• Regional Leader of Government and Public Sector Industry group from 2009, growing revenue significantly year on year.
Government Leader responsible for building cross regional industry client penetration and thought leadership, liaising
closely with PwC UK and Global Government Network.
• Lead partner for new five year Strategies for SAGIA and the economic cities authority in KSA, winning major projects with key government clients in the Middle East involving the analysis and assessment of national financial, fiscal, international
investment, infrastructure projects and economic position to allow development of future strategies.
• Partner responsible for creation of new specialist taxes practices, including indirect taxes, policy, transfer pricing and global
value chain for the Middle East region (covering 14 countries) . Tax HR Partner for the Middle East region.
Partner PricewaterhouseCoopers, Australia 2011 - 2013
• Government Strategy Partner and Lead Relationship Partner for the Liberal Party and Australian leader responsible for cities as part of the global cities network.
• Directly appointed by two new state governments to prepare an economic reform and infrastructure agenda and undertake a major transformation of a government owned and managed education and training provider network.
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• Continued Middle Eastern role as a member of PwC's Public Sector Research Centre global board, developing thought
leadership and global trends linked to public sector service provision, infrastructure finance, regulation and national
development.
Partner PricewaterhouseCoopers Middle East, Dubai 2007 - 2011
• Elected as founding board member of the Middle East firm from 2008 to 2010, overseeing two major strategic transactions within the firm as well as legal, financial and governance restructuring of region.
• Garnered new business opportunities and demonstrated advisory credentials as a regular speaker at forums; participant in business and professional organisations; and contributor to publications on business implications of tax policies and
economic reform agendas around the world.
Partner KPMG Australia, Melbourne/KPMG Hong Kong 1999 - 2007
• Amongst the youngest ever invited to join KPMG partnership in Australia (age 30 years) in 2001, establishing and heading
regional Strategy and Policy Group as an adviser for businesses and regulators on international comparative and competitive dynamics.
• Identified and responded to new business consulting opportunities while building cross-border multi-disciplinary teams and aligning strategic and operational needs with national and global economic, financial and regulatory developments.
• Seconded to Hong Kong in Sep 2004 to project lead major engagement, personally secured with the Hong Kong
Government, to advise on all implementation issues relating to a possible goods and services tax focusing on business and government operational, financial and economic issues.
• Managed many major multi-disciplinary business change programmes arising from various tax reform initiatives in the financial, transport, technology and consumer goods sectors.
• Projects included advising ANZ, GE, EDS, Adecco, Ansett and Mayne Nickless on business implications and re-pricing for GST while analysing business opportunities arising from stamp duty reform for international banks in Hong Kong.
• Coordinated with and guided government bodies such as ACCC, Treasury, ATO and similar agencies overseas regarding business approvals or necessary legislative changes to enable business operational enhancements or efficiencies.
• Examined key drivers and criteria behind successful and tax effective global operational and financial structures for clients in banking, consumer goods and pharmaceuticals; reviewed pan-Asia operational and holding structures.
• Amongst the first ever consultants engaged by Ministry of Finance to advise Singapore Government on strategic response to international business investment and technology trends over a number of years and projects including developing strategic
investment, regulatory or policy roadmaps.
Senior Adviser (Cabinet Policy Unit) Prime Minister the Hon, John Howard MP, Canberra 1996 - 1999
• Played an important role in the development of strategic policy initiatives for the Prime Minister on the economy, budget,
financial services and the information economy, including principal responsibility (as the Prime Minister's representative on the Tax Reform Taskforce) for the design of the Government's groundbreaking major tax reform proposals.
EARLY CAREER
Director DGS Consulting Group Pty Ltd/Australian Bankers' Association, Australia 1995 - 1996
Senior Adviser Senator the Hon. Jim Short, Melbourne/Canberra 1990 - 1995
Tax Accountant Arthur Andersen, Melbourne 1990
Bachelor of Commerce University of Melbourne 1987 - 1989 Majors - Accounting and Economics; Minors - Commercial Law and Statistics
Selected for the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Programme for Future Young Leaders 1985 Double Dux in Final Year for Politics and Indonesian