Format

• Hybrid (In-person + Virtual)

About the Conference

• IFA Australia’s first Australia–India Joint International Tax Conference, focusing on cooperation amid global shifts, digitalisation, and the OECD/G20 Two-Pillar solution.
• Sessions led by practitioners, international tax experts, senior revenue officials, and academics from both countries.

About IFA

• The International Fiscal Association (IFA) is a leading non-governmental, non-sectoral organisation for global tax and fiscal law and policy.
• IFA Australia Branch (est. 1957) will host the IFA 2026 Congress in Melbourne (18–22 Oct 2026).
• IFA India Branch (est. 1983) has 400+ members including CBDT, NIPFP, and RBI, and regularly hosts conferences/webinars and bilateral events.

Agenda

Opening

• 10:30am – 10:40am: Welcome address — Shaun Cartoon, IFA Australia Branch Secretary
• 10:40am – 10:45am: Address — Guglielmo Maisto, IFA President
• 10:45am – 10:50am: Lighting of the lamp ceremony
• 10:50am – 11:00am: Theme address — Mr PVSS Prasad, Chairman, IFA India Branch

Session 1 (11:00am – 12:00pm)

• Tax nuts & bolts: The reality of doing business in Australia vs India
• Speakers: Paul Sokolowski (Partner, Arnold Bloch Leibler); Avinash Gupta (Hon. Secretary, IFA India Branch)

Lunch (12:00pm – 1:00pm)

• Lunch and Luncheon address by Dr Sushil Kumar, Consul General for India

Session 2 (1:00pm – 2:00pm)

• Navigating the Australia–India tax treaty: Key challenges & interpretations
• Chairperson: Thomas Ickeringill (Partner, EY)
• Panellists: Ronita Ram (Manager, Revenue Group, Commonwealth Treasury); Mr K R Girish (Ex Senior Partner, KPMG India; National Head, Tax Litigation); Martin Caplice (Partner, Tax Controversy & Policy, EY Australia)

Session 3 (2:00pm – 3:00pm)

• The evolving anti-avoidance landscape: Latest GAAR and PPT developments impacting Australian–Indian businesses
• Chairperson: Lauren Moses (Of Counsel, Jones Day)
• Panellists: Chloe Burnett SC (Barrister, 6 Selborne Wentworth Chambers); Mr PVSS Prasad (IFA India Branch); Karanjot Singh (Partner, LKS, Delhi, India)

Afternoon Tea (3:00pm – 3:30pm)

• Break

Session 4 (3:30pm – 4:30pm)

• The Digital Frontier: Tax implications of software, intangibles & royalties for Australia–India business
• Chairperson: Timothy Graham (Lawyer, Arnold Bloch Leibler)
• Panellists: Benjamin Lancaster (Of Counsel, Jones Day); Timothy McCarthy (Assistant Commissioner – Public Groups, Australian Taxation Office); Mr Saurav Bhattacharya (Associate Partner, PwC, Delhi, India); Dritton Jemmalay (Director, TP Benchmark)

Closing

• 4:30pm – 4:40pm: Concluding remarks & vote of thanks — Professor Miranda Stewart
• 4:40pm – 6:00pm: Conference networking drinks