Day 1 Highlights: CATA Heads Meeting Port Moresby, 8 July 2025

The 45th Annual CATA Heads Meeting and Technical Conference officially commenced with a powerful day of dialogue, collaboration, and forward-thinking leadership. Under the theme “Aligning Global Standards with Local Solutions: Evolving Tax Systems in the Digital Age,” Day 1 brought together tax leaders from across the Commonwealth to explore the future of tax administration in a rapidly digitising world.

Commissioners-General Panel: Leading in a Digital Age

Moderated by Mr Sam Koim, Commissioner General of the Inland Revenue Commission PNG, this high-level panel featured insights from Heads and top officials from tax administrations from Malaysia, India, Uganda, Australia, and Belize. The discussion focused on:

• Strategic leadership in digital transformation, including the use of real-time data and analytics to close tax gaps.

• Cybersecurity and data privacy, with emphasis on governance frameworks and building public trust.

• Enhancing taxpayer experience through AI, automation, and personalised services.

• Future priorities, such as predictive analytics, blockchain, and cross-border collaboration.

The session underscored the importance of innovation, transparency, and capacity building in modern tax systems, and highlighted the shared experiences and ambitions of CATA members.

Interactive Leadership Plenary: Digital Transformation in Action

This dynamic session, also moderated by Mr Sam Koim, featured speakers from Jamaica, Sri Lanka, and Fiji. Key themes included:

• Real-world applications of digital tools like e-filing, automation, and data analytics to improve compliance.

• Leadership lessons in managing change, building internal capacity, and engaging stakeholders.

• Support for smaller tax administrations, highlighting how digital solutions can drive efficiency and effectiveness even in resource-constrained environments.

The session concluded with an interactive group discussion, where participants shared common challenges and innovative approaches to digital transformation.

Commissioners’ Roundtable: Making the Case for Investment

Led by Mr Alex Mwangi of the Kenya Revenue Authority, this session focused on how tax leaders can secure investment and public support for digital transformation. Discussions revolved around:

·       Engaging Ministries of Finance with data-driven proposals aligned to national development goals.

·       Building public trust through transparent communication and citizen-focused service delivery.

·       Measuring success, with examples of KPIs, compliance improvements, and enhanced service outcomes.

Participants shared practical strategies for advocating tax reform and highlighted the importance of peer learning and regional collaboration.

Looking Ahead

Day 1 set a strong foundation for the rest of the conference, with a clear message: digital transformation is not just a technological shift, but a leadership imperative. The sessions showcased how Commonwealth tax administrations are embracing innovation while staying grounded in local realities. CATA’s strategy and work programme continue to place an emphasis on digital transformation, recognising its centrality in modern-day tax administration.