Grant Wardell-Johnson

Global Tax Policy Leader; Chair of the Global Tax Policy Leadership Group at KPMG

The constantly changing nature of tax and its fundamental role in society has kept Grant engaged and challenged by it for around 30 years. “Writing the KPMG submission to Treasury on tax reform in July 2015 was one of my proudest achievements,” he says. The paper was an accumulation of insights stemming from his previous roles as Lead Tax Partner, KPMG Economics & Tax Centre, and Co-chair ATO National Tax Liaison Group, as well as expertise in corporate tax and structured finance.

Grant held other key positions including Chair of the Tax Technical Committee of Chartered Accountants of Australia and New Zealand, Member of the Base Erosion and Profit Shifting Treasury Advisory Group and Advisor to the Board of Taxation. Grant says he is driven by achieving domestic tax reform and striving for a fair, effective system.

He joined KPMG in 1987 and became partner in 1997. He has led a number of high profile IPOs, acquisitions and transactions for major multinational organisations. Grant undertook a 2-year placement at KPMG in London and was seconded to Qantas Airways as Head of Tax in 1997-2000.

He cites the “collegiate culture and diversity of opportunity at KPMG” as a career highlight. A fan of Shakespeare, Grant spends his time away from work enjoying the works of the great writer, and engages in philosophy classes to keep challenged.