Biographies and photos of our Senior Management Team
Meet our Senior Management Team
| Robert A Russell | |
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| Chief Executive and Commissioner of Inland Revenue, New Zealand | |
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Bob Russell took up the position of Commissioner and Chief Executive of Inland Revenue on 21 May 2007. He joined Inland Revenue in 2006, in the role of Deputy Commissioner, Service Delivery. Prior to coming to New Zealand, Bob had over 30 years in public service in Canada, including various positions with the Canada Revenue Agency, Industry Canada and Energy, Mines and Resources Canada. Bob holds a Master of Business Administration, a Master of Urban and Regional Planning, and Bachelor of Education and Science degrees. Away from the workplace, Bob has extensive volunteer experience, primarily in amateur sport, and is an avid runner and cyclist. He is married to Laurel and has four sons. |
| Tim Occleshaw | |
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| Deputy Commissioner Business Development and Systems | |
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Prior to joining Inland Revenue in January 2009, Tim was Chief Information Officer at the Ministry of Social Development from 2004 until December 2008. At MSD, Tim focused on programme delivery and strengthening organisational capability, creating a new IT structure and Enterprise Architecture capability for the Ministry, integrating the Child Youth & Family IT department, and delivering the Ministry's new Client Management System in 2007. In July 2008 Tim won the New Zealand CIO of the Year award. Tim has spent more than 25 years working in the financial services sector, in both Australia and New Zealand. His roles have included corporate and business lending, strategy, operations, and programme management. His most recent role before joining the Ministry of Social Development was as Head of Information Technology for the ANZ Bank in New Zealand, where he managed the merger of the ANZ and National Bank's IT groups. Tim and his partner Gina moved to Wellington in 1998, and they have an eight year old son. Tim was born in Melbourne and still has family there whom he tries to visit at least once a year. Tim also plays lead guitar in a band working regularly in the Wellington region. |
| Mary Craig | |
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| Deputy Commissioner Corporate Services | |
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Mary has had an extensive and varied career with Inland Revenue which she joined in the early 1990's. Prior to taking up the role of Deputy Commissioner of Corporate Services, she has had several senior roles in the Department including acting in the Deputy Commissioner Business Development & Systems position, Group Manager for the Office of the Chief Tax Counsel, National Manager Business Management Services, Senior Advisor in Child Support and operational management positions in Manukau, Dunedin and Invercargill. |
| Robin Oliver | |
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| Deputy Commissioner Policy Advice | |
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Robin joined Inland Revenue in 1995 as General Manager Policy Advice. The Policy division, jointly with The Treasury, advises the Minister of Revenue on all aspects of tax law and reform and on social support issues that interact with the tax system. It also forecasts tax revenues. Before joining Inland Revenue, Robin worked for the Treasury in a variety of areas and then in the private sector as a tax advisor. He has also worked with a number of accounting firms. Robin has an MA first class honours in Political Studies and an LLB from the University of Auckland. Robin is a member of the International Fiscal Association, is part of the International Monetary Fund's panel of tax policy experts and is vice-chair of the OECD Fiscal Committee. |
| Carolyn Tremain | |
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| Deputy Commissioner Service Delivery | |
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Carolyn was appointed as Deputy Commissioner, Service Delivery in July 2007. Carolyn joined Inland Revenue in November 2004 as Deputy Commissioner, People, Capabilities and Governance. Carolyn's professional background is in human resources. Prior to her appointment at Inland Revenue Carolyn was a consultant for one year, and also worked with Air New Zealand in various senior leadership roles, including the position of Senior Vice President, Human Resources and Organisational Change. Carolyn holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Victoria University, Wellington. |
| Martin Smith | |
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| Chief Tax Counsel | |
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Martin joined Inland Revenue in 1995 as General Manager, Adjudication & Rulings. He is now Chief Tax Counsel for Inland Revenue and head of the Adjudication and Rulings group. This business area specialises in determining the correct interpretation of Inland Revenue Acts and other relevant legislation and case law, providing taxpayer rulings, and undertaking adjudications as part of the disputes resolution process. Prior to joining Inland Revenue, Martin practised as a tax lawyer in large law firms in Australia and New Zealand, was a tax consulting partner in the Sydney office at an international accounting firms, and was director of Taxation Research for Ernst & Young in New Zealand for six years. He has also lectured on tax matters at five universities in Australia and New Zealand. Martin holds LLB (Hons) and LLM degrees from the University of Adelaide, a post-graduate Diploma in Financial Management from the University of New England, and a Master of Taxation Studies (Hons) from Auckland University. He is admitted as a barrister and solicitor in Australia and New Zealand, and is a member of the International Fiscal Association and a Fellow of the Taxation Institute of Australia. |
Corporate Communications
Inland Revenue
For all media enquiries phone: 04 890 1698
For general communications enquiries
Phone: (04) 890 1936
Email: corpcomm@ird.govt.nz
Fax: (04) 498 5809
P O Box 2198
12-22 Hawkestone Street
Wellington
New Zealand
Date published: 31 Dec 2008
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