Leadership Team

Martin Phelan

Martin joined the firm in 1990 and became a partner/director in 1999. He has a Bachelor of Commerce and a Masters of Taxation from the University of Melbourne and qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1983. Martin is also a Chartered Tax Advisor of the Taxation Institute of Australia.

Martin has extensive experience advising business owners and managers in the areas of taxation, business structures, purchase and sale of businesses, financing, succession and estate planning. He has assisted clients in preparing consulting and executive employment agreements, including setting performance targets and equity participation reward structures.

His industry experience extends across manufacturing, import, wholesale and distribution, export, service businesses and property investment.

Specialist Areas

• Specialist tax services
• Domestic and international tax law
• Corporate & SME Transactions
• Valuations, Cash Flows & Budgeting

Qualifications

• Master of Taxation
• Bachelor of Commerce
• Chartered Accountant ANZ
• Chartered Tax Adviser
• Registered Tax Agent
• Public Practice Certificate Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand

Professional Memberships

• Chartered Accountants ANZ
• Tax Institute of Australia

• +61 3 9274 0603
• +61 421 386 998
• mphelan@wwadvantage.com.au

Paul Marini

Paul is a Tax Specialist with over twenty-five years’ experience, who holds a Master of Tax from the University of Melbourne Law School. His primary focus is on tax compliance and consulting for domestic and international clients across a variety of industries including manufacturing, information technology, building and construction, forestry, publishing, finance and private investment.

He acts as a professional adviser to a broad range of clients including Australian subsidiaries and branches of foreign companies, ASX listed companies, private corporate groups, not for profit and government organisations, family owned business and investment entities. He is also the lead Partner of our Expatriate Tax and Relocation Advisory Services.

Paul is a regular speaker at seminars for clients, our national accounting association and the Institute of Chartered Accountants as well as being responsible for internal training of staff. He is involved in writing tax articles and is a contributing author of:

• The SMART Tax Handbook
• The Not for Profit Board & Management Guide

He is the Chair of the Walker Wayland National Tax Practice Group and a member of the BKR International Tax and Expatriate Tax Committees.

Specialist Areas

• Specialist Tax Services
• Corporate Tax
• Domestic and International
• Tax Law
• Expatriate and Relocation Advisory

Qualifications

• Master of Tax
• Bachelor of Business (Accountancy)
• Chartered Accountant
• Chartered Tax Adviser
• Registered Tax Agent
• Public Practice Certificate Chartered Accountants ANZ

Professional Memberships

• Chartered Accountants ANZ
• Tax Institute of Australia
• International Fiscal Association
• International Tax Planning Association

• +61 3 9274 0643
• +61 424 136 051
• pmarini@wwadvantage.com.au

Philip MacIsaac

Philip joined the firm in 2017 as a Partner. He has previous senior experience in both Big 4 and Medium Sized Accountancy practices together with other Corporate, Finance and Taxation roles.

Philip has a Bachelor of Business from RMIT, a Graduate Diploma in Tax Laws from Monash University, qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1988 and also as a CPA in 1985. Philip is also a Chartered Tax Advisor with the Taxation Institute of Australia and associate member of the Financial Planning Association.

Philip has extensive experience Finance, Accounting and Taxation in advising Medium/SME business owners and Corporate clients in the areas of taxation, business structures, purchase and sale of businesses, financing, succession and estate planning.

Philip has assisted clients in maximising their position by consulting and negotiation of commercial results and review of documentation/agreements to maximise a client’s position.

Philip has also worked with international clients in both inbound / outbound transactions including Australian residency and registrations including setting up administrative support and relevant Transfer Pricing implications.

Philip’s industry experience extends across Superannuation Funds and Corporate / SME Groups in service businesses, building & construction, property investment manufacturing, import/export and transport & distribution.

Specialist Areas

• Specialist Tax Services
• Corporate & SME Transactions.
• Domestic and international tax law
• Not for Profit sector
• SMSF

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Business (Acc)
• Certified Practising Accountant (Tax)
• Chartered Accountant ANZ
• Chartered Tax Adviser
• Graduate Diploma in Financial Planning
• Graduate Diploma in Taxation Laws
• Public Practice Certificate, Chartered Accountants ANZ
• Registered Tax Agent

Professional Memberships

• Financial Planning Association of Australia
• CPA Australia
• Chartered Accountants ANZ
• Tax Institute of Australia

• +61 3 9274 0620
• +61 408 466 606
• pmacisaac@wwadvantage.com.au

Awais Ur Rehman

Awais is a Partner and Head of Audit and Risk Advisory at Walker Wayland Melbourne. He has extensive audit and advisory experience in Australia and Overseas, mainly working for Big 4 and 2nd Tier accounting firms.

Awais is a seasoned professional in providing external audit, compliance risk management and corporate governance services to a broad range of clients in both the private and public sectors. His clients come from a wide range of industries and comprise SMEs to large public & private reporting entities in industries such as:

• Consumer and industrial markets
• Manufacturing
• AFSL Licence holders
• Not-for-profits and Charities
• Aboriginal and Indigenous Corporations
• Technology
• Public sector and education

Awais’s role includes helping clients meet their regulatory obligations and assisting Audit Committees, Boards and Executive Management to extinguish their financial reporting and corporate governance responsibilities. Awais enjoy working with senior management to develop cost-effective and practical solutions to issues. His continuous value-add philosophy helps his clients grow and develop contemporary systems and processes.

Awais has also served as an independent board member on various organisations in roles such as Treasurer, Finance and Infrastructure Committee and as Audit Committee member. He loves to give back to the profession and the community and does that by mentoring students and professionals associated with CA ANZ and ACCA programs and providing pro bono professional services to charities.

Specialist Areas

• Statutory external audits
• IFRSs implementation
• Group consolidation
• Financial accounting and reporting advice
• Due diligence and compliance reviews
• Risk Advice and process reviews
• Grants acquittal reporting

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Applied Accounting
• Grad Dip of  Chartered Accounting
• Registered Company Auditor
• External Examiner- Law Institute of Victoria
• Approved Overseas Auditor (New Zealand)

Professional Memberships

• Chartered Accountants ANZ
• Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (UK)

• +61 3 9274 0700
• aurrehman@wwadvantage.com.au

Tracey Brown-Thomas

Tracey joined the firm in 2023 and has more than 25 years of senior and partner experience in public practice.   She has a Bachelor of Economics from Monash University and is a qualified Chartered Accountant and Fellow of CPA Australia.

Tracey has extensive experience in a wide area of Taxation and Accounting, including capital gains tax issues and various rollover strategies, FBT & GST and has advised family groups, business owners and high-net-worth individuals.   Tracey values the relationships and trust she builds with clients and enjoys the challenge of delivering practical and efficient solutions to tax issues.

Tracey has developed in-depth knowledge of all aspects of Self-Managed Super Funds (SMSF) and associated wealth accumulation strategies and has achieved the specialisation of CA SMSF Specialist, she has also undertaken further studies to become an Accredited Mental Health First Aider.

Specialist Areas

• Specialist Tax Services
• Corporate & SME Transactions
• Superannuation
• Tax and Accounting Compliance
• Advising Health Professionals

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Economics
• Chartered Accountant
• CPA Australia – Fellow
• CA SMSF Specialist
• Registered Tax Agent
• Registered ASIC SMSF Auditor
• Public Practice Certificate Chartered Accountants ANZ
• Accredited Mental Health First Aider

Professional Memberships

• CPA Australia
• Chartered Accountants ANZ

• +61 3 9274 0600
• tbrown-thomas@wwadvantage.com.au

Hannah Miao

Hannah has been in public practice since completing her Bachelor of Commerce in 2009. She also qualified as a Certified Practising Accountant in 2013 and became a Chartered Tax Advisor in 2017.

Hannah has provided services ranging from financial reporting, tax compliance, business service and tax advice to a diverse range of clients, from high-net-worth individuals to SMEs and subsidiaries of foreign multinationals, in various industry sectors such as hospitality, manufacturing, 3PL warehousing, investment operations, property development, family-owned businesses and foreign-owned companies.

Hannah has excellent communication and system skills, accompanied by her ability to work with many stakeholders cross-functionally, to provide proficient business service and effective tax solutions for clients with expertise and passion. She also regularly assists her clients with tax planning and advice, particularly in the areas of Capital Gain Tax (CGT) and GST.

Over her 10 years of work expenses in the Public Practice, Hannah has gained extensive experience in various tax engagements, including Transfer Pricing, GST, FBT, CGT, Company Income Tax, Stamp Duty, Land Tax and Payroll Tax. She has well-developed analytical, problem-solving, conceptual, reconciliation, financial analysis and tax accounting skills.

Hannah aims to be a well-rounded professional with versatile, up-to-date skills, high-level technical proficiency and a comprehensive knowledge base.

Specialist Areas

• Taxation Advice and Compliance
• Tax Planning and Business Advisory
• Property Investment and Development
• Family Business

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Commerce
• Certified Practising Accountant
• Chartered Tax Adviser

Professional Memberships

• CPA Australia
• Tax Institute of Australia

• +61 3 9274 0733
• hmiao@wwadvantage.com.au

Matthew Dawson

Matthew has been in public practice since completing his Bachelor of Commerce in 2007. Mathew also qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 2011.

Matthew has provided services ranging from financial reporting and tax compliance, specialist taxation and business advice and acting as interim CFO for a client. Matthew builds valuable relationships and communicates well with his clients and colleagues. He has experience in the areas of manufacturing, investment operations, property development, family-owned businesses, high-net-worth individuals, and foreign-owned companies.

He has extensive experience utilising data from diverse financial and information systems to build tools and forecasting models that improve organisational decision-making capabilities resulting in increased profitability.

Specialist Areas

• Taxation Advice and Compliance
• Domestic and International Tax Law
• Financial modelling
• Information systems

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Commerce
• Chartered Accountant

Professional Memberships

• Chartered Accountants ANZ

• +61 3 9274 0648
• mdawson@wwadvantage.com.au

Shane Mak

Shane has more than 10 years of experience in audit and assurance, risk management, control, and compliance in both private and public companies.

Shane has previously worked with KPMG, EY, and Deloitte.

Shane has experience performing and managing external audits for clients of various industries including large public and private for and not-for-profit clients. These industries include:

• Consumer and industrial products
• Manufacturing
• Insurance brokers
• Upstream/Downstream Oil and Gas
• Exploration Mining
• Advertising
• Construction
• Fast Moving Consumer Goods
• IT Consulting
• Charities
• Foundations

Specialist Areas

• External audit
• Reviews of financial reports
• Accounting and Audit & Assurance Standards
• Data Analytics
• Consolidation
• Impairment Assessment
• Accounting Systems

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Commerce
• Chartered Accountant

Professional Membership

• CPA Australia

• +61 3 9274 0603
• smak@wwadvantage.com.au