Mirza Gelashvili

Deputy Minister of Finance, Georgia

Mirza Gelashvili currently serves as the Deputy Minister of Finance in Georgia. As a Deputy Minister, he oversees a wide array of critical responsibilities, including macroeconomic and fiscal forecasting, fiscal framework design, fiscal  risk management,debt management, investor relations, and sovereign credit ratings. His career in the Ministry of Finance began in December 2015 when he started as a Senior Specialist at the Macroeconomic Analysis Division. Since March 2023, he has served as the Chairman of the board of the Service of Accounting, Reporting, and Auditing Supervision. Prior to his current position, Mirza Gelashvili served as the Head of the Macroeconomic Analysis and Fiscal Policy Planning Department at the MOF. During this time, he developed forecasting and policy analysis frameworks. Before joining the MOF, he worked at the National Statistics Office of Georgia, where he served as a Senior Specialist, focusing on national accounts data and economic activity estimation. Additionally, he gained valuable experience as a Summer Intern at the International Monetary Fund.

Mirza Gelashvili holds a Master of Economics degree from Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, specializing in Econometrics and Mathematical Economics.

 Raul Zambrano

Director of Technical Assistance, CIAT 

Raul Zambrano is currently serving as the Director of Technical Assistance and Technology at the Inter-American Center of Tax Administrations (CIAT). In this role, he has spearheaded international, multidisciplinary modernization projects implemented by CIAT across eight countries. Beyond this, he's acted as a consultant in over 20 tax and customs administrations, specializing in process improvement and the development and evaluation of information systems. In the academic sphere, he has lectured on topics ranging from databases and information systems management to object orientation at esteemed institutions like the Escuela Politécnica Nacional del Ecuador and the Universidad San Francisco de Quito. Additionally, he's conducted seminars on the intersection of technology and tax administration at various universities throughout Latin America and Europe. He's also a member of the BEPS Action 1 TFDE and has both authored and edited numerous publications in the realm of tax administration and technology.

Sameera Khan

ATAF Manager in Charge of Country Programs

Sameera Khan is the Manager of Country Programs at the African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF). She leads the execution of bespoke programs tailored for the 40 member countries across Africa, focusing on enhancing revenue administrations and addressing their unique technical needs. In addition, her responsibilities at ATAF include liaising with diverse agencies and partners, budget management, and ensuring meticulous project execution to meet our members' requirements effectively. In her role, Ms. Khan has orchestrated the development of pioneering tax interventions, leveraging her extensive experience and deep engagement with several African tax authorities to address prevalent challenges in tax administration. Before joining ATAF, she worked at the  South African Revenue Service. Ms. Khan played a leading role in establishing and addressing the reports of tax crimes and corruption, particularly during her tenure at SARS. Beyond her managerial role, Ms. Khan has extensive academic engagements, conducting focused seminars and discussions on tax administration best practices and challenges in Africa. She is also a dedicated contributor to various forums and initiatives, emphasizing innovative solutions in tax administration and have authored numerous insightful publications in this realm. Mr. Kahan has completed her MBA and has a MPhil  and a PhD in taxation from the University of Pretoria. She is currently completing her PHD in taxation through the University of South Africa focussing on environmental taxation.