The SMSF Association congratulates Rob Heferen, head of Treasury’s Revenue Group, who is moving to the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science to concentrate on energy resources in northern Australia.
SMSF Association CEO/Managing Director Andrea Slattery says: “Although we will sorely miss Rob’s input on tax issues, his appointment is due reward for his work in the Revenue Group over the past five years.
“Certainly our superannuation sector held Rob in the highest regard. We always found he was an attentive listener, was able to distil complex issues into simple concepts and provided constructive advice across a range of issues.
“In particular, Rob was well received by our members at the National Conference where his sessions with other government and regulator officials have always been one of the highlights of the event.
“It was certainly instructive for members to get valued insights into how Treasury thinks when Rob expressed its views on SMSFs, tax concessions and other tax reform issues.”
Heferen, who began as Deputy Secretary of Treasury’s Revenue Group in March 2011, has worked in the public service since joining as part of the graduate intake to the Australian Customs Service in 1989.
In 1994 he joined the Australian Tax Office before transferring to Treasury in 1997. He remained in Treasury until 2010, when he moved to Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs as Deputy Secretary with responsibilities for indigenous policy as well as oversight of its State offices and the Indigenous Coordination Centres.
Slattery says although the Association will miss Rob’s wise counsel on taxation issues, it is pleasing that his outstanding service has been recognised by both the Government and Opposition.
