KPMG

The opening plenary session aims to connect shifts in the global order to the potential actions tax leaders may take to ensure compliance. Speakers will delve into the impacts on geopolitics, economic trends and tax policies resulting from the 2024 worldwide elections.

Keynote speaker Baroness Dambisa Moyo, Member of the UK House of Lords and Principal, Versaca Investments, will share her insights on the structural long-term changes to the global economy, geopolitics and financial markets.

To unpack the major tax policy changes anticipated over the next five years, Manal Corwin, Director of the OECD Centre for Tax Policy and Administration will then sit down with Melissa Geiger, Global Leader, Strategic Corporates, Tax & Legal, KPMG International and Partner, Chair of the Board KPMG UK and Switzerland for a dynamic discussion.

The plenary will conclude with a panel of tax leaders from multinational organizations who will discuss strategies to navigate these significant changes. The discussions will not only cover the geopolitical and economic developments but also drill down into the operational impacts on tax functions for the ‘here and now’. Moderated by Raluca Enache, Head of KPMG's EU Tax Center, panelists will include Sebastiaan De Buck, Global Head of Tax, Unilever; Thulani Shongwe, Director, African Policy and Multilateral Cooperation and member of the Executive Committee; and Sander Biemans, Head of Tax at HAL Investments.

Delegates can expect to gain practical insights on implementing tax policy directives and adapting to the evolving economic and tax landscape, equipping them with tools to help manage these transitions effectively.

The second plenary session aims to make the connection between current tax processes and potential future innovations. Speakers will explore the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in the world of tax administration. 

Opening this session, David Linke, Global Head of Tax & Legal, KPMG International, will share his perspectives on AI and what he is seeing around the world.

The keynote speaker, Zack Kass, Global AI Advisor and Former Head of Go-To-Market at OpenAI will share his perspective on the development of AI including bold predictions about how it has the potential to change the world of finance and tax.  

The plenary will conclude with a panel discussion featuring finance and tax leaders who will share their experiences with AI, detailing the challenges they faced, the strategies they employed and the outcomes they achieved. Moderated by Aabha Lekhak, Head of Tax, KPMG Oman, she will be joined by Christian Stender, KPMG’s Global Head of AI for Tax & Legal, Ali Kennedy, Director of Group Taxation, BAE Systems and Dr Friedrich Zimmerman, Head of Tax, REWE Group.

Delegates can expect to leave with actionable takeaways and resources for further exploration, equipping them to harness AI's potential in their own tax functions.

The final plenary session aims to unpack ways to better connect the tax function to the broader business as a strategic partner.

Tom Woods, Head of Clients & Markets, KPMG Ireland, will sit down with Hilary Halper, Chief Financial Officer, Nespresso, to discuss her experience and perspective on the importance of business partnering, how it has evolved, and how it may continue to develop in the future.

This session will also include a panel of Heads of Tax sharing their views on business partnering and what has and has not worked in their organizations. Moderator Ija Ramirez, Head of Tax, KPMG Germany, will be joined by Karine Halimi-Guez, Group Head of Tax, Booking Holdings, Armin Gembruch, Senior Vice President, Group Taxes, Metro AG, and Nazrien Kader, Head of Tax, Old Mutual.

Delegates can expect to gain valuable insights into upskilling and reskilling employees to keep pace with technological transformations, ensuring that the tax function remains a vital contributor to business success.

To conclude the 2025 KPMG EMA Tax Summit, Søren Dalby, EMA Region Head of Tax & Legal and Partner, KPMG Acor Tax, will share his reflection on the Summit discussions and announce the date and location of the 2026 KPMG EMA Tax Summit.

This session will explore the future of European value adding tax (VAT) in a rapidly evolving digital landscape where tax authorities are becoming ever more challenging.

Key discussion topics during this session will include:

• The indirect tax function to 2030: Join us as we delve into the future of the indirect tax function. Discover how technology, data analytics, artificial intelligence and evolving regulations will shape your team and processes over the next five years.
• E-invoicing and digital reporting — navigating the digital transformation: In this era of real-time data, how can businesses stay ahead of the curve? Our panel will discuss the latest trends in e-invoicing and digital reporting and provide practical approaches to ensure compliance whilst maximizing efficiency.
• Global supply chain management — balancing VAT, transfer pricing and customs in a complex world: Learn how indirect tax interacts with transfer pricing and customs and how to manage VAT in a shifting global trade landscape also considering the introduction of the US tariffs.
• Practical experiences and emerging trends with European tax authorities: Gain firsthand insights from our team of experienced practitioners, as they share their practical approaches and discuss emerging trends in indirect tax enforcement across key European jurisdictions.