Robert B Whait - Senior Lecturer in Taxation Law, University of South Australia

Robert B Whait has been a lecturer in taxation law at the University of South Australia since 2006. Previous to that he was employed in the tax profession becoming a member of the Tax Institute of Australia (now a Chartered Tax Advisor) and a member of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand.

He has published extensively on tax compliance and the Australian Taxation Office's use of the compliance model for compliance improvement. He has also published on the challenges faced by vulnerable Australians in fulfilling their tax obligations.

In 2019, he established UniSA Tax Clinic which provides free tax help to those cannot complete their taxes on their own and cannot afford professional assistance. The clinic operates as part of the National Tax Clinic Program.

Connie Vitale - Senior lecturer tax and accounting, Western Sydney University

Dr Connie Vitale CA, FIPA is a qualified tax professional holding a Registered Tax Agent licence, an ASIC Registered Agent and is a Senior Accounting Lecturer at Western Sydney University. Connie is the Founding Director, the Manager and Supervisor of the Western Sydney University Tax Clinic which was established in 2019. The objectives of the Clinic are to assist vulnerable taxpayers in Greater Western Sydney and to bridge the gap between theory and practice for WSU students considering taxation as a future career path. Connie brings over 30 years of professional tax experience into the Clinic to achieve these objectives. Connie has multiple teaching awards excelling at bridging the gap for students between theory and practice. She specialises in financial decision making, which was the focus of her PhD, her research expertise has extended to include tax literacy and improving administrative aspects of the tax system for vulnerable taxpayers.