Panel workshop questions: What’s brewing in Division 7A? paper

Linda Tapiolas CTA

Linda Tapiolas, CTA, is a Partner in the Cooper Grace Ward Lawyers Commercial team. She provides a range of support services to accountants, financial planners, and other professional advisers. This includes technical advice on complex tax, CGT and Div 7A issues, as well as acting on business sales and acquisitions to ensure clients achieve commercial and tax-effective outcomes. Prior to joining Cooper Grace Ward, Linda worked as an accountant for 18 years advising clients on capital gains, business acquisitions and restructuring. She also conducted seminars and training sessions on various topics including CGT small business concessions. - Current at 03 February 2026

Paul Banister CTA

Paul Banister, CTA, is a Chartered Accountant and a Partner at Grant Thornton in their Private Enterprise team in Brisbane. He has over 40 years’ experience working with clients in an array of industries to help them navigate through complex and potentially risky tax and commercial issues, including to address tax disputes. His expertise includes domestic and international tax planning, transaction advisory and support, superannuation structuring and advice, succession planning, estate planning and philanthropy. Paul has presented at many professional and business forums, both in Australia and internationally, and is a published author. Paul is the Vice President of The Tax Institute and was the recipient of The Tax Institute’s SME Tax Adviser of the  Year Award for 2016. - Current at 13 February 2026