Testamentary trusts & life interests presentation

Julie Van der Velde CTA

Julie Van der Velde, CTA TEP is the principal of a specialised commercial law firm, VdV Legal. With over 25 years’ experience advising Australian businesses, her practice focuses on taxation and trust law with an emphasis on business structuring, tax planning, business succession and intergenerational transfers. Julie is The Tax Institute’s SME Chartered Tax Adviser for 2017 and a regular speaker for the Tax Institute and other professional organisations. - Current at 25 November 2025

Brett Zimmermann CTA

Brett Zimmermann, is an Assistant Commissioner in Tax Counsel Network (TCN) responsible for providing leadership on technical issues that are a priority for the ATO. Brett joined the ATO five years ago, prior to that working 18 years in the private sector as a specialist tax and commercial solicitor. Brett holds a range of roles in the ATO and deals with issues during audit, advice products, litigation and legislative development with a focus on corporate transactions. His recent work includes matters pertaining to current R&D, share capital management and earnout portfolios. Brett was the TCN Assistant Commissioner with technical responsibility for the GQHC, Sunlite and TDS Biz litigation matters. - Current at 14 March 2024