Paul Sanderson, JP LLB (Hons) FRICS FIRRV - President, IPTI
Paul is the President of the International Property Tax Institute (IPTI). Prior to becoming President of IPTI, Paul was the Director at the UK Valuation Office Agency (VOA) responsible for providing professional advice and technical guidance across a wide range of valuation and property issues.
The VOA deals with the assessment of over 30 million properties in England & Wales for both council tax payable in respect of residential properties and business rates payable in respect of commercial and other non-domestic properties. These two local property taxes raise revenue in excess of £70 billion annually to support the provision of local services.
Paul has over 50 years’ experience in the valuation of many different types of property for a variety of purposes. Paul is a Past President of the Rating Surveyors' Association (RSA) in the UK, and a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). Paul is also a Fellow of the Institute of Revenues, Rating and Valuation (IRRV). Paul has undertaken work for the World Bank and UNDP in various countries around the world and is a regular contributor to professional journals.
Since becoming President of IPTI in 2012, Paul has travelled extensively around the globe speaking at various international conferences and other events and meeting professional colleagues from many different jurisdictions. Paul has also been involved in a wide variety of projects concerning both property valuation and property tax systems in many different countries which has provided him with valuable insights into best practice which can be shared via IPTI events and projects.
Drew Samuels, M.I.M.A. - IMA President
Drew Samuels has been a Licensed Paralegal with the Law Society of Ontario since 2011. He is the Director of Litigation and Administration at DuCharme, McMillen & Associates Canada, Ltd. where he provides strategic litigation expertise and legal advice on a wide array of legal issues regarding litigation strategy at court, appeal preparation, and presentation before the Assessment Review Board. Drew is responsible for the coordination and advocacy of property tax appeals and his experience also includes appearing as a Licensed Paralegal before the Assessment Review Board, the Landlord and Tenant Board, the Small Claims Court, and the Ontario Court of Justice. He graduated from Carleton University with two degrees, Criminology and Psychology, and has a Paralegal graduate certificate from Durham College. He has an Executive Certificate in Conflict Management from the University of Windsor, and he holds a Qualified Mediator designation with the Alternative Dispute Resolution Institute of Ontario.
Don Hearn, Executive Director & CEO, Municipal Assessment Agency (MAA)
Don Hearn is the Executive Director and CEO of the Municipal Assessment Agency, overseeing assessment services for 236 municipalities across Newfoundland and Labrador. With over 30 years of experience in property assessment, he brings extensive expertise in valuing residential, commercial, industrial, and institutional properties.
Don leads the Agency’s operations and stakeholder engagement, guiding a team committed to excellence in service delivery and client relations. He holds the M.I.M.A. designation and serves as 3rd Vice President on the Institute of Municipal Assessors’ Executive as well as Vice-Chair of the IMA’s Accreditation Committee, having previously chaired District 10.
In 2023, Don earned the ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors, reflecting his dedication to governance and professional growth. A long-time advocate for best practices, he remains a respected leader in the municipal assessment field.
He leads an executive team dedicated to fostering diverse groups that deliver exceptional results, building long-lasting client relationships, and driving the organization toward excellence in service delivery and organizational effectiveness.
Don holds the M.I.M.A. designation and is a recognized member of the Institute of Municipal Assessors, where he has actively contributed to the local executive as a director for District 10 and as chair. His commitment to the profession extends nationally as the Vice-Chair of the IMA’s Accreditation Committee.
In September 2023, Don completed the Institute of Corporate Directors Program and received his ICD.D accreditation, a testament to his lifelong commitment to excellence in the boardroom and his aspiration to be a more effective director. With a passion for continuous improvement and a dedication to the advancement of the property assessment industry, Don Hearn remains a respected leader and advocate for best practices in municipal assessment.
Jeff Grad, CPA, CA CBV AACI P. App MRICS, Partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Jeff is a Partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP responsible for the National Property Tax Practice and Real Estate Valuations. He specializes in the valuations of large commercial, multi-residential, industrial, development, and special-purpose properties for property tax and litigation support purposes. He is a chartered accountant, a chartered surveyor, a professional appraiser and a chartered business valuator. Previously, he was president of Equitable Value Inc; a Senior Valuation Consultant at AEC international; specialized in Business Valuations with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and in the tax services group at KPMG LLP. Jeff received both his Bachelors of Mathematics and his Masters of Accountancy degrees at the University of Waterloo in Ontario.
Uche Obi, Director, Cayman Islands, Government/ RICS (Global Governing Council Elected Member)
With over 25 years of experience in the real estate sectors across the UK and the Caribbean, Uche Obi is a highly respected Chartered Valuation Surveyor and currently serves as Director of the Lands & Survey Department for the Cayman Islands Government. In this role, he leads critical national functions including the Land Registry, Valuation and Estates Office, Survey Section, and National Geographic Information Systems, driving service excellence through innovation and strategic leadership.
A Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), Uche brings deep expertise in property valuation, compulsory acquisition, and strategic planning. He represents the Americas on the RICS Global Governing Council and has held several influential positions, including Chair of the RICS Cayman Chapter and member of the RICS Caribbean Advisory Group. His dedication to professional governance was also evident through his role on the Levitt Review steering committee, where he contributed to enhancing transparency and accountability within RICS.
Beyond his governmental responsibilities, Uche chairs the Credit Committee of the CICSA Credit Union and is passionate about mentoring the next generation of surveyors. He has served as an APC Counsellor and was previously a Licensed Assessor Trainer. His academic background includes a Bachelor’s degree in Estate Management, a Master’s in Property Valuation and Law, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Systems Analysis from City University, London.
Uche is a committed advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion, consistently fostering inclusive environments across the teams and institutions he leads.
Ashley Wu, Chief Data Scientist, Property Valuation Services Corporation (PVSC)
Ashley has a strong background in the field of data science and modelling, supported by extensive education and training. Ashley has been instrumental in implementing artificial intelligence and machine learning within PVSC’s operations, making PVSC a pioneer within the property assessment industry in the use of advanced statistical analysis for property valuation. Experience: Over her tenure at PVSC, Ashley has held roles such as Project Manager, Manager of Information Management, Secretariat of Critical Analysis, and is currently Chief Data Scientist. She has co-authored white papers, been published in industry journals, and presented at international conferences, contributing significantly to the advancement of modelling practices. Ashley’s has expanded the use of predictive modelling and business intelligence to provide deeper insights into market indicators and work inventories for greater operational understanding and more effective planning.
Marco Kuijper
Marco Kuijper graduated in Geodetic Engineering from Delft University of Technology in 2001. In 2006, he became a certified internal auditor after completing a specialized program at Erasmus University Rotterdam. At the Dutch Council for Real Estate Assessment, he plays a key role in developing the organization’s strategic direction. He is also closely involved in driving innovation within the Dutch property tax system. In addition, Marco manages the Council’s international relations and is a frequent speaker at both national and international conferences. He serves as a member of the IAAO Research and Standards Committee.
Greg Martino, M.I.M.A., PLE, Vice-President and Chief Valuation & Standards Officer, Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC)
Greg Martino is Vice-President and Chief Valuation & Standards Officer at MPAC providing strategic oversight and direction to the development and implementation of valuation standards, policies and directives supporting the valuation of over 5.6 million properties in Ontario, Canada. Greg leads a team of valuation experts responsible for valuing all property types including large and special purpose properties in the large office, retail, hospitality and entertainment sectors. His portfolio also includes mass appraisal standards and MPAC’s data science practice. Greg is a member of the Canadian Directors of Assessment, International Associations of Assessing Officers and the International Property Tax Institute. With more than 30 years’ experience in the industry, Greg holds a M.I.M.A. Designation from the Institute of Municipal Assessors (IMA) and served as the IMA President for the 2022-23 term.
Lisa Dionne, Affiliate, Executive Director, Property Assessment Services, Service New Brunswick
Lisa began her career as a real estate appraisal consultant with the Department of Transportation, specializing in expropriating land for highway purposes. In 2000, she transitioned to SNB into the property assessment sector, where for 24 years she has gained extensive knowledge and experience of the municipal assessment field, taxation policy and local government governance.
In 2019, Lisa became the first female Executive Director of Property Assessment Services in New Brunswick, marking a significant milestone in her career.
Her educational background includes Business Administration studies at the University of Moncton and a diploma in appraisal, assessment, and real estate from Loyalist College in Belleville, Ontario. She also holds a Canadian Residential Appraiser (CRA) designation from the University of British Columbia.
Lisa resides in Grand Falls, NB, with her partner, Mario, and their two children, Roch and Eva.