As the director of Hansen Indirect Tax, Shawna Hansen provides services with a practical yet technically accurate approach. With a focus on indirect taxes since 1990, Shawna began her career in the GST department of the Canada Revenue Agency, where she was part of the GST implementation team in 1991.
In 1999, Shawna transitioned from the CRA to the private sector, working at two of the Big Four accounting firms. She provided GST and PST transaction advice and audit defence services to a wide range of Canadian and international clients.
Shawna has extensively presented on indirect tax matters, particularly during the implementation of HST and the subsequent reinstatement of BC PST. In 2008, she presented a technical paper, Key Indirect Tax Issues for Public-Private Partnerships, at the CICA Commodity Tax Symposium. She co-presented with the BC Ministry of Finance on BC PST updates at the Eastern and Western CPA Commodity Tax Symposiums in 2014, 2015, and 2016.
In addition to her work in Canadian indirect tax, Shawna has provided VAT consulting services in the Caribbean. She has presented VAT Implementation Courses on behalf of the Antigua and Barbuda and St. Lucia Chambers of Commerce to the public. In 2012, Shawna was a presenter at the Bahamas National Tax Symposium, where she discussed the challenges associated with implementing a new VAT regime.