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David Lyburn, ATO, Melbourne
David Lyburn, The Dux of ATL008 of Tax for Trusts blends technical tax expertise, compliance insight, and data skills with a bold, driven approach to life.
“I wanted to get it done before I turned 30, so I figured I’d just pull the trigger.”
David is describing his solo backpacking adventure through five South American countries, but he could just as easily be talking about his approach to career progression.
Building a foundation at the ATO
Fresh from the University of Melbourne majoring in Economics and Finance, David accepted a graduate position with the Australian Taxation office in 2018.
“I’ve jumped around as I’ve made my way through the ranks over the years.”
His journey reads like an expedition through every corner of tax administration: audit and compliance in the individual tax base, covering deductions, capital gains tax, and foreign source income. A ten-month stint as a Tax Practitioners Board investigator. Time in the internal legal advice unit. Managing the tax technical hub across multiple sites for the Individual's business line. A pivot to risk and strategy with a focus on data analytics, then as a client engagement officer in the ATO-TPB liaison team, working on information exchanges and intelligence sharing for compliance matters and now his current role in the Public Groups business line.
Each move was intentional, building a comprehensive understanding of how Australia's tax system operates from multiple angles.
When CTA designation presents new opportunities
After gaining CTA designation, David decided to pursue the graduate diploma. “I figured, you know what? It's time I started improving my qualifications. The Tax Institute was highly recommended. So, I had a look at the website and decided I'm going to do it.”
David’s pursuit of the graduate diploma wasn’t just about credentials. It was about deepening his expertise in the areas that genuinely fascinate him.
“I'd say I'm a technical person and I'm more drawn directly to the law and compliance side. I did love my time in the risk and strategy areas working with data, but I felt like I would personally want to be a technical or compliance-based person who also has skills in data rather than the other way around because I enjoy working with the law, I enjoy solving complex problems and interpreting advice and legislation.”
The study strategy that delivers results
Achieving dux status whilst working full-time requires more than intelligence. It demands strategy and discipline. For David, the formula was easy to follow.
“Setting a weekly target to study but being flexible with what days and times you study to work with other commitments. Given my partner and I were both studying, we always sat aside Sunday afternoon. A three-hour block between 2:00 and 5:00 where we'd both be there, sat down, silent, dedicated study. And then of course, we'd have all our additional studies. But having someone who keeps you accountable as well where possible definitely helps.”
His approach to the material itself is equally pragmatic.
“Tax requires a high level of attention to detail. Even small things can matter. Taking what you’ve learnt through quizzes and problems to make the material stick. I wouldn’t worry much about memorising everything and focusing more on understanding your notes well and knowing where to find key information when you need it.”
His advice born from someone who understands that tax expertise isn’t about memorisation, but about building frameworks for thinking and knowing how to navigate complexity when it matters.