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Topping the class, twice
Tégan Watkin Brown is an Associate in Corporate Tax at Grant Thornton in Brisbane, and the 2025 Dux of both CTA2A Advanced and CTA2B Advanced at The Tax Institute Higher Education. That double achievement, while working full-time in a demanding corporate tax role, is remarkable in itself. What makes it more so is that she did not see it coming.
"I genuinely did not expect to perform at that level. I tend to be my own toughest critic when it comes to study and did not walk out of either exam feeling exceptionally confident, so being named Dux was an unexpected and rewarding outcome."
She holds a Bachelor of Business majoring in Accounting and has around two and a half years of experience in accounting and tax. Tax was not always the destination.
"It made everything click for me, and I found myself genuinely looking forward to the content each week and wanting to explore it in more depth."
What made the difference
Tégan attributes her results to consistency and a deliberate mindset.
"What made the difference for me was approaching the content as an extension of my work rather than something I needed to memorise in isolation for an exam. I tried to treat the questions and examples as real client situations, which made the learning feel purposeful and helped me engage more deeply with the material."
Strong employer support from Grant Thornton also played a role. Study leave gave her the time to properly consolidate learning before each exam.
"That additional time made a meaningful difference."
Skills that transfer directly to practice
The impact on Tégan's client work was tangible. A recent matter required researching the tax implications of winding up an entity, including the treatment of final dividends flowing to international related entities and the application of conduit foreign income rules.
"These were areas where I had limited exposure prior to undertaking my studies with The Tax Institute and without that grounding, I would not have had a clear framework for where to start. Instead, I was able to go straight to the relevant materials and build targeted research from there."
The prior knowledge helped her see how different components interacted rather than treating each issue separately.
"I was able to approach the matter with greater confidence and contribute more meaningfully to the advice we ultimately delivered for the client."
Two programs, one well-rounded foundation
Tégan is completing CTA studies through TTIHE alongside the CA ANZ Chartered Accountant Program. She sees them as complementary rather than competing.
"My study with The Tax Institute has been highly aligned to my day-to-day work in tax, with content that is directly relevant to the issues I work through in practice. By contrast, CA ANZ seems to have a broader professional focus, which I expect will be particularly valuable in developing judgement and understanding how different service lines interact to create value for clients."
The delivery models differ too. CA ANZ is structured around set workshop times and collaborative learning. TTIHE offers greater flexibility in how and when students engage with content.
"Ultimately, I think that together they provide a well-rounded approach to professional development."
Why technical foundations matter now
Tégan's advice to tax professionals considering further study is direct.
"Back yourself and really take the opportunity to learn if you are in a position to do so."
She points to the growing importance of strong technical knowledge as automation and AI reshape the profession.
"It is becoming even more important to understand underlying concepts well enough to question outputs and apply professional judgement when something does not look right."
Her next step is completing the CA ANZ program, with plans to return to TTI for CTA3 Advisory as her experience grows. "I see tax as a career of continuous learning."
For anyone weighing up whether postgraduate tax study is worth the investment, Tégan's results make a compelling case.