Mary Baine Takes Office as New Executive Secretary of ATAF
By Patience Ikpeme
Ms Mary Baine has officially assumed duty as the African Tax Administration Forum’s (ATAF) new Executive Secretary
ATAF in a statement issued on 1 July 2025 said Mary Blaine’s appointment was confirmed on 3 June 2025 after a competitive selection process and wide endorsement from member administrations, thus marking the beginning of a fresh chapter for ATAF in its pursuit of fair, effective, and development-focused tax systems across the continent.
With a professional career spanning over 30 years—of which 24 were spent in executive management—Ms Baine brings to the role a wealth of experience in tax policy, international cooperation, and institutional leadership.
She previously served as ATAF’s Deputy Executive Secretary from 2022 to 2025, where she led the organisation’s domestic resource mobilisation strategy, member services, and multilateral partnerships. Her tenure saw the strengthening of technical frameworks and the establishment of new platforms to deepen engagement between ATAF, its member countries, and regional institutions.
Speaking on her vision for ATAF, Ms Baine noted her commitment to African-led tax solutions that can underpin sustainable development and fiscal sovereignty. “ATAF is a force for transformation on the continent. I am honoured to lead this organisation for stronger tax systems and African fiscal sovereignty,” she said. She added, “My mission is to position ATAF as the strategic engine driving tax reform and resource mobilisation across the continent. I believe ATAF must remain agile, innovative, and deeply grounded in Africa’s realities. My vision is to lead the Forum as a beacon for equitable, effective tax systems that enable Africa to thrive.”
In her new role, Ms Baine will oversee ATAF’s delivery of technical assistance, capacity-building programmes, and policy advisory services to its 44 member countries. Her strategy is centred on scaling up the organisation’s impact, amplifying Africa’s collective voice in international tax policy debates, and supporting reforms that advance both equity and development. “We have a shared mission—to build stronger, fairer tax systems that fund Africa’s development,” she said, highlighting her intention to drive meaningful reforms and deepen partnerships to elevate Africa’s tax agenda globally.
Beyond her most recent role, Ms Baine has held key leadership positions at ATAF since its inception. As a founding member of ATAF’s first Governing Council and Steering Committee, she played a critical part in shaping the organisation’s early strategy and governance structure. Her leadership helped steer ATAF’s membership growth from 38 to 44 countries and facilitated the adoption of ATAF-developed tax policies in 35 countries, leading to increased revenue and modernised tax systems.
Her tenure also saw the creation of specialised Transfer Pricing Units in 17 African countries and Exchange of Information Units in 8 countries—steps aimed at combating tax base erosion and cross-border tax evasion. At international level, Ms Baine has represented Africa’s tax interests at major global forums, including negotiations led by the OECD and the United Nations, ensuring that African perspectives are reflected in global tax reforms.
From 2016 to 2022, as ATAF’s Head of Tax Programmes, Ms Baine expanded the reach of technical assistance from 9 to 35 countries, mentored 78 African tax experts, and helped nine countries achieve improvements in their tax-to-GDP ratios. She also championed the creation of the ATAF VAT Technical Committee and the Joint Technical Committee on Illicit Financial Flows. Her efforts have reinforced ATAF’s partnerships with continental institutions such as the African Union Commission and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.
As ATAF moves forward under her leadership, the organisation expressed confidence in Ms Baine’s vision to steer the Forum through its next phase of growth, innovation, and policy influence. ATAF noted that her appointment comes at a critical moment, as African countries intensify efforts to mobilise domestic resources to fund economic transformation and development priorities.
ATAF, which today serves as a key platform for collaboration among African tax administrations, welcomed Ms Baine’s assumption of duty and stated its expectation for a new era of strengthened technical support, policy leadership, and reform-driven impact on the continent.
