Free Worldwide Seminars about residency, taxation, legal issues, healthcare

CEO - Open Media Group / Event host

Bruce has lived in the Algarve most of his life, having moved to Portugal from the UK as a child when his family relocated in the late 1970’s. His career has been mostly in publishing, as founder and CEO of the Open Media Group; publishers of the Portugal Resident newspaper and Essential Algarve magazine amongst other titles.

Whilst continuing in his role at Open Media, Bruce also has interests in real estate. Alongside his business activities, he is also a member of the board of directors of the Lisbon based British Portuguese Chamber of Commerce. Bruce is the host and a speaker at the Living in Portugal and Living in the Algarve events.

Sales & Marketing Director - Fine & Country  

Jorge was born in Angola but grew up in Setúbal near Lisbon before moving to Geneva, Switzerland where he completed a degree in Tourism Management. He lived and worked for five years in Ukraine before moving to Portugal in 2012 and started his career in real estate in 2015. Jorge has been with Fine & Country since 2018, initially as general manager of the central Algarve office and more recently as sales & marketing director for the Algarve region. Whilst based in the Algarve, Jorge works closely with his colleagues at the Fine & Country offices elsewhere in Portugal, from Porto in the north to Lisbon, Estoril and Comporta. 

Chief Sales Officer - Global International Relocation

Luís joined Global International Relocation in 2008, just 8 months after the company started trading. At the time he had just returned from the US and was settling in Portugal, a move that he considers to be the best one of his life. 14 years later he reflects on an exciting journey and continues to learn more and more about relocating international clients to Portugal from all around the world.  

Today, GIR employs over 100 people with three offices and is the number 1 mobility company in Portugal. The company offers high-quality services in the areas of international moving, relocation, immigration, property services, special transport of pets and artworks, excess baggage service, storage and management of business archives.   

General Medicine/Aesthetic Medicine 

Dr Joanna Karamon is certainly no stranger to the medical world, with over 23 years of experience as a General Practitioner. However, she is also no stranger to emigration. Born in Poland, she emigrated to South Africa where she completed her Medical training through the University of Pretoria in 1997. Dr Jo (as she is usually known) then emigrated to Portugal in 2000. Initially working locums in the UK, Dr Jo joined Luzdoc in 2001 and has been a constant and enduring element of the clinic’s medical team ever since. 

Together with the founder of Luzdoc, Dr Maria Alice Pestana e Silva, Dr Jo has always strived to uphold the core philosophy of Luzdoc, constantly improving, diversifying and introducing innovative medical services that are of benefit to all aspects of her client’s health. 

Believing that personal and professional growth is crucial in attaining these goals, Dr Jo has gone on to achieve a Diploma in Travel Medicine as well as MSc (Master’s Degree) in Skin Aging and Aesthetic Medicine. 

Director – Currencies Direct, South Africa  

Matt has been working in the South African Foreign Exchange Market for over 16 years, specifically focused on the movement of private client funds both into and out of the country. Over these years, he has navigated through numerous changes to exchange control regulations, SARS and general compliance enhancements both locally and internationally. While overseeing foreign exchange businesses, Matt has helped numerous South African citizens with their transfer requirements for residency programmes and international property purchases.  

Currencies Direct was founded in 1996 and has grown to become one of the world’s leading FX providers, with a niche in the Real Estate market internationally. We have over 20 offices worldwide including Portugal and South Africa, where we have had a presence for almost 20 years. Our local offices have specialised in helping to remove the complexities of payments out of South Africa, due to the limitations and requirements of Exchange Control. Our global footprint positions us well to effectively service clientele across several geographies with dedicated local resources and expertise. 

Chief Representative Officer - Caixa Geral de Depósitos, South Africa 

Alvaro is a banking professional with over 20 years experience in the Portuguese banking system. He supervised the Real Estate division of Banco Espírito Santo before moving to South Africa in 2015 to join Portugal’s biggest bank Caixa Geral de Depósitos (CGD)  

In 2021 he opened CDG’s representative office in Johannesburg, currently the only Portuguese bank with representation in South Africa. He manages day to day operations at the bank and his team are on hand to assist South African nationals and Portuguese residents with their general banking needs in Portugal such as opening bank accounts and securing mortgage finance. 

Associate Director - Blacktower

Manuela Robinson is an Associate Director for Blacktower Financial Management, and has been with the company for almost 10 years, but has been in the financial industry services for over 30 years. Having worked in International banks and organisations, Manuela’s area of expertise lay in International Pension Transfers, Private Wealth and Financial Management and Tax Efficient Planning and always putting her client’s best interest as a priority. 

The Blacktower group was formed in 1986 by John Westwood, who is now a board member of The Federation of European Independent Financial Advisors, to provide independent wealth management advice and a bespoke service for both individual and corporate clients, focusing on the above-mentioned areas. Blacktower has a footprint all over the world, more precisely in 20 locations and has approx. $2bn assets under management. Blacktower aims to achieve your financial and personal aspirations and with our expertise we find the right product for each individual's circumstances and requirements.

Managing Partner - ActiveCap

Francisco has over 17 years of experience in the field of private equity, asset management and capital markets in Europe, the US and Africa.

Francisco is a Managing Partner at ActiveCap, a Portuguese reference private equity firm investing in companies with a growth-oriented strategy. ActiveCap’s team track record over the years has enabled the firm to become a trusted partner for Institutional Investors and High Net Worth Individuals across multiple geographies.

He started his career investing in small and medium capitalizations in Portugal at F&C Investments, a leading UK asset manager.

Previously, he was a Director at ThirdWay Partners, an investment and advisory firm, and worked at the Global Funding department at American Express, in New York.

Francisco holds a degree in Economics from Nova SBE and an MBA from the Darden School of Business, University of Virginia.

Senior Partner - ERG Legal

Rui Assis Passos is a highly regarded lawyer specializing in Portugal's Golden Visa program and investment immigration law.

As a key figure at ERG Legal, he has played a pivotal role in shaping the country's legal landscape concerning foreign investment and residency. With extensive experience in drafting legislation and advising clients, Passos is recognized for his expertise and swift, client-focused approach. His in-depth knowledge and contributions to discussions on Portugal’s residency by investment laws have earned him recognition from peers and industry leaders. Known for his reliability and professionalism, Rui Assis Passos is widely considered one of the leading experts in this field.