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.

COO - 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. 

Founder & CEO - Medal Insurance brokers  

Henrique founded Medal Insurance in 1996 and has built the business with his family and a dedicated team to be Portugal’s leading insurance brokerage for expats.

His presentation at our Living in the Portugal seminars will focus on health insurance and healthcare in Portugal for foreign residents.

Medal was founded in the Algarve where it has three offices covering the whole coast. Medal also has offices in Cascais covering the Greater Lisbon area.

Group Real Estate Sales Director - Martinhal Family Hotels & Resorts

Sara Allen is the Real Estate Director of the Elegant Group which owns Martinhal Family Hotels & Resorts. The founders of Elegant Group developed the Martinhal Resort in Sagres (Algarve) from scratch and have successfully expanded the “Martinhal” brand across three other properties in the best and most prestigious locations in Portugal – with one more branded hotel residence coming up in Lisbon.  

The group is also working on commercial real estate projects and an Education Hub project in Lisbon (between the Park of Nations and the airport). The United Lisbon International School successfully opened in September 2020 and is part of a wider Edu Hub. Soon, the Edu Hub will be filled with other innovators, tech companies and an academy that all have something to contribute to the ecosystem of education. The school is a K-12 International School with an American-based Curriculum and an IB diploma.   

Chairman - Ando Living / OptylonKrea 

Hakan Kodal, Chairman of Ando Living and OptylonKrea, is renowned for his 30-year tenure in investment management and real estate.

As the Founding Chairman of various real estate organizations and companies including his fund management partnership with Merrill Lynch, he led 1.8 billion real estate investments in Europe.

Hakan has evolved into a recognized authority in Portugal, with a focus on investment management and branded residences. 

Managing Director / Founding Partner - Plan-B Outbound Migration Consultancy 

Calvin S. Mazlumyan, Esq., is a California-licensed U.S. immigration attorney and a seasoned Outbound Migration consultant specializing in both Caribbean Citizenship by Investment and European Golden Visa programs. He holds a California Realtor/Broker license with a focus on global real estate markets and is a licensed Investment Advisor Representative.

Mr Mazlumyan graduated from UCLA with College Honors and Departmental Highest Honors, and has pursued a career in Private Banking both in investment and lending areas prior to focusing on immigration and global migration matters.

Mazlumyan holds a Master of International Management degree with a concentration on global wealth migration patterns and is a member of the Los Angeles County Bar Association, Beverly Hills Bar Association, and the Investment Migration Council.

Founding Partner - NSMLawyers

Gonçalo co-founded NSMLawyers and, with a team of expert lawyers, crafted thousands of golden visa applications in Portugal. A work with more than 10 years of experience that changed many lives.

In the last decade, NSMLawyers has become a top immigration law firm in Portugal. Recognized worldwide, the firm specializes in crafting residency visas. They have assisted clients from more than 80 nationalities seizing the opportunity of both investing and enjoying a Golden Country.

Director of Business Development - Currencies Direct  

Brian helps set the standards in the foreign exchange industry by delivering the best and most comprehensive services to clients. His passion for financial markets and helping clients achieve their objectives has helped Brian establish close relationships with clients and partners. His knowledge of foreign exchange, financial markets, global banking, investments, securities, and global marketplaces is extensive while his hands-on experiences super exceed the textbook written norms.  

Founded in 1996, Currencies Direct has grown to become the leader in the FX industry with regards to transfers for property purchases and immigration. With over 20 global offices across 5 continents, including Portugal and the US, Currencies Direct is well equipped to assist with your foreign exchange and international transfer needs.  

Director of the Commercial and Investment Department - COPORGEST

COPORGEST is a 100% Portuguese real estate developer with over 20 years of experience which as developed more than 20 real estate projects in the residential and hospitality sectors over the past 20 years. Its projects are known for their prime locations and exceptional construction quality.

COPORGEST is currently developing the Comporta Beach & Golf Resort, a beachfront private residential & touristic resort that will be managed by a leading worldwide luxury hospitality brand.

The development is just 2-minute walking to the waterline in Comporta region, with access to one mile of exclusive white sand beach, featuring 37 villas with 2, 3 and 4 bedrooms, private gardens with swimming pools, plus 71 apartments with 1, 2 and 3 bedrooms, with all the units (villas & apartments) to be delivered fully furnished and equipped.

Partner & Fund Manager  - BlueCrow 

Duarte acquired extensive experience over five years trading futures and options, before joining BlueCrow in 2014. This challenge was propelled by a common goal of maximizing investments in commercial companies, asset management portfolios and business projects with significant potential for growth. With a background in economics (Degree and Master's from Católica Lisbon University), he is specialized in financial asset management and risk hedging, in portfolio management, and in asset structuring. 

BlueCrow Capital was founded in 2010, currently operating with two separate financial licenses regulated by the Portuguese Securities Market Commission (CMVM). The emphasis remains on the creation of investment and divestment strategies, financing projects at different stages of their respective maturity, and the monitoring and management of financial assets. 

Chief Representative Officer - Caixa Geral de Depósitos Canada 

Speaking at the Toronto Seminars

Bringing extensive experience from her tenure at Caixa Geral de Depósitos, Portugal’s largest bank, Marisol serves as the Chief Representative Officer of CGD in Canada. 

With a Management Administration degree and advanced studies in Financial Management and Banking and Insurance Management, she has excelled in various pivotal roles since starting her career in 1995. 

Marisol's journey includes positions as customer account manager, and branch manager in multiple locations in the Lisbon area. 

CGD is present in Canada since 2011, through a representative office in Toronto. Caixa's objective is to meet the needs of the Portuguese community through the development of strong relationships. The bank also serves Canadian customers, with close relationships with the Canadian population, promoting and encouraging good business opportunities for both countries. 

CEO - Ashira 

Nishel Rajani brings over 25 years of experience delivering innovative real estate solutions in Portugal. As a shareholder and CEO of Ashira Capital, he oversees its core subsidiaries, including Maleo—a leading provider of premium flexible office and living solutions—and One Latitude Properties, which focuses on high-end residential developments in the Azores.

Currently, One Latitude Properties is developing One Nature – Country Club & Residences, a first-of-its-kind gated community on the magical island of São Miguel in the Azores. Centered around a boutique country club, the development offers a wide range of amenities and services designed for a refined lifestyle. With direct flight connections to the USA and Canada, One Nature is uniquely positioned for North American buyers seeking an exclusive retreat in Europe.

One Nature – Country Club & Residences is a sustainable, master-planned community featuring luxury villas and townhouses that seamlessly integrate contemporary architecture with the island’s natural beauty. It offers a peaceful, nature-connected lifestyle for global residents and discerning investors alike.

CEO - Optimize Investment Partners

Pedro Lino holds the position of CEO in Optimize Investment Partners, SGOIC SA a Portuguese and independent Asset Management Company, where he is also the Co-Chief Investment Officer of the Portugal Golden Opportunities fund, Golden Visa eligible.

His interest in financial markets began at an early age. At 9 years old, he was already checking stock quotes on television, and he began investing in financial markets at the age of 16. In 2002, at the age of 26 he acquired a stake in a Portuguese broker company, that he sold in 2021.

Pedro Lino is a member of the Order of Chartered Accountants, the Order of Economists, a founding member of OPCR - Portuguese Observatory of Compliance and Regulatory Association, and a member of the Portuguese Diaspora Council, founded under the High Patronage of the President of the Republic.

He graduated in Economics from Nova School of Business and Economics in 1998 and writes opinion articles and participates in television, radio, and digital platforms, discussing economic and financial topics.

Managing Director - Terra Verde Capital

With a background in Law & Business, Diogo has over 12 years of experience in Private Equity & Venture capital transactions, FDI projects across multiple jurisdictions, as well as investments in funds. He is currently the Managing Director of Terra Verde Capital.

Terra Verde Capital is a leading agricultural asset management and fund advisory firm. The company provides access to prime farmland deals and agri-asset funds, delivering robust returns while backing regenerative farming practices.

Terra Verde Capital is also the promotor and advisor of Terra Nova Fund, which invests in and develops regenerative, high-yield agricultural projects in Portugal while offering investors access to Portuguese residency and a pathway to citizenship through the Golden Visa program.

Sales Director - VIC Properties

Marcos Drummond brings over 15 years of extensive international experience in marketing, partnerships, business development, and sales. His expertise spans the retail, tourism and leisure, and residential real estate sectors.

He holds an MBA from IE Business School and is fluent in four languages. Marcos has played a key role in some of Portugal’s leading real estate projects, supporting both private and corporate clients from over 15 countries.

He specializes in helping clients identify and capitalize on the best opportunities in the Portuguese residential market, focusing on value proposition, return on investment (ROI), and lifestyle benefits.

CEO – NewCo

Cláudia leads Business Development at NEWCO, a role she’s embraced since 2013. Before that, she was already deeply engaged in promoting Portugal as a destination for foreign investment—first at the U.S. Embassy in Lisbon, and later at SDM – Sociedade de Desenvolvimento da Madeira, where she worked with the International Business Centre of Madeira.

With a background in International Relations from the Technical University of Lisbon, Cláudia went on to earn two Master’s degrees—one in Business Administration and another in Service Marketing—both from the Catholic University of Portugal. Over the years, she’s also developed a strong interest in taxation, completing a number of specialized courses, including a postgraduate degree in international taxation.

Cláudia is a natural communicator. A native Portuguese speaker, she’s fluent in English and French, and also speaks a bit of Italian, Spanish, and German.