Kick off Global Citizen Week Miami 2024 with an enchanting evening at the AKA Miami Rooftop Pool Bar. From 6 pm to 8 pm, join us for a leisurely open-air cocktail session, co-hosted by IMI and Outbound Group. Reconnect with old friends and make new connections in a relaxed atmosphere overlooking the stunning Miami skyline. Enjoy complimentary drinks and light bites as we set the stage for the exciting days ahead.
From 8 am to 5 pm, the Outbound Group will host “Outbound Day” at the Grand Ballroom, providing international solution providers an unparalleled platform to meet with hundreds of potential partners and clients from around the world. Leveraging 15 years of experience in B2B conferences, this event promises to bring together influential decision-makers shaping the industry.
Continue the momentum from 4 pm to 7 pm with “IMI Connect” at the SkyLawn. This exclusive, guest-centric forum features closed-door, open discussions focused on the most pressing issues in our community. No clients, no government, and no media – just us. Engage in candid debates and enjoy an evening of meaningful dialogue, complemented by food, beverages, and refreshments.
From 8 am to 5 pm, join us again at the Grand Ballroom for the second day of “Outbound Day.” This session will continue to foster connections between international solution providers and key decision-makers, ensuring you have ample opportunities to build valuable relationships and explore new partnerships.
From 4 pm to 7 pm, we will reconvene at the SkyLawn for another engaging session of “IMI Connect.” Dive deeper into no-holds-barred discussions, exchange insights with peers, and benefit from the unique format that encourages open dialogue and collaboration. Enjoy an evening of thought-provoking conversations, accompanied by delicious refreshments.
Conclude Global Citizen Week Miami 2024 with a spectacular closing party from 10 am to 4 pm. We’re planning an exciting day aboard the luxurious “Biscayne Lady,” featuring the famous IMI Trivia Contest and other entertainment. Enjoy panoramic views of Miami’s beautiful waterfront as you compete for the trivia title and celebrate the week’s achievements with friends and colleagues. The final schedule will be confirmed soon, but rest assured, it will be a memorable conclusion to an incredible week.
October 31st, 2024
8:00 Registration Opens
9:00-9:05 Opening Remarks – Why Americans Should Consider Residency & Citizenship Overseas
Matthew Sumner, Outbound Investment Group, Managing Director
9:05-9:20 Session 1: Keynote – A World of Possibilities from Residency & Citizenship, Wealth Protection, Investment and Tax Planning
Jason Hartman, Chief Executive Officer, Empowered Investor
Caribbean Focus: Second Citizenships & Real Estate
9:20-9:35 Session 2: Caribbean Citizenship by Investment Overview
Nuri Katz, Co-Founder and President, Apex Capital Partners Corp.
9:35-10:20 Session 3: Panel Discussion –A Portfolio of Citizenship Options Amid Uncertainties
[Audience Interactive Session – Bring your questions, and the experts will answer them! – 10 minutes]
Panel Objective
As world economies undergo massive changes, there has never been a better time to secure second citizenship that can protect the wealth and family from financial and political turmoil and give visa-free access to many more places. This panel navigates how investors in America make a strategic choice that offers key financial advantages and relief from global taxation, under the ongoing great reconfiguration of the investment immigration market.
Moderator:
Nuri Katz, Co-Founder and President, Apex Capital Partners Corp.
Panelists:
Ambassador Jeffery Hadeed, Chairman of the Board, Citizenship by Investment Unit Antigua & Barbuda
Patrick Peters, Chief Executive Officer, Client Referrals
Nisha Mc Intyre, Managing Director, My Grenada Solutions Inc.
Colin Bishop, Managing Director, Reef View Enterprises Ltd.
Marie-Therese Johnson, Head of Citizenship by Investment Unit, Dominica
Calvin St Juste, Executive Chairman of Citizenship by Investment Unit, St. Kitts and Nevis
Panel Objective
As world economies undergo massive changes, there has never been a better time to secure second citizenship to protect the wealth and family from financial and political turmoil and give visa-free access to many places. This panel navigates how investors in America can make a strategic choice that offers key mobility, lifestyle, and a Plan B by investing in a second citizenship.
Key Points to Address
– What are the recent changes in the Caribbean citizenship-by-investment programs in a new era of even greater transparency and cooperation?
– What factors have affected American investors’ decisions on seeking second citizenship plans? How can investors exploit the backup plans by eyeing the Caribbean?
– What makes the Caribbean attractive to those who pursue the reduction of their tax burden? How do we optimize the tax liabilities through comprehensive structures?
– How can we consider a holistic plan that fits every aspect of the personal and financial portfolio of investors when the opportunities in the Caribbean are examined?
– How could advisors help investors identify the opportunities and risks, particularly those associated with the citizenship-qualifying real estate developments in the host countries?
Panelists:
Ambassador Jeffery Hadeed, Chairman of the Board, Citizenship by Investment Unit Antigua & Barbuda
Patrick Peters, Chief Executive Officer, Client Referrals
Nisha Mc Intyre, Managing Director, My Grenada Solutions Inc.
Colin Bishop, Managing Director, Reef View Enterprises Ltd.
Marie-Therese Johnson, Head of Citizenship by Investment Unit, Dominica
Calvin St Juste, Executive Chairman of Citizenship by Investment Unit, St. Kitts and Nevis
10:20-10:50 Networking Coffee Break
10:50-11:05 Session 4: Real Estate Trends and Opportunities – the Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship by Investment Program
Ambassador Jeffery Hadeed, Chairman of the Board, Citizenship by Investment Unit Antigua & Barbuda
11:05-11:15 Session 5: The Outlook of New Luxury Caribbean Real Estate
Rufus Gobat, Director, Caribbean Lifestyle Services Ltd.
11:15-11:30 Session 6: Developing Dominica: A Resilient Approach to CBI
Marie-Therese Johnson, Head of Citizenship by Investment Unit, Dominica
11:35-11:50 Session 7: Innovating CBI: How Six Principles will Transform our Unit
Calvin St Juste, Executive Chairman of Citizenship by Investment Unit, St. Kitts and Nevis
11:50-11:55 Session 8: Canada SUV Program
Slava Apel, Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Startup Visa Services | Canada Business Consulting
11:55-12:00 Session 9: Investing in the First Lifestyle Serviced Apartment Brand in Europe, Ando Living
Safak Nervo, Chief Commercial Officer, Ando Living Group
12:00-13:00 Networking Luncheon
European Focus: Residency by Investment and Other Routes to Living in Europe
13:00-13:10 Session 10: Hungarian Golden Visa
Laszlo Kiss, Managing Director, Discus Holdings Ltd.
13:10-13:20 Session 11: Malta: Investment Migration Opportunities 2024
James Muscat Azzopardi, Partner, MA&A Advocates
13:20-13:35 Session 12: Your Pathway to Italian Residency
Christopher Downing, Founder, DV SICAF
13:35-13:45 Session 13: UK Investment Migration Opportunities
Sibel Cayir-Allen, Managing Partner, Bridge Partners
13:45-13:55 Session 14: Pafilia Property Developers on Permanent Residence Program and Investing in Cyprus
Simos Simillides, Commercial Director, Pafilia Property Developers
13:55-14:00 Session 15: Real Estate Development in the Hospitality Rehabilitation in Greece
Jerome Morgan, President, Mercan Group
14:00-14:10 Session 16: Portugal Immigration Legal Structure: Creating Your Golden Future
Gonçalo Mendes Leal, Founding Partner, NSM Lawyers
Golden Visa Investment Strategies Portugal: Fund Strategy Deep Analysis
14:10-14:25 Session 17: Pathway to Portugal: Golden Visa through Investment in the Leading Private Equity Firm
Guilherme Valadares Carreiro, Investment Professional, Oxy Capital
14:25-14:40 Session 18: Portuguese Golden Visa: The Vision of a Key Player in Portugal’s Venture Capital and Private Equity Markets
João Koehler, Partner, Quadrantis Capital
14:40-15:00 Session 19: Steady Growth Investment Fund: Your Path to Secure Wealth Building
João Baptista, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, Spark Group
15:00-15:10 Session 20: Golden Visa Investment Funds: Choosing the Right One
Duarte Calheiros Menezes, Fund Manager & Partner, BlueCrow Capital
15:10-15:25 Session 21: Secure Your Portuguese Golden Visa and Maximize Returns by Investing in VC Fund II
Stephan de Moraes, Managing Partner, Indico Capital Partners
15:25-15:35 Session 22: Hotel Invest, A Hotel Consolidation Fund
João Pedro Hilário, Appointed Representative, Hotel Invest
15:35-15:45 Session 23: Brief Overview of the Need to Revolutionize Education
Gonçalo Santos, Head of Investor Relations, Sharing Education Funds
15:45-16:00 Networking Coffee Break
RCBI Govts. Session: Citizenship & Residency Government Reps Share Their Insights
Parallel Session with IMI Connect Forum
16:00-17:00 Your Gateway to Global Mobility – Freedoms for Family & Business – Government Representatives
Private Session – Antigua & Barbuda CIU, St. Kitts & Nevis CIU, Dominica CIU, IMA Grenada, Residency Malta
•What recent changes in the CIP programs should investors and agents be aware of?
•What are the future prospects and challenges the programs may face?
•What are the key considerations for choosing between residency vs citizenship and the investment routes available?
•Q&A Session with USA Agents & Investors
Panelists:
Ambassador Jeffery Hadeed, Chairman of the Board, Citizenship by Investment Unit Antigua & Barbuda
Marie-Therese Johnson, Head of Citizenship by Investment Unit, Dominica
Calvin St Juste, Executive Chairman of Citizenship by Investment Unit, St. Kitts and Nevis
Jonathan Cardona, Chief Executive Officer, Residency Malta Agency
17:00-18:00 Networking Cocktail
16:00 Opening remarks
16:15 Greece and Portugal Golden Visas – Extreme Backlogs and Guaranteed Buybacks Controversy
Panelists:
Jerry Morgan, Mercan Properties
Artur Saraiva, Global Citizen Solutions
Hakan Kodal, Optylon Krea
Murat Coskun, Get Golden Visa
Calvin Mazlumyan, Mazlumyan Law
17:45 The “Great Convergence” of RCBI and Tax/Fiduciary Services
Panelists:
Matthew Sumner, Outbound Investment Group
Pablo Ostrick, Holborn Pass
Chris Willis, Latitude
Anastasia Barna, One World Migration
November 1st, 2024
8:00 Registration Opens
9:00-9:05 Opening Remarks
European Focus: Residency by Investment and Other Routes to Living in Europe
9:05-9:15 Session 1: Fireside Chat – More Than Mobility – European Lifestyle and Taxation Considerations
Artur Saraiva, Solution Provider, Managing Director, Global Citizen Solutions
Matthew Sumner, Managing Director, Outbound Investment Group
9:15-10:00 Session 2: Panel Discussion – What Makes Europe Attractive in the Changing Global Map of Migration
[Audience Interactive Session – Bring your questions, and the experts will answer them! – 10 minutes]
Panel Objective
2024 is another year of accelerating worldwide divergence where geopolitical risks drive regional turbulence and uncertainty. This year has seen tremendous changes in residency programs in Europe. This panel delves into the key market trends shaping the current and future dynamics of the investment immigration industry in the US and the European options available that America’s wealthy are choosing for themselves and their families to mitigate the risks that threaten their wealth, lifestyles, and legacies.
Panelists:
Nuri Katz, Co-Founder and President, Apex Capital Partners Corp.
Gonçalo Mendes Leal, Founding Partner, NSM Lawyers
Christopher Downing, Founder, DV SICAF
Jonathan Cardona, Chief Executive Officer, Residency Malta agency
10:00-10:10 Session 3: New Path to Golden Living in Greece – Greek Golden Visa
Elena Shiapani, CEO, MIBS Group
Golden Visa Investment Strategies Portugal: Fund Strategy Deep Analysis
10:10-10:25 Session 4: The Portuguese Golden Visa Legal Framework and the Open-ended Investment Fund Solution
Vasco Seabra Barreira, Partner, SBPS Legal
Pedro Lino, CEO and CIO, Optimize Investment Partners SGOIC SA
10:25-10:55 Networking Coffee Break
10:55-11:05 Session 5: Golden Visa Eligible Fund, The C2 Legacy Buyout Fund
Dario Montagnese, Operating Partner, C2 Capital Partners
11:05-11:15 Session 6: Golden Visa Eligible Fund – The 3CC Portugal Golden Income Fund
Nuno Serafim, Managing Partner, 3 Comma Capital SCR
11:15-11:30 Session 7: A Diversified Portfolio to Expedite Your Portuguese Golden Visa Opportunity
Paulo Caetano, Partner, Quadrantis Capital
11:30-11:40 Session 8: Hotel Invest, A Hospitality Venture Capital Fund
João Pedro Hilário, Appointed Representative, Hotel Invest
11:40-12:25 Session 9: Panel Discussion – Diversifying Your Investment Portfolio by Selecting the Right Golden Visa Fund
[Audience Interactive Session – Bring your questions, and the experts will answer them! – 10 minutes]
Panel Objective
To hedge against continuing macroeconomic volatility, Golden Visa funds continue to boom as diversification options with more than short-term returns. This panel discovers how US investors explore new market opportunities by investing in Golden Visa-eligible funds with minimal involvement in the investment process.
Panelists:
Guilherme Valadares Carreiro, Investment Professional, Oxy Capital
João Baptista, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, Spark Group
Stephan de Moraes, Managing Partner, Indico Capital Partners
João Koehler, Partner, Quadrantis Capital
Diogo Ferreira, Board Advisor, Estoril 8023
12:25-12:30 Session 10: Investing in the First Lifestyle Serviced Apartment Brand in Europe, Ando Living
Hakan Kodal, Chairman, Ando Living Group and Optylon Krea
12:30-12:35 Session 11: Consider Property Investment as a Mobility Vehicle
Yassin Mohamdi, CEO and Managing Partner, THE BUYERS CIRCLE
12:35-12:50 Session 12: How to Maximize Points for International Business Class Travel At 90% Off
Eli Facenda, Founder & CEO, Freedom Travel Systems
12:50-14:00 Networking Luncheon
USA Focus: Asset Protection & Tax Planning for US-Persons’ Onshore Assets, Companies & Pre-Immigration Tax Planning
14:00-15:00 Session 13: Panel Discussion – Global Taxation, Wealth Protection and Tax Planning for Americans
[Audience Interactive Session – Bring your questions, and the experts will answer them! – 10 minutes]
Panel Objective
Wealthy Americans around the world are confronted with tax reporting obligations and compliance that is onerous and costly, making the region one of the world’s most remarkable investment migration markets. Proposed tax changes by the current presidential candidates are adding to this tension and potential tax burden. Meanwhile, globally it is still possible to achieve single-digit tax rates and protect wealth without hindrance through generations. The complexity associated with managing cross-border compliance is paramount. This panel explores opportunities and pitfalls for US investors to consider as pathways to diversified mobility, enhanced tax mitigation, and asset protection under a multi-jurisdictional planning context.
Panelists:
Derren Hayden Joseph, Partner, HTJ Tax
Van Carlson, Founder & CEO, SRA 831(b) Admin
Blake Harris, Founding Principal, Blake Harris Law
15:00-15:30 Networking Coffee Break
Parallel Session with IMI Connect Forum
15:30-17:00 The Convergence of Private Client Planning in Practice – Citizenship & Residency Combined with Wealth Protection & Corporate Structuring
Panelists:
Ambassador Jeffery Hadeed, Chairman of the Board, Citizenship by Investment Unit Antigua & Barbuda
Marie-Therese Johnson, Head of Citizenship by Investment Unit, Dominica
Calvin St Juste, Executive Chairman of Citizenship by Investment Unit, St. Kitts and Nevis
Jonathan Cardona, Chief Executive Officer, Residency Malta agency
Derren Hayden Joseph, Partner, HTJ Tax
Blake Harris, Founding Principal, Blake Harris Law
17:00-18:00 Networking Cocktail
16:00 Post-MoA Caribbean CBI: Processing Delays, Inventory Shortage, Applications Down, Looming Lawsuits
Panelists:
Philippe May, EC Holdings
Richard Hallam, Ora Caribbean
Nuri Katz, Apex Capital Partners
Katie Ananina, Plan B Passport
17:00 IMI Person of the Year
17:45 Court Officials Say CBI is Legal in EU: What Happens Next?
Panelists:
Armand Arton, Arton Capital
Laszlo Kiss, Discus Holdings
Paul Williams, La Vida Europe
James Muscat Azzopardi, Muscat Azzopardi & Associates
9 am Meet in the lobby of Hotel AKA Brickell for motor coach transfers to the Biscayne Lady Yacht
10 am Boarding and welcome drink
11 am Passed hors d’oeuvres
12 pm Lunch
1:30 pm Trivia
4 pm Dock and disembark
4:30 pm Motor coach transfers back to the AKA
The discounted group rates at the Hotel AKA Brickell where the upcoming Global Citizen Week Miami will be held are as follows.
Laszlo Kiss
Managing Director
Discus Holding Ltd
Laszlo Kiss is the founder, owner, and managing director of Discus Holdings Ltd., a group of companies that provide investment migration, corporate, financial, and tax planning services.
Discus, based in Malta and founded in 2013, has won concessions in recent years, including ones for the Hungarian residency bond program, the Malta Residence and Visa Program, and one citizenship license in Montenegro. Discus provides help with applications for residency permits in the United Kingdom, Malta, Cyprus, Greece, the UAE, and many other countries. It also helps with citizenship applications to Vanuatu, Malta, Turkey, and all Caribbean nations. Discus has 12 offices worldwide.
Laszlo, who lives in Europe, has more than 31 years of experience in international immigration, business, and tax structuring. His professional background includes founding the largest privately-owned consultancy firm in Hungary to offer tax and corporate structuring and immigration solutions. In 1998, Laszlo was appointed the Honorary Consul General to represent the Republic of Seychelles, an archipelago with 115 islands in the middle of the Indian Ocean.
He has a bachelor’s degree in tourism and hotel management from Budapest Business School and a Master’s in economics from Corvinus University of Budapest. He has been a member of the International Tax Planning Association since 2004 and the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners since 2006. He has been a founding member of the Investment Migration Council since 2015.
Laszlo speaks English, German, and Russian.
Derren Hayden Joseph
Chair of the Tax Working Group for Moores Rowland
Derren has successfully completed the Comparative Tax Program at Harvard University and is an EA (Enrolled Agent). As an EA, he has been admitted to practice before the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to represent taxpayers in all 50 states and internationally. He has 2 Master’s Degrees in Economics and a Certified Diploma from the ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants in the UK).
Derren has also done Executive Education with Columbia Business School in New York City and has completed Advanced Tax coursework at both New York University and the University of London. He is:
⦁ Chair of the Tax Working Group for Moores Rowland in the Asia Pacific (offices in 18 countries)
⦁ Chair of the Asian Branch of the International Business Structuring Association.
⦁ A member of the Briefing Group advising The Rt. Hon. The Lord Mayor of the City of London on current and emerging international tax issues.
He had his views published in the Singapore Business Review, Forbes Asia, the American Chamber of Commerce in Indonesia, the International Business Structuring Association (in the UK), Offshore Alert, and the (Trinidad) Guardian. And has given “in-person” seminars on tax issues in the U.S., the U.K., Singapore, Indonesia, Spain, Malaysia, Vietnam, The Philippines, Portugal, Hong Kong, the UAE, and the Caribbean
Derren enjoys writing and has published 3 books on taxation, one of which was an Amazon Best Seller in 2020.
Guilherme Valadares Carreiro
Investment Professional
Oxy Capital
Guilherme is a Principal on the investment team, Head of the Golden Visa Initiatives, and sits on the Investment Committee. His transaction experience as a member of the Growth & Buyout investment team includes >10 deals.
For 2 years, Guilherme was a co-CEO of an Industrial company with +€250M in Revenue leading the restructuring process. Since 2022, Guilherme has been leading the fundraising and execution efforts of Golden Visa Funds (+60M€), having raised capital from private and institutional investors
Duarte Calheiros Menezes
Fund Manager & Partner
BlueCrow Capital
Duarte is currently a partner and fund manager at Bluecrow Capital, which he joined in 2014. With over fifteen years of experience in the financial sector, he is specialized in asset structuring and management, with extensive knowledge in venture capital and private equity fund management.
Duarte concluded his degree in economics and master’s in finance at Católica Lisbon School of Business & Economics, one of the best business schools in Europe, and acquired experience in futures and options trading throughout the first five years of his career, working in large companies like OSTC Group.
As an investment professional, had the privilege of achieving consistent results over the years, drawing upon his asset and risk management expertise, he strives to navigate volatile markets diligently, identifying opportunities that benefit clients and minimize risks. Since 2018 as a fund manager, Duarte has been fortunate to provide leadership that has exceeded performance targets, delivering impressive returns through well-tailored strategies, and contributing to notable growth and optimization of portfolios.
Since 2020 led a massive fundraising campaign for the Bluecrow Growth Fund and Innovation Fund Series, which raised an impressive sum of more than €100 million, he also led the establishment of critical operational functions for BlueCrow Capital, which simultaneously involved the creation of onboarding procedures that streamlined the process of raising new investors, ensuring the smooth running and performance of the investor relations department, always taking into consideration the process established by the legal department, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards and ethical practices.
João Baptista
Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder
Spark Group
João Baptista has always been passionate about entrepreneurship and business. He pursued his Bachelor’s degree at NOVA SBE, one of Portugal’s top business schools, and later completed his Master’s degree at HEC School of Management in Paris, a prestigious European institution. These experiences equipped João with the skills and global perspective to pursue his dream of launching his own company.
João’s professional career began in Germany, where he worked in the Strategy Department of Astrium is a leading European space conglomerate. His fascination with China’s economic growth led him to relocate to Beijing, where he met his future business partner, Inês, and the foundation for Spark Capital was laid.
João immersed himself in Chinese culture and became fluent in Mandarin within two years. During this time, he refined his business plan for Spark Capital, aiming to impact the real estate and investment sectors significantly.
Since its founding in 2014, Spark Group has achieved remarkable success. The company has
generated over 200 million EUR in sales, developed more than 50 projects, and served over 400 clients across various markets. As Spark Group celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, it reflects a decade of steady growth, innovation, and impactful projects.
In addition to Spark Capital, João is a partner at Celtis Venture Partners, founded in 2015 and registered under CMVM. Celtis focuses on nurturing local SMEs, having invested over €150M with its latest fund. João and his team remain dedicated to creating long-term value and ensuring sustainable success.
Ambassador Jeffery Hadeed
Chairman of the Board
Citizenship by Investment Unit Antigua & Barbuda
Ambassador Jeffery Hadeed, a dynamic entrepreneur hailing from Antigua & Barbuda, serves as a driving force in various fields. Appointed as Chairman of the Board for the Citizenship by Investment Programme of Antigua & Barbuda and non-resident Ambassador to Italy, Hadeed embodies an unwavering commitment to progress.
With a career spanning 38 years, Hadeed’s versatile ventures underscore his enterprising spirit. His achievements include the establishment of seven thriving restaurants and engagement in diverse sectors encompassing marine sales and service, fashion, manufacturing, imports, and distribution. As a registered Agent for the CIP, he has evolved into a property development and management maven, curating an impressive villa estate portfolio that includes properties owned by esteemed fashion icon Giorgio Armani. A standout accomplishment is the creation of the South Point Antigua, an avant-garde 23-unit boutique condo hotel nestled in the historic enclave of English Harbour.
Educated at the University of Florida, Hadeed graduated with a degree in Business (Marketing). He further enriched his expertise by delving into fashion design at Milan’s prestigious Istituto Marangoni. Fluent in English and Italian, he commands a versatile linguistic arsenal, extending to French and Arabic and has travelled to more than 40 countries.
Hadeed’s journey exemplifies an individual who continually bridges cultures, sectors, and languages. His tenacity and acumen make him a pivotal figure in the landscape of entrepreneurship, investment, and diplomatic relations.
Gonçalo Mendes Leal
Founding Partner
NSMLawyers
Gonsalo co-founded NSMLawyers which crafted thousands of golden visa applications in Portugal with a team of expert lawyers and the 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.
Nuri Katz
Co-Founder and President
Apex Capital Partners Corp.
Nuri Katz is a 30-year veteran and leader in the investor immigration industry. He is a frequent commentator and contributor to global media outlets including the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Financial Times, Bloomberg, CNBC, CBS, and many others. He frequently opines on subjects pertaining to immigration policy, government affairs, citizenship matters, international investment, tax policy, and more.
Patrick Peters
Chief Executive Officer
ClientReferrals
Patrick is a Canadian CPA who has more than 15 years of experience in the Investment Migration industry, specifically the Antigua and Canada programs. Before assisting Immigration Professionals with their high-net-worth clients, he worked for BDO and KPMG, living and working in various countries.
In 2014, his company, ClientReferrals, was appointed as the Official Promoter of Antigua & Barbuda’s NDF Contribution Option and they have been the Program’s leading Service Provider since then.
In Antigua, ClientReferrals prides itself on offering the best service and commissions to Immigration Practitioners who have Contribution Option clients, but also on the high quality of the real estate projects they offer.
ClientReferrals never works with clients directly, they strictly work with Immigration Practitioners, helping them serve their clients. The company also provides other products for immigration practitioners to grow their business – various immigration products, real estate opportunities, and wealth management services.
Patrick and his colleagues have been involved with the Immigrant Investor industry for more than 25 years – they have helped create Canada’s investor and entrepreneur programs, they have raised more than $9 billion in capital for various programs, and they have assisted more than 12,000 families.
Nuno Serafim
Managing Partner
3 Comma Capital SCR
Nuno Serafim is a seasoned financial executive with over 25 years of experience in the asset management industry. He is the founder of 3 Comma Capital, a company he established in 2022 alongside Robert and Patrick Hable. Prior to this venture, Nuno served as a board member and Chief Investment Officer (CIO) at IM Gestão de Ativos (IMGA), the second-largest asset manager in Portugal, where he oversaw €3.4 billion in Assets under Management (AuM).
Nuno’s extensive career includes significant leadership roles in various reputable financial institutions. At Millenniumbcp/IMGA Asset Management, the largest independent asset manager in Portugal, he was a board member and CIO, where he made substantial contributions to the firm's growth and investment strategies. Before his tenure at IMGA, Nuno was the Head of Iberia at IG Markets, where he managed operations and market strategies across the Iberian Peninsula. He also held the position of Head of Portfolio Management at Espírito Santo Investment, further solidifying his expertise in investment management.
Throughout his career, Nuno has demonstrated exceptional leadership and a profound understanding of financial markets, consistently delivering superior investment performance and strategic growth. His experience and insights have made him a respected figure in the financial industry, known for his innovative approaches and commitment to excellence.
Nuno holds a key role in shaping the future of asset management through his work at 3 Comma Capital, where he continues to drive forward-thinking investment solutions and strategies.
Nisha Mc Intyre
Managing Director
My Grenada Solutions Inc.
Nisha Mc Intyre is a certified innovation specialist and marketing communications strategist with a penchant for human-centric design methodologies. Her experience as a marketer has been most impactful in the academia, destination tourism, and investment migration Industries. Her case study on Solutionism at Fortune 500 companies was a mainstay of the solutions marketing MBA syllabus at Hult International Business School, while her role as the local consultant for ICN-Artea in the diagnostic assessment of Grenada’s tourism Industry facilitated the 2022 development of the National Sustainable Tourism Development Plan for Grenada.
Since 2016, she has focused on the strategic development of Caribbean Citizenship by Investment Programmes – firstly, in Dominica, and now in Grenada, where she serves as the Managing Director of My Grenada Solutions Inc., a licensed marketing agent for Grenada’s Citizenship by Investment Programme. Prior to her entry into the investment migration industry, she served as the head of Marketing for the Americas at the Grenada Tourism Authority, overseeing successful marketing campaigns for Grenada’s largest source markets, as well as the introduction of JetBlue’s nonstop service to Grenada. A proud Grenadian, she currently sits as the head of marketing on the board of Reach Within, a non-profit organisation committed to helping children and youth in Grenada’s care homes overcome childhood trauma and transition into healthy adults.
Colin Bishop
Managing Director
Reef View Enterprises Ltd.
Colin Bishop is the founder and managing director of Reef View Enterprises Ltd. (RVE), which specializes in investment migration services, including Citizenship by Investment (CBI) and Residency by Investment (RBI), for clients around the world, and is the premier licensed local CBI agent in Grenada.
An entrepreneur at heart, his entrance into the investment migration industry started with the belief that the inflows from CBI could significantly transform and diversify Grenada’s economy. He thrives on the fast-paced nature of the business and making connections that would benefit both the clients and the islands’ economy.
In his downtime, he enjoys spending weekends on the beach with his four children or relaxing by the pool. He also enjoys a good book with his current top picks being “The Daily Laws” by Robert Greene or ‘Your Next Five Moves” by Patrick Bet-David.
Recently attaining a license to operate within St Lucia’s CBI program, He endeavors to continue growing within the industry with aspirations of Reef View Enterprises Ltd. becoming the region’s largest service provider of pre and post-migration services with expansion into the real estate sector.
James Muscat Azzopardi
Partner
MA&A Advocates
Dr James Muscat Azzopardi has been a lawyer for over 20 years and advises a global portfolio of high-net-worth families, family offices, private banks, and asset management companies on a range of issues including the acquisition of second citizenship, an alternative residence or a tax based program. He is a partner at Muscat Azzopardi & Associates, Advocates, a commercial law firm set up in 1971 that is the preferred local law firm in Malta for several of the world’s largest international law firms. He is also a founder shareholder and a Director on the Credence group of companies that offer advisory and corporate administration services to a multi-billion Euro client portfolio.
Dr Muscat Azzopardi is a licensed Authorised Agent for Malta’s citizenship and residence programmes as well as the First Vice President of the Maltese-Spanish Chamber of Commerce and a director on the board of several regulated entities. He is a regular speaker at industry events.
Simos Simillides
Commercial Director
Pafilia Property Developers
Simos holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Hospitality Management from Florida International University in the US and an MBA in Marketing from Nova South-Eastern University in Florida.
He has been a valued member of the Pafilia family for almost twenty years, during which time he has held the positions of Sales Director, Sales and Marketing Director and most recently the position of the Commercial Director. His mission as Commercial Director is to maintain Pafilia’ s position as the Market Leader in Real Estate sales in Cyprus. He manages a multicultural team based in offices across the world, with the aim to penetrate new markets and create awareness of the many investment opportunities found in both Cyprus and Greece.
Stephan de Moraes
Managing Partner
Indico Capital Partners
Stephan de Moraes is the founder and Managing General Partner of Indico Capital Partners, a leading venture capital tech and sustainability-focused firm based in Portugal. He has invested in 5 unicorns over the last decade and is currently President of APCRI – the Portuguese Private Equity and Venture Capital Association.
Indico focuses on software as a service, artificial intelligence, web3, fintech, cybersecurity, digital, and climate tech companies, targeting investments at the Pre-Seed to Series B level. Founded in 2017, the team at Indico has backed or founded, in the last decade, the majority of the Portuguese global tech success stories, including 6 global unicorns. With a diversified background as an investment banker, consultant, entrepreneur, and CEO, he has lived in 8 countries and 4 continents over the last 27 years.
Stephan was formerly an Executive Board Member at Caixa Capital, a Private Equity and Venture Capital fund management company. He is also a former Advisor to the European Commissioner of Science and Innovation, Past Chairman of the European Venture Finance Network, Past Council Member of Invest Europe, and Board Member of the International Venture Club. He has been and is a Non-Executive Director and Board Observer in numerous companies.
He is co-chair of YPO Portugal (Young Presidents Organization), an Advisory Council Member of the Portuguese American Leadership Council (PALCUS), and Past President of the Harvard Club of Portugal. Appointed as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum in 2010, he holds a degree in Engineering from Instituto Superior Técnico (Lisbon) and an MBA from the Harvard Business School. Stephan is fluent in Portuguese, Spanish, English and French.
Rufus Gobat
Director
Caribbean Lifestyle Services Ltd.
Rufus Gobat is the co-owner and Director of Caribbean Lifestyle Services Ltd in Antigua that offers Citizenship by Investment in Antigua and Barbuda as well as a wide range of on-island concierge services. Rufus has developed and operated businesses throughout the Caribbean over the past 30 years, including one of the best-selling Real Estate developments under the Antigua Citizenship by Investment Programme Tamarind Hills. Rufus is also the co-owner and developer of Cap Maison Resort & Spa in St Lucia, one of the top five-star resorts in the region, and has been appointed a special economic envoy for Antigua by the Prime Minister of Antigua.
Jonathan Cardona
Chief Executive Officer
Residency Malta Agency
Jonathan Cardona is the CEO of Residency Malta Agency and a key player in Malta’s Residency and Citizenship by Investment (RCBI) sector. With a wealth of experience in programme development, process engineering, and due diligence, Jonathan has played a pivotal role in shaping the RCBI landscape. He holds an MBA from the University of Malta, which has given him a strong foundation in business management and eadership. Before his current role, Jonathan served as the head of Community Malta Agency, the governmental body responsible for overseeing citizenship programmes in Malta. In this capacity, he was instrumental in managing and refining Malta’s citizenship processes, ensuring transparency and efficiency while meeting the country’s high standards for security and integrity. His strategic vision and in-depth knowledge have been crucial in steering these agencies to success, as Malta continues to be a leading destination for residency and citizenship investment. Jonathan’s hands-on approach and deep understanding of international investment migration have made him a respected figure within the global RCBI community. His ability to balance innovation with regulatory compliance has allowed him to spearhead initiatives that attract high-net-worth individuals from around the world, contributing to Malta’s growing economy and international profile. Jonathan remains dedicated to driving Residency Malta Agency forward while adapting to the ever-evolving landscape of global migration and investment opportunities.
Dario Montagnese
Operating Partner
C2 Capital Partners
Dario Montagnese is an Operating Partner at C2 Capital Partners, an independent private equity firm and a reference player in the Portuguese market. As an Operating Partner, Dario leads C2 Legacy Buyout, a midmarket buyout fund that invests in diverse companies across various sectors. With over 15 years of experience in this field, Dario developed a deep expertise in corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, and private equity, which he leverages to drive value creation for portfolio companies and investors.
Dario has a strong academic background, with a Master of Science in Business Administration and Management from Università degli Studi di Torino, a Master in General Management from ESCP Europe, and an executive program in international tax law from Leiden University.
He also has a keen interest in family business management, as evidenced by publications in the EuroMed Academy of Business conference. Dario is passionate about creating long-term value and sustainable growth for investors. Before joining C2 Capital, Dario co-founded and sold 2 tech companies, one in Italy and one in Portugal. He has been holding board positions in various European SMEs advising companies mostly on topics related to corporate finance, acquisitions, and corporate governance.
He has also been appointed country manager for Atlante, an electric mobility multinational company, to lead the acquisition of the third largest charging points operator in Portugal (€20M+ deal) and manage the post-acquisition integration and business expansion.
Sibel Cayir-Allen
Managing Partner
Bridge Partners
Sibel Cayir-Allen is the Managing Director and Co-founder of Bridge Partners Immigration, where she leads a dynamic team specializing in investment migration to the United Kingdom. Sibel is a registered UK immigration lawyer with an extensive background in financial regulation, family office solutions, and fiduciary services for corporate and private clients. As an immigrant herself, Sibel has a personal passion for assisting individuals and institutions with their immigration journeys. She focuses on the complex UK immigration legal framework, successfully helping numerous private and corporate clients establish themselves in the UK. Known for her ability to deliver unique, tailored client solutions, Sibel ensures that each client’s needs are met with precision and care.
Van Carlson
Founder & CEO
SRA 831(b) Admin
Van Carlson is the Founder & CEO of SRA 831(b) Admin and has over 25 years of experience within the risk management industry. With a steadfast commitment to empowering trusted advisors and entrepreneurs through innovative risk solutions, Carlson has emerged as a thought leader in risk mitigation, frequently interviewed by top-tier media outlets, podcasts, industry events, and publications. Carlson has also spearheaded SRA to new heights, earning a spot on the Inc 5000 among other prestigious awards. Prior to founding SRA, Van ran his own property and casualty firm for 15 years and was awarded Presidents Council’s and other top-performing achievements during his tenure as a P&C Agent. In 2008, he saw the Great Recession hit his commercial business clients hard, and just like them, he was also affected by the sharp downturn in our economy. During this time, he realized there must be a better way to manage risk overall. From that desire to improve business operations for both himself and his clients, along with his extensive background in insurance, risk management, and finance, a mission to educate others about 831(b) Plans began and continues.
Elena Siapani
CEO
MIBS Group
Elena Siapani is the CEO of MIBS Group, leading the company’s investment strategy and overseeing its international operations, playing a pivotal role in its global business expansion.
She holds a master’s degree in Real Estate Finance & Valuation from Bayes Business School of London, formerly known as Cass Business School. This academic foundation provides her with a deep understanding of the complex financial aspects of the real estate industry. In 2023 she was featured in Fortune Greece’s “40 under 40” list in 2023, recognized for her innovation in the business field. At the heart of MIBS Group’s success lies the management of its real estate assets and new investment initiatives, with Elena demonstrating remarkable skill in acquiring and managing assets, ensuring the company’s financial growth and stability.
Having a clear set of ethics and values, Elena Shiapani is in favour of transformational leadership and fosters open communication and equal opportunities. Her commitment to engaging with stakeholders ensures that corporate objectives are not just articulated but realized collectively.
Blake Harris
Founding Principal
Blake Harris Law
Blake Harris is the founding principal of Blake Harris Law, specializing in offshore asset protection for clients worldwide. With extensive travel across over 40 countries, Blake has cultivated a robust global network, collaborating with trust companies, protectors, and bankers. An accomplished author and international speaker, he has educated numerous professionals through his continuing legal education lectures on asset protection and offshore planning.
Blake’s insights have been featured in prominent national publications, including Forbes, ABC, NBC, and Fox News, establishing him as a trusted voice in the industry. He has also amassed a significant social media following, further amplifying his influence.
Before founding his firm, Blake honed his expertise at one of America’s leading wealth management firms, advising high-net-worth clients on strategies to protect their assets. His dedication to helping families preserve their legacy led him to create a practice focused on tailored solutions and client peace of mind.
Recognized as a “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers Magazine for five consecutive years and holding the AV® Preeminent™ Attorney designation, Blake exemplifies excellence in his field. He earned his finance degree and Juris Doctorate from the University of Florida and now actively participates in the American Bar Association and International Bar Association. Based in Miami Beach, Blake enjoys traveling, ocean swimming, and Muay Thai training during his limited free time.
Paulo Caetano
Partner
Quadrantis Capital
Paulo Caetano is a highly experienced investor with an impressive track record spanning over 30 years. His expertise covers a broad spectrum of investment strategies, including venture capital (VC), mergers and acquisitions (M&A), and infrastructure funds, both on a national and international scale. Paulo’s deep understanding of diverse financial landscapes has made him a sought-after leader in the investment world, where he has successfully identified and capitalized on high-potential opportunities.
Throughout his career, Paulo has demonstrated a keen ability to navigate complex financial markets, leveraging his extensive knowledge in M&A and infrastructure funds to drive significant value creation. His strategic insights and thorough analysis have enabled him to lead high-impact investments that deliver strong returns across various sectors and geographies.
In the past decade, Paulo has further broadened his investment portfolio by taking on the role of a business angel. In this capacity, he has dedicated his efforts to supporting early-stage ventures and mentoring young entrepreneurs, helping them scale their businesses and achieve long-term success. His hands-on approach and commitment to nurturing innovation have made him a key figure in the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
With a wealth of experience in VC, M&A, and infrastructure investments, along with his active role as a business angel, Paulo Caetano brings invaluable financial acumen and strategic leadership to any management team, contributing to sustained growth and development.
João Koehler
Partner
Quadrantis Capital
João Koehler is an accomplished entrepreneur with over 15 years of experience specializing in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) within the industrial and technological sectors. João has demonstrated a deep understanding of business strategy, investment opportunities, and market growth throughout his career. His extensive background in identifying and executing M&A deals has solidified his reputation as a strategic leader in both industrial ventures and tech-driven businesses.
In addition to his professional achievements, João has played a prominent role in fostering entrepreneurship on a national scale. He served as President of ANJE (National Association of Young Entrepreneurs), where he actively supported and promoted young entrepreneurs across various industries. His leadership at ANJE showcased his commitment to nurturing innovation and helping emerging businesses thrive in competitive markets.
João’s entrepreneurial insight and business acumen have also been recognized in the public eye, as he was a member of the jury on the well-known television show “Shark Tank” where he evaluated and mentored aspiring entrepreneurs. This experience further highlights his ability to spot promising ventures and provide valuable guidance to those looking to scale their businesses.
With a diverse background in M&A, leadership, and entrepreneurship, João Koehler brings a wealth of expertise to the management team, helping drive growth and long-term success for the company.
Christopher Downing
Founder
DVSICAF
Christopher, as development adviser, has extensive property development experience that dates back over four decades. His skillsets include the planning, delivery, and marketing of development opportunities, as well as senior management and negotiation skills.
Christopher started his career in property as an East London Land Buyer with the UK’s largest house builder, then moved to a listed company as a London Land Buyer and Marketing Manager before finally becoming The National Land Buyer to a UK family office, operating a strategy of income and growth.
Christopher moved to Russia in 1992, where he developed the first new private retail building in Moscow since 1917. He was headhunted to become Deputy Head of Property for a newly privatised Russian State Bank, overseeing the facilities and asset management of the bank’s branches and assets in 182 cities and 11 time zones. He then held a senior management position in a Russian Company, where he was instrumental in planning six million square meters of office and logistics space in the Russian Federation.
Christopher moved back to the UK in early 2004, where he focused on the build-out of student accommodation. He traded social housing for Funds, ultimately creating a trading company with an annual turnover of over £90 million.
In 2021, Christopher moved to Italy to acquire and develop luxury lifestyle hotels, acquiring two conjoined redundant glass factories for development and creating the brand “ForeverGood Hotels”. Christopher is the driving force behind the Italian Investor Visa Initiative.
Hakan Kodal
Chairman
Ando Living & Optylon Krea
Hakan Kodal, Chairman of Ando Living Group and Optylon Krea, is renowned for his 30-year investment management and real estate tenure. 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 become a recognized authority in Portugal, focusing on investment management and branded residences.
Safak Nervo
Chief Commercial Officer
Ando Living Group
Safak, the Chief Commercial Officer at Ando Living in Lisbon, brings over 16 years of extensive experience in the real estate sector. Her background spans market research, retail, office, residential, and investment funds. With an 8-year leadership tenure at CBRE Turkey across various departments, she has been specializing in Portugal’s Investment Immigration market for the past seven years, focusing on fundraising and tourist apartment sales since 2016.
Diogo Ferreira
Board adviser
Estoril 8023
Diogo Ferreira is a board adviser of the company Estoril 8023, the company where Hotel Invest, a Hospitality Venture Capital Portuguese Fund is investing.
Estoril 8023 operates today five famous luxury Portuguese hotels, such as the Palacio de Seteais Valverde Sintra, Hotel Valverde Lisbon the Intercontinental Hotel Estoril and expects to increase this number to a minimum of 20 operations in 3 years.
Diogo was involved in several leading positions such as the CEO of Sporting Lisbon, Program Director of the 4th Portuguese TV channel, TVI, Board member of MDC (a leading European Shopping mall company) and the Vale do Lobo Resort, one of the largest Portuguese Resorts.
Diogo was also involved for more than 10 years as President of the Portuguese Association of Resorts, the entity responsible for the creation of the Portuguese Golden Visa, back in 2012.
Vasco Seabra Barreira
Partner
SBPS Legal
Vasco is a Portuguese Lawyer with vast experience in Immigration and Foreign Investment Advisory.
Vasco has a US Client base of more than 300 Clients which he represents in Portugal and abroad, providing a wide range of legal support in Immigration, Real Estate, Tax, Corporate Law, Litigation, amongst others.
Vasco is a Founding Partner at SBPS legal, a recently incorporated Boutique Law Firm based in Lisbon, where he is Co-Head of the Immigration Law and Real Estate Departments.
He was previously a Partner at CO Lawyers since 2019.
Jason Hartman
Chief Executive Officer
Empowered Investor
Jason Hartman® is the CEO of Empowered Investor and Real Estate Tools. Starting with very little, Jason, while still in college at the age of 19, embarked on a career in real estate while brokering properties for clients, he was investing in his portfolio along the way. Through creativity, persistence, and hard work, he soon joined the ranks of the top one percent of Realtors in the U.S. and in quick succession; earned several prestigious industry awards and became a young multi-millionaire.
Jason Hartman® has been involved in several thousand real estate transactions and has owned income properties in 11 states and 17 cities. His companies help people achieve The American Dream of financial freedom by purchasing income property in prudent markets nationwide. Jason’s Complete Solution for Real Estate Investors™ is a comprehensive system providing real estate investors with education, research, resources, and technology to deal with all areas of their income property investment needs.
Gonçalo Santos
Head of Investor Realtions
Sharing Education Funds
With a robust international background and a proven track record in navigating global markets, Gonçalo currently leads Investor Relations at Sharing Education Funds, applying his expertise in strategic business development.
Having completed his studies at the London Business School and the Glion Institute in both London and Switzerland, Gonçalo developed a strong foundation in financial acumen and global business dynamics. His early career saw him thrive in high-paced international environments, gaining valuable experience in cities like Lisbon, Dubai, Barcelona, and London. Gonçalo’s expertise deepened during a transformative year in Bulgaria, where he joined a trading team focused on commodities markets. This period sharpened his skills in market analysis and risk
Management.
Upon returning to Portugal, Gonçalo embraced a leadership role at Sharing Education Funds as Head of Investor Relations, steering the Group’s business development direction.
Slava Apel
Chief Executive Officer and Founder
Startup Visa Services | Canada Business Consulting
Mr. Slava Apel is the CEO and Founder of Canada Business Consulting firm and the Startup Visa Services. Award-winning, B2B professional services consulting firms specializing in the Canadian Start-up Visa permanent residency program. Mr. Apel has been an integral part of the Canadian business ecosystem for over 20 years. As a startup expert and processor, he works with immigration professionals assisting their clients in obtaining approvals for business immigration or expansion to Canada.
Mr. Apel teaches multiple business incubators, accelerators, angel groups, and venture capital firms that approve startups for their landing in Canada, whether it is for business expansion, business relocation, or starting a new business. He is an author, angel investor, advisor to 50 asset management firms, mentor and faculty in 5 incubators and 3 Universities, an entrepreneur with multiple exits in the tech sector, and an active charity board member.
Helping CBI & RBI firms as a B2B facilitator, Startup Visa Services assists immigrating-to-Canada businesses and investors with an approval process, soft-landing, commercialization of new products, prototyping, proper business structuring and capitalization, documentation, and training. Providing personal case support, including innovation and IP consulting, business case vetting, case defense, business updates, and full-service venture packages.
With the highest industry approval rates in Canada, Mr. Apel has received multiple industry awards, celebrating pre-landing and post-landing achievements that allow immigrant entrepreneurs to thrive in Canada.
Eli Facenda
Founder & CEO
Freedom Travel Systems
Eli ‘The Travel Guy’ Facenda is a travel-loving entrepreneur with a nerd-like passion for maximizing credit card points for world-class travel experiences.
Eli has visited 42 countries in the last 5 years and can leverage credit card points to get on average around $100k of luxury travel per year.
He is the founder of Freedom Travel Systems where he and his team help travel-loving business owners maximize luxury travel on points without the headaches or wasted time trying to figure it out. His favorite flight was flying in the $15,000 first-class seat the Emirates A380, his favorite country to visit is Japan, and his favorite credit card is the Amex Gold.
João Pedro Hilário
Representative Agent
Hotel Invest
João has 30 years of experience in Financial Services, including key roles in the investment fund, corporate services, insurance, and re-insurance sectors in Portugal, Brazil, the UK, and the US.
He has, since 2021, been responsible for raising capital across a significant number of Portuguese Golden Visa-qualifying funds.
João has been fortunate enough to have lived in Argentina, Brazil, England, France, Portugal, and South Africa, which enabled him to appreciate and have first-hand experience in the world of multi-national immigration. He has been instrumental in helping clients from all over the world gain both residence and citizenship status in Portugal.
Jerome Morgan
President
Mercan Group
Jerome Morgan, the Founder, President & CEO of Mercan Group, has spearheaded the company’s rise as one of the first leading Canadian immigration consulting entities since its establishment in 1989. Under his stewardship, Mercan has emerged as a trailblazer in the Investment, Employment, and Immigration sectors. Jerome Morgan’s visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to excellence paved the way for Mercan Group’s legacy as a cornerstone of innovation, trust, and growth of Mercan in the global market.
Pedro Lino
CEO and CIO
Optimize Investment Partners SGOIC SA
Pedro Lino is the CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors at Optimize Investment Partners, SGOIC SA, a leading asset management company based in Portugal, and Optimize SICAV, its Luxembourg-based counterpart. In both firms, he serves as Co-Chief Investment Officer, playing a key role in shaping their investment strategies.
Pedro’s fascination with financial markets began early. By age 9, he was already tracking stock quotes on TV, and at 16, he made his first investments. By 26, he had acquired a stake in a Portuguese brokerage, which he later sold in 2021.
From January 2017 to August 2021, Pedro served on the Board of Directors of DIF Markets – Agente de Valores, a Uruguayan firm acquired from Saxo Bank A/S. In October 2018, he joined Optimize Investment Partners as Executive Director and later ascended to Chairman of the Board. In 2020, he was elected President of Optimize SICAV in Luxembourg.
Pedro is a Chartered Accountant, an Economist, and a founding member of the Portuguese Observatory of Compliance and Regulatory (OPCR), and a member of the prestigious Portuguese Diaspora Council, under the High Patronage of the President of the Republic.
A graduate of Economics from Nova School of Business and Economics (1998), Pedro is also a respected voice in the financial media. He writes a biweekly opinion column for Jornal Económico regularly appears on television, radio, and digital platforms to discuss economic and financial matters.
Marie-Therese Johnson
Head of Citizenship by Investment Unit
Dominica
Marie-Therese Johnson leads the Dominica Citizenship by Investment Unit (CBIU). With her wealth of experience in finance and leadership, Johnson has been making remarkable strides in her role.
In her ongoing efforts, Johnson remains committed to enhancing Dominica’s CBI Programme. Her dedication to the nation’s welfare and the interests of all stakeholders continues to drive her forward.
Under her tenure, the CBI programme has received recognition from key stakeholders and international organisations for its contribution to climate resilience, economic growth and sustainable development. Johnson previously served as the General Manager at AID Bank where she was entrusted with the day-to-day management, direction, and control of the business. She was also responsible for providing strategic advice to the Board of Directors to ensure the implementation of a strong risk, compliance and governance framework while promoting the institution’s corporate image.
Johnson’s expertise in the financial services sector strengthens Dominica’s position in the investment migration industry. She is well known in the banking sector for her operational excellence, and it is apt that she now serves as the Head of the CBIU in Dominica.
Under Johnson’s leadership, the Dominica CBIU has strengthened the already rigorous due diligence procedures to ensure that only individuals of good character and reputation are granted citizenship. This commitment to maintaining high standards has helped to build trust and confidence in the programme among investors and the international community.
Calvin St Juste
Executive Chairman of Citizenship by Investment Unit
St. Kitts and Nevis
Calvin St Juste is the Executive Chairman of the St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment (CBI) Unit, which is the statutory body that governs the St. Kitts and Nevis CBI Programme. He is the honorary Special Envoy for Investment, Development, and International Business Relations for St. Kitts and Nevis. With over 25 years of experience across industries such as financial services, telecommunications, and telemedicine, he is a seasoned Wall Street executive. Previously, he was the Global Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Head of Global Strategy at Morgan Stanley Wealth Management’s Financial Wellness division, where he led a team offering solutions to Fortune 100 companies. He also served as COO for Global Fraud and Cybersecurity, safeguarding the firm’s assets from cyber threats.
Mr St. Juste has held executive roles at JP Morgan, managing teams that served high-net-worth clients, and earned the Stevie® Awards for his leadership. At T. Rowe Price, he was the Global Audit Head of Technology Enablement, overseeing governance and the integration of generative AI and data analytics.
Outside of corporate roles, Mr St. Juste is a Lean Six Sigma practitioner and strategist in process improvement. He serves on multiple boards, including as Chairman of the Supervisory Board for a US-based Credit Union with over $1 billion in assets and as a Board Advisor at Stevens Institute of Technology. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Goldey-Beacom College, a Master’s in Global Innovation Management from Stevens Institute of Technology, and an Executive Management Certificate from Wharton. He is also Six Sigma Black Belt-certified and a frequent speaker at global events.
Yassin Mohamdi
CEO and Managing Partner
THE BUYERS CIRCLE
Yassin Mohamdi is fluent in four languages, has had the honor of calling Paris, Marbella, and London his home over the years, and is now settled with family in Dubai – a true citizen of the world.
Mr. Mohamdi began his illustrious career with multinational conglomerates including ING Group and Caterpillar Financial until he discovered the power of Real Estate.
Having worked in Senior Management roles for over fifteen years, in some of the leading and most successful real estate brokerage firms globally, Mr. Mohamdi spent five of those years with property developer giant – DAMAC Properties – out of their London and Dubai offices, where he gracefully received recognition for his outstanding achievements and the prestigious award for Top Performer, Highest Single Value unit sold – leading to his admission to the 250 Million Club.
Mr. Mohamdi has personally guided private and institutional investors from different jurisdictions and countries worldwide, making successful and high-performing Real Estate investments, and currently garners one of the highest returning client ratios in the market.
A fully licensed international Real Estate professional, Mr. Mohamdi graduated from London Regents Business School in International Business and Marketing with Honors and is currently the CEO and Managing Partner of THE BUYERS CIRCLE – An international property investment and Real Estate brokerage firm that operates a multilingual, versatile and diverse team of like-minded professionals, straight from its global head offices in Dubai.
THE BUYERS CIRCLE provides direct access to exclusive developments worldwide and offers a turnkey service to those seeking premium ROI opportunities.