Free Seminars about healthcare, residency, taxation, legal issues

CEO - Open Media / 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 the Algarve and Living in Portugal 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. 

CEO - AFPOP

Michael has been CEO of the Foreign Residents’ Association ‘AFPOP’ for 19 years, having first joined as a Member in 2002. AFPOP was established as a non-profit Association in 1987, in an attempt to consolidate its growing information database and provide assistance to over a thousand Members. At that time there was considerable uncertainty about the rules on property ownership, which began to change at a bewildering rate as the foreign interest grew in the Algarve and then across Portugal. Not only that but the rules in the regions were also different and keeping up to date was incredibly difficult.
Over the 35 years since its humble beginnings, AFPOP has helped over 37,000 Members to navigate their way around living in Portugal, and currently has a Membership of almost 9,000 active Members. Whilst the Association has grown considerably, its goals and ethos have never changed. AFPOP’s primary function remains to assist its Members find answers to their questions.
As their logo says, AFPOP is “Here To Help”

Head of Business Development - The Sovereign Group, Portugal 

Shelley has over thirty years’ experience in investment advisory working with high net worth investors. Shelley works closely with Sovereign’s Wealth Management and Retirement Planning teams and is able to make recommendations according to clients’ needs and objectives to guide them through the complexities of acquiring international investment property, of using trusts, foundations, funds and companies worldwide, to structure, develop and maintain individuals’ assets for secure wealth succession planning. 

In addition, and working with the Sovereign Portugal team, Shelley can advise clients on their Non Habitual Resident and Golden Visa applications to ensure maximum tax benefits for our clients. 

Head of Corporate Division - Currencies 4 You

Jason has extensive experience working closely with both private individuals and corporate clients, whether transferring money for their new life overseas, investing in high-value goods or simply making regular international money transfers. Currencies 4 You is a Regulated Currency Exchange Specialist with offices in the UK, Spain, Portugal and Poland. Founded in 2009, the company has grown significantly over the last 13 years, having safely transferred over $2 billion globally, with access to 150 currency pairs, and an online platform with 2-factor authentication. Currencies 4 You, an award-winning company, continues to be a market leader. Currencies 4 You’s team of currency experts works closely with each of its clients to understand their currency requirements, providing a tailored strategic approach and minimizing the risk of volatility using financial tools, which saves their clients millions of pounds each year. 

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.

Tax Adviser & Chartered Financial Planner - Spectrum

Mark is originally from Manchester and moved to Portugal in 2014. After obtaining a degree in Finance, he started his career in London as a researcher and report writer for several accountancy and advisory practices before being promoted to Independent Financial Adviser status in 2005.

With over 20 years of experience, he has broad experience in advising individuals, companies, and trusts regarding their financial and tax issues. Mark specialises in cross-border issues for expats including Non-Habitual Residence, pensions and QROPS, investments and estate and trust planning.

He is a dual-qualified Tax Adviser with the Association of Tax Technicians (UK) and a Chartered Financial Planner with the Chartered Institute of Insurance, UK.

Managing Director / CEO - DS Intermediários de Crédito and DS Seguros

Alejandro Gomez Costa, 35 years old, was born in Málaga, Spain, and has lived in Portugal since he was 3. He has a strong academic background, holding a Master’s degree in Political Science and International Relations from the Catholic University of Portugal and a Law degree from ISMAT. He also holds certifications in Coaching, NLP, and Pedagogical Competencies.  

With over 18 years of professional experience, he served in the Portuguese COMANDOS (Special Forces) and the GNR (National Guard), excelling in leadership and strategy. After completing his internship at the Portuguese Bar Association, he gained experience in sales and business, which led him to entrepreneurship.  

Currently, he is the CEO and Managing Partner of Vanguard Lawyers (law firm), Village Curiosity (real estate and short-term rentals), and Decisão Ordenada (a franchise of the Decisões e Soluções Group).  

He is fluent in Portuguese, Spanish, and English, with intermediate French skills. 

TP&A - Founding Partner / Lawyer / English Solicitor 

Teresa is originally from Lisbon. After graduating in Law from the University of Lisbon’s Law School, she completed her traineeship in 1996. 

During her traineeship in Law, she provided legal support in the field of Property Law to an International Food Distribution Group in 1995 and 1996. From 1996 to 1998 she worked as a tax consultant for an international consultancy firm in Lisbon. 

Teresa was a senior lawyer at an English-Portuguese law firm between September 1998 and January 2002, after which she started her independent path and planned to set up her own firm. With the progressive growth of her client portfolio and team, she decided to set up her firm, TPA, in November 2005. 

In 2008, she became a qualified English Solicitor in England and Wales. 

Founder and CEO - OQ Managing Properties 

Rita Alves, born and raised in Lisbon, graduated from Católica Business School in 1999. She worked for BP as a successful Oil Trader in London until 2008, whilst investing in Portuguese real estate. 

After moving back to Portugal, she started OQ Managing Properties in Cascais, her current home. The company offers property management, rentals management, and investor support to foreign investors and busy professionals in the Lisbon Coastal Area. Rita joined Prio's Executive Board from 2014 to 2020, leaving OQ in the hands of her business partner, Tiago Santos Pereira. 

The company grew, managing over 100 properties and serving 6,000+ guests. Rita rejoined OQ in 2023 as CEO, focusing on expanding in the Algarve and Comporta markets while consolidating Lisbon Coast. With teams in Ericeira, Cascais, Arrábida, Tróia, Comporta, Almancil, and Alvor/Lagos, OQ provides high-end property services to investors. 

Chief Sales Officer - Global International Relocations  

Luís joined Global International Relocations 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.