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.

Founder & managing partner - Legal Quest

Dr. Ricardo Ferreira gained his law degree from the University of Lisbon in 1999, going on to earn postgraduate degrees in both commercial law, tax planning and accounting and finance law, from the University of Lisbon and the Catholic University of Law respectively.  

Since 2012 he has been mainly dedicated to Real Estate Law and Tax law. 

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. 

Partner - Family Medical Centre

Dr Thomas Kaiser is a specialist in General and Family Medicine trained in Germany and the United Kingdom. He has additional qualifications in Gynaecology, Preventive and Cosmetic Medicine. He has worked in his home country Germany, Switzerland and for 8 years in Surrey England. 

Since 2000 he is a partner in Family Medical Centres, the longest established and biggest private medical practice in the Algarve. The Practice with Clinics in Vale do Lobo and Quinta do Lago was founded in 1988 by Dr Robin Thomson. 

Dr Kaiser knows the medical market in Portugal like no other. He has worked in his own Clinics in the so-called Golden Triangle of the Algarve and was director of the Emergency Department and one of the lead doctors of the biggest private hospital in the Algarve.  

He has seen the medical infrastructure in Portugal change over the last 20 years and has unique insights into the needs of foreign and resident patients alike. 

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.