The 19th GIIS London Speakers
Co - Founder
Stephen Daryl Barnes, a graduate of the London School of Economics law school, has been a leading figure in immigration law since 1993. Known as the "Hong Kong Visa Geeza," he co-founded the Hong Kong Visa Centre and authored the Hong Kong Visa Handbook, providing accessible, DIY guidance on the Hong Kong visa process. His innovative approach includes VisaGeeza.Ai, an AI-driven platform offering free, personalized visa advice. In 2024, Barnes co-designed Sierra Leone's GO-FOR-GOLD program, an investment migration initiative offering lifetime residency and fast-track citizenship. This program not only attracts global investors but also funds sustainable development projects, contributing to Sierra Leone's economic growth and modernization efforts.
Managing Partner
The founder of Citizen Lane, Till Neumann, is a former department head for Caribbean citizenship programs with Henley & Partners, an internationally active consulting firm in Zurich.
With his experience in business and investment management, and his passion for law, Till started his own consulting firm to assist individuals wanting to invest, relocate and live in a country where they can do business safely with a fair and reliable legal system - one that offers a peaceful, comfortable life with their families and loved ones.
Member of Parliament (Chair of the Economic and Financial Affairs Committee)
Alex Muscat is an economist by profession, with extensive political experience. Born and raised in Malta, Alex has been involved in politics at the tender age of 16 and has since worked his way up to serve as Deputy Head of the Prime Minister’s Private Secretariat. As a former Parliamentary Secretary, he spearheaded all the necessary reforms to attract foreign direct investment to the Maltese islands.
Currently, he is serving as a Member of Parliament with the Government of Malta.
Vice President of EB-5
Christian Taulbee, based in Tampa, Florida, is the EB-5 Vice President at Christian Tyler Properties, where he has helped hundreds of families achieve U.S. residency since 2014. As the main point of contact for new EB-5 inquiries, he regularly travels to meet partners, affiliate offices, and overseas agents. Christian’s role includes connecting clients with top immigration attorneys, evaluating project stability, and supporting their transition to life in America.
Prior to joining Christian Tyler Properties, Christian worked in private wealth management, specializing in estate planning and strategies for high-net-worth individuals, while developing platforms to attract foreign investors. Over his decade-long tenure at CTP, he has guided investors from over 25 countries and formerly served as an EB-5 Investor Liaison, managing web portals, marketing, and client presentations.
Christian holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business – Economics from Liberty University, graduating at the age of 18.
Director - Sales & Business Development
Barry is a British Citizen and had a UK education, his background has been in management of various companies in the UK. Barry relocated to Cyprus in 2005 and is now sales and Business Development Director for the UK & South East Asia, for the largest privately owned Property Developer in Cyprus, Pafilia .
He joined Pafilia Property Developers in April 2005 and is the sales and Business Development Director for eth Uk & South East Asia .. where he is highly experienced in the Sales and Business Development for these regions. Between 2011 and 2015 he was responsible for the Sales and Business Development in China for Pafilia .
From 2016 Barry was responsible for Pafilia South East Asia office in Vietnam and the Pafilia UK Office, traveling throughout the regions to support Customers and Associates to achieve their investment and immigration requirements.
Head of Sales
Iness Karayianni is a seasoned real estate professional with over 15 years of experience in Cyprus’s property sector. Her career includes managing roles at leading Cyprus developers such as Pafilia Property Developers and Aristo Developers, where she specialized in luxury golf residential projects and investment properties. Currently working as a Sales Manager at Cyprus Sotheby’s International Realty, Iness brings deep market knowledge and a client-focused approach to her work. Iness has also contributed her insights as a speaker at industry webinars and events, sharing her expertise on Cyprus’s real estate opportunities and lifestyle benefits.
Cyprus Sotheby’s International Realty, a luxury real estate agency which provides the full scope of services related to properties for life and investments. The agency is ranked top 3 by sales volume in the local real estate market by developers and has received multiple European Property Awards in 2023-2024.
Cyprus Sotheby’s International Realty is part of the world’s largest Sotheby’s International Realty network of more than 1,100 offices in 84 countries. Being a member of the famous brand with 300-year history defines performance of exceptional work ethics and the culture of customers bespoke services.
Founder & CEO
Mr. Slava Apel is the CEO of a Canadian Business Consulting company focusing on Startup Visa Services. Mr. Apel helps RBI immigration professionals to support clients for business expansion and documentation for an approval for immigration to Canada. Mr. Apel’s company has been helping immigrating-to-Canada businesses and investors with approval processes, soft-landing, commercialisation of new products, prototyping, proper business structuring and capitalisation.
Mr. Apel is involved in 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 of a new business. With the highest in the industry approval rates in Canada, Mr. Apel has received multiple industry awards; celebrating pre-landing and post-landing achievements that allow immigrating clients to thrive in Canada.
Founding Partner
Patrick Findaro is a best-selling author and the Founding Partner of Visa Franchise. Since co-founding Visa Franchise in 2015, Patrick and his team have guided thousands of people in relocating to the U.S. through investor and talent visa programs, including the E-2, O-1, EB-1A, EB-2 NIW, and EB-5 visas. His expertise lies in identifying and analyzing franchise opportunities that align with clients' immigration and business objectives.
Patrick began his career at JPMorgan's New York headquarters, helping manage a $2 billion credit portfolio. He later transitioned into private equity and information services before venturing into the investment immigration sector. A graduate of Colby College with a concentration in International Economic Policy, Patrick has lived in Argentina, Brazil, France, and the U.S., achieving fluency in Spanish, Portuguese, and French.
He is the author of the acclaimed book How to Buy a Franchise: Employee to Entrepreneur in 12 Weeks and Own Your American Dream: 8 Proven Paths to Start a Business and Secure a U.S. Visa.
Director of Business Development
Nathan is the Director of Business Development at STAG Fund Management, where he drives growth, builds lasting client relationships, and delivers tailored investment solutions for institutional investors, family offices, and private clients. His role focuses on expanding the firm’s
global footprint and identifying innovative opportunities within the fund management sector.
With over a decade of experience in financial services, Nathan has held various leadership roles across financial advisory, investment
management, and corporate structuring. Prior to STAG, he led business development for the Malta and Portugal divisions for a renowned International Corporate Services Group, specializing in corporate structuring, immigration, and family office solutions.
Before Dixcart, Nathan spent four years driving business development and financial reporting in South African for a Financial and Legal firm. Earlier, he worked as a Finance Manager for a Risk Management and Financial entity and as an Executive Financial Planner for Investment Brokerage in Johannesburg, where he guided private clients through complex financial landscapes regulated by specific mandate. Nathan’s deep expertise in corporate structuring, his approachable, solutions-driven style, and his strong understanding of private client needs make him a trusted partner for businesses and families investing in
the European market. At STAG Fund Management, he continues to leverage his global experience to deliver exceptional value and foster long-term partnerships.
Chief Executive Officer
Jonathan McNamara is a member of the Investment Migration Council (IMC). The IMC sets the standards on a global level and interacts with other professional associations, governments, and international organizations in relation to investment migration.
Jonathan McNamara and McNamara Citizenship are also members of the World Citizenship Council.
Jonathan McNamara is regularly quoted in the Investment Migration journals as an authority on the Saint Lucia Citizenship Programme – most recently he has helped co-author the Saint Lucia chapter in the Corporate Immigration Review.
Under the Citizenship by Investment Programme, only a licensed Authorized Agent is allowed to submit the completed application forms.
Principal & Founder
Jonathan Braswell is the Founding Partner of Executive Services PR, a Puerto Rico-based consulting and tax planning firm that specializes in Puerto Rico's economic incentives and tax laws. With over a decade of experience analyzing and navigating Puerto Rico’s tax incentive framework, what is currently known as ACT 60, Jonathan has become a trusted advisor to businesses and investors seeking to maximize opportunities on the island.
Since starting the consulting firm, Jonathan has helped countless HNWI and enterprises from a diverse set of industries in optimizing their tax strategy in Puerto Rico, while ensuring compliance with Puerto Rico's complex legal and regulatory environment. His passion for free-market principles, individualism, and private enterprise collectively drive his commitment to empowering clients with strategic insight into why Puerto Rico makes sense for investors and entrepreneurs.
At the core of Jonathan's work is a dedication to helping entrepreneurs and investors succeed, while minimizing their tax liability and unlocking the maximum value of their pursuits in Puerto Rico.
Partner – Tax & Private Clients
David is a Chartered Accountant and a founding partner at ARQ Group, a multi-disciplinary professional services organisation in Malta. David leads the firm’s cross boarder Tax Advisory and Private Client’s practice. In this role David advises a number of clients including high net worths who establish their tax residence in Malta or who set up tax optimised structures to hold their global assets also with a view towards succession planning.
David is also the current Chairman of the EMEIA Chapter of Integra International, a global network of independent audit, tax, accounting and legal firms. David also sits on the Global Board of this network where he has contributed to the networks growth and expansion into other professional disciplines.
Lawyer
Sara Sousa Rebolo, Partner, is one of the founders of Prime Legal. She has been practicing for over 10 years in the areas of Immigration, Real Estate Law, Foreign Investment, Labor, and Corporate Law. She has been responsible for an important number of private and business investment operations and processes, advising national and international clients of the most diverse nationalities.
She frequently participates as a speaker at international conferences. She cooperates with Nova School of Law in their Post-Graduation in Immigration Law, is certified in Investment Migration by the Investment Migration Council (IMC), is a Co-Founder of PAIIR – Portuguese Association of Immigration, Investment and Relocation, and has been recognized as one of the top 25 lawyers by Uglobal Immigration Magazine in different editions.
CEO, Citizenship by Investment Unit,
Antigua & Barbuda
Charmaine Quinland-Donovan holds the distinctions of being the first national of Antigua and Barbuda and the first woman, to head the country’s Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU). Her appointment as CEO took effect on March 27, 2017. Prior to this recent appointment, Mrs. Quinland-Donovan served in the CIU in three prominent capacities; Chief Compliance Officer, Chief Operating Officer and Acting Chief Executive Officer.
She is also a Chartered Director and a fully qualified anti-money laundering specialist.
General Partner
Filipe is a General Partner in Portugal Prime Fund, a GV-eligible fund investing in Portugal’s thriving tourism sector. He has a background as a Civil Engineer and Hotel Developer focused on high-end touristic projects in Portugal. His portfolio includes landmark developments such as beachfront hotels and the rehabilitation of architectural gems like Rossio Palace. Filipe holds an MBA from INSEAD and a Master’s in Civil Engineering from EPFL in Switzerland and IST in Portugal, where he graduated summa cum laude. He worked five years at McKinsey & Company, advising multinational companies in the financial sector. He later participated in the founding of Oxy Capital, one of Portugal’s largest asset managers. He also serves as an External Lecturer at INSEAD, consistently ranked among the world’s top three business schools by the Financial Times.
Managing Partner & Director
Mr. Charalambos Papasavvas is an experienced Advocate and Legal Consultant in Cyprus. He admitted to the Cyprus Bar Association with 12 years’ experience in the law field of Corporate Law, Tax Law, and Financial Law & Technology Services, with specialisation in the tokenisation of assets.
He graduated in Law (LLB) from the University of Essex, UK, in 2013, and he continued his master’s degree studies in International Corporate Finance (LLM) at the University of Reading, UK, in 2014. He currently studied his PhD studies in Blockchains & Tokenisation of Assets at the London School of Economics in the UK, too.
Founder of BLS Group and BLS Media
He began his career in marketing and holds a BA in International Business Studies from the University of Sussex, UK. He shifted his focus to publishing and events, where he pioneered multiple digital portals and events in emerging markets promoting investment immigration in the residency and citizenship space.
Chief Investment Officer
Constantinos Savvides is the Chief Investment Officer at bbf:. With over 15 years of experience in corporate finance, real estate, and transaction advisory, he leads the firm’s investment strategy, capital allocation, and business development initiatives. Prior to joining bbf:, Constantinos was Director and Head of Real Estate Deals Advisory at PwC Cyprus, where he advised institutional investors, private equity firms, and financial institutions on high-value, complex transactions. His expertise spans investment structuring, capital raising, financial modeling, and risk management. Known for his analytical rigor and strategic foresight, Constantinos is passionate about building sustainable investment platforms that balance long-term value creation with community impact.
THE 14th GIIS Speakers
Founder of BLS Group and BLS Media
He began his career in marketing and holds a BA in International Business Studies from the University of Sussex, UK. He shifted his focus to publishing and events, where he pioneered multiple digital portals and events in emerging markets promoting investment immigration in the residency and citizenship space.
Sam Bayat is a Quebec licensed attorney with background in international law and isspecialized in corporate migration. He has over twenty years experience in business
immigration and citizenship consultancy.
He was the former president and vice president of Canadian Bar, International Section in Quebec. He had lectured in the International law at the Concordia University in Montreal. He is the senior resident lawyer of the law firm, Bayat Legal Services (BLS) in Dubai.
A Chartered Accountant with rich experience of over 20 years across banking, investment advisory, real estate, and immigration. He has worked with reputed organizations like HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, and ABN Amro Bank at senior levels in Investment Advisory and Private Banking. His qualifications and training as a Chartered Accountant and his experience as a banker make him adept at advising clients in selecting the right investment vehicle and financial plan for achieving their immigration objective.
Mr. Karia is a thought leader and a regular panellist on TV shows on reputed Channels like CNBC and NDTV. He also writes for leading publications and portals like the Hindustan Times, Forbes, moneycontrol.com, Fortune India, etc. He is also an avid YouTuber and loves to share his knowledge with a wide audience, as you would have seen from his videos.
Guy is a Chartered Accountant and Chartered Tax Advisor who was born and raised on the Isle of Man. He has previously been the Managing Partner of a leading independent accountancy practice on the Island where he gained extensive experience of assisting High Net Worth Individuals and Businesses to relocate there. He now continues to promote the Isle of Man as a destination for HNWIs and entrepreneurs in his role as Inward Investment Partner at Locate Isle. of Man, which is part of the Isle of Man Government’s Department for Enterprise.
Cátia provides expert advice on personal and corporate tax matters in Portugal, including consultations with prospective clients. With 13 years of experience in the tax and accounting field, she gained extensive experience advising companies and individuals across various commercial sectors, including finance, technology, and real estate. Prior to joining Dixcart, Cátia worked for a company within the international business centre of Madeira, further solidifying her understanding of Portuguese tax law, accounting and its application to international clients. She has been registered with the Portuguese Chartered Accountants Association since 2014.”
Dimitris Papanikolaou a Greek businessman with extensive international studies in Business, brings forth over 25 years of remarkable experience in senior management roles within demanding business environments. Since 2020, he has held the position of Vice President in TOPSMART INVESTEMENT HOLDING, overseeing a diverse portfolio that includes:
- Green Properties (Real estate development and construction)
- Lux&Easy (Hotels and Hospitality sector)
- 362 grocery (supermarket sector)
- G-Logic SA (business software solutions )
- U Minimal (aluminum profile sector)
Kim has worked in the immigration field since 1998, and founded White Rose Visas in 2009. She has gained an enviable reputation for consistently securing positive outcomes for her clients and for finding creative solutions which enable individuals to achieve their goals. Kim advises across a range of immigration routes, and specialises in business and economic migration.
Asif Chhipa brings over 13 years of experience in business development and investor relations, promoting citizenship by investment programs, such as the EB-5 Regional Center Program. He is well versed in the EB-5 industry as both an agent, and as a fully-redeemed EB-5 investor himself. Through his efforts, Asif has helped raise millions in EB-5 project funds creating over 2,500 jobs.
Asif Chhipa shares his success story of EB-5 journey to potential investors and provides them all necessary information in order to identify right projects and right process of EB-5.
Panos Fourtounis is the Sales Manager of GREEN PROPERTIES with extensive experience in the Golden Visa Greek program as well as investment opportunities in the real estate industry.
Carel's EB-5 career started in 2016 after spending 2 decades in various roles as an investment banker. At EB5 Coast to Coast, he heads up the Sales team with a focus on investments that are considered to be in the national interest. This provides investors with expedited processing which is a significant benefit since normal processing has become very lengthy. As an immigrant from South Africa himself, he gets tremendous joy advising and helping families on how to realize their American dream via the EB-5 program.
Ambika Singh Kahma has been with NDTV's special projects for the last 9+ years. She has worked on many social cause campaigns across various genres and spear headed campaigns like Banega Swachh India and Banega Swasth India campaign. She has been an integral part of special project campaigns like Save our tigers, Defeating Diabetes, Road to safety, Every Life Counts, More to Give, Roshan Dilli and Find your Equal are a few to name.
Certified Investment Migration Consultant- FIMC.
Over 14 years of experience in residency and citizenship by Investment with over thousands of successful families resettlements.
Abhishek has years of experience in working for the EB-5 industry and has also worked with a very prominent attorney. He has helped several investors from India with their EB-5 immigration by investment application.
Abhishek has now joined EB5 United to oversee the India region. Abhishek lives in Pune with his family and travels around India to meet with those wanting to immigrate to the United States under the EB-5 program.
Serves as the Director of Business Development for U.S. Immigration Fund. Based in New Delhi, India, Akshat brings with him a wealth of experience in business consulting, fundraising, and navigating investment via immigration avenues. Akshat has been pivotal in assisting numerous EB-5 investors in their pursuit of a U.S. Green Card. A visionary in the EB-5 realm, Akshat has played an instrumental role in organizing informational seminars and roadshows across India, demystifying the immigration process and highlighting the program's potential investors. He stays abreast of the evolving U.S. immigration landscape, ensuring that clients receive up-to-date advice and solutions tailored to their unique investment needs. His profound insights into the EB-5 program, coupled with his dedication to organizing informational events across India, have positioned him as a trusted advisor for those aiming for U.S. residency via investment.
Rupy Cheema heads EB5 Energy, focusing on securing foreign investment for U.S. energy projects that align with the EB-5 program criteria. The company is currently engaged in financing oil and gas drilling in the Anadarko "super basin.”
Her professional journey is marked by a significant tenure at eb5diligence.com, where she played a pivotal role in shaping the company's approach to EB-5 investment analysis and due diligence processes. With a decade of experience reviewing over 200 EB5 offerings, her expertise lies in conducting detailed due diligence to highlight immigration and financial risks.
Apart from leading EB5 Energy, Rupy contributes to the broader EB-5 community as a regular panelist, sharing insights on best practices in EB-5 investments.
Panos Fourtounis is the Sales Manager of GREEN PROPERTIES with extensive experience in the Golden Visa Greek program as well as investment opportunities in the real estate industry.
Director and Board Member
Gustavo began his professional career at G5 Evercore (current G5 Partners) in São Paulo in 2008, working in the wealth management area until 2017. Then Gustavo started studying an MBA program in Barcelona and joined the Heed team in 2019. Today, he is director of the Wealth Management area and responsible for new business development.
Serial entrepreneur and VC with three decades in innovation, experience design, product development, management consulting and early-stage venture investments. Venture roles include Founding Partner at hard tech investors Dipalo Ventures, and LP, VP in several early-stage tech Funds. Angel investment portfolio track record is 35% IRR, 2.33x MOIC, 1 unicorn and 5 exits. Cofounded and led Demibooks to exit to EDUC (NASDAQ). Consumer Experience Design, Motorola Mobility. MBA, MS Information Systems, BS Electrical Engineering.
12th and 13th GIIS Speakers
BLS Global Ltd
Suite 22, Beaufort Court, Admirals Way, London, E14 9XL.
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7241 1589
Mail: info@blsglobal.org
www.blsmedia.co.uk
www.citizenshipinvestment.org
www.giisummit.org