Meet The Team

Diverse experience. Collective focus
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João Nascimento

Infinite Learner
Managing Partner

João has spent 15 years building companies in real estate – gaining specialist insight into property management, development, and investment. Along the way, he’s also nurtured a lasting interest in neuroscience and health – areas that reflect his curiosity about how people think, live, and thrive. This blend of professional experience and personal exploration shapes his thoughtful, people-focused approach to business, where insight and integrity go hand in hand.

Alex Farcet

Rainmaker
Head of Mergers and Acquisitions

Alex brings over two decades of experience leading teams and building ventures, from senior roles at DHL/Deutsche Post to co-founding Startupbootcamp and helping grow Rainmaking. Today, he applies that operational rigor and global perspective to his work at Mendez Nassau, where he leads M&A activities.
Based in Lisbon, Alex combines clear thinking with a calm, people-focused approach shaped by a life lived across Africa, Spain, France and Portugal. Alongside his role here, he runs Raspberry, a small ClimateTech and AI syndicate that keeps him connected to emerging ideas and technologies.
He values clarity, authenticity and connection — qualities that guide the way he supports clients and builds lasting relationships.

Dina Rosário

Tastemaker
Partner

Based in Barcelona, Dina brings six years of experience in real estate, following a previous career in the private jet industry. A proactive leader and natural project manager, she’s known for driving innovation, elevating operations and keeping teams moving forward. Dina is intuitive, collaborative, and brings a sharp eye for detail and a clear standard of sophistication. Her honesty is refreshingly direct, her humour disarming and her presence uplifting. With Dina, professionalism comes with warmth and wit, making her the perfect partner for your property search.

Tomaz Carvalho

Analyst of Mergers & Acquisitions

Tomaz combines a finance background shaped by leading European business schools with hands-on innovation experience at Galp, where he worked on energy-focused pilots with startups. Born in the US, raised in Portugal, and having lived in Germany and Switzerland, he brings both a strong understanding of the Portuguese market and a broad international perspective.
He is currently involved in the firm’s M&A activities, supporting international investors in the identification of asymmetric risk-return and off-market opportunities.

Lisette Van der valk

Nurturer
Partner

Lisette brings years of experience in the hotels and wellness industry, where creating meaningful experiences and genuine connections has always been at the heart of her work. She carries this same care into real estate, combining a service-driven mindset with a deep understanding of her clients’ needs.

Having lived in Switzerland and the Netherlands, Lisette values clarity, efficiency, and a no-nonsense approach, balanced with warmth and a touch of humor. She helps clients find spaces that truly align with their lifestyle and well-being, guiding them through the process with honesty and ease.

Her goal is simple: to make the experience transparent, straightforward, and enjoyable.

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André Nascimento

Ground Crew
Operations & Hospitality Manager

André brings over 15 years of experience from the aviation industry, where his attention to detail, anticipation of guest needs, and commitment to service were key to his success. Now an experienced Hospitality and Infrastructure Manager, he oversees both the operational and guest-facing sides of property management with the same high standards. From ensuring every space is impeccably maintained, to keeping systems running smoothly behind the scenes, André is known for his thorough, proactive approach. Outside of work, he’s passionate about gaming and sports, interests that fuel his focus and problem-solving skills.

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Anna Fourie

Navigator
Head of People

Anna is passionate about guiding individuals through the buying and selling of property, ensuring a smooth and rewarding experience. With over 25 years in client relations and strategic negotiations, she excels at understanding unique needs and aligning them with ideal properties or buyers. Her international experience across Australia, Singapore, and Europe gives her valuable insight into local and global real estate trends. Anna is committed to helping clients—from first-time buyers to seasoned investors—navigate the market and achieve their real estate goals with confidence.

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Kirstin Honeywill

Pathfinder
Partner

Kirstin, a true powerhouse in our team. With a work ethic that could rival the most dedicated, she’s the engine that keeps things running smoothly. Kirstin has an uncanny ability to find anything you need – from that elusive plot of land to the best sea view spot in town.

Her nurturing nature, and her caring and supportive presence creates a warm and welcoming atmosphere, that makes any work task a little brighter and a little easier.

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Pedro Pinho

All-rounder
Partner

With a 40-year career at a leading Portuguese cosmetics and perfumery company, Pedro worked across multiple departments, including Human Resources, Finance, IT,
Logistics, Insurance, and Purchasing. This multi-disciplinary experience makes Pedro the perfect person to run the busy Mendez Nassau office. Pedro’s defining quality is his perseverance – he analyzes, reflects, then analyzes again. Once the goal is reached, he looks for ways to improve the result. A lifelong sports enthusiast, Pedro now spends his free time exploring his native Portugal.

Sónia Lavoura

Creator
Senior Design & Asset Partner
South African born and bred, to Portuguese parents, with a degree in Industrial Psychology and a post-graduate diploma e Human Resource Management.
 25 years of experience in property management in Portugal, in the Cascais and Lisbon areas.
 Passionate about architecture, interior design and decoration as well as Real Estate.

Bonnie Brito Costa

Enthusiast
Social & Communications Manager

Bonnie recently fulfilled her dream of relocating to Portugal from the UK, bringing with her a wealth of experience in property and business management. As Social & Communications Manager at Mendez Nassau, she plays a key role in shaping the company’s voice, strengthening client relationships, and ensuring clear, engaging communication across all platforms. Her approachable nature and warm smile make her a natural connector, both within the team and with clients.

Driven, dedicated, and highly motivated, Bonnie thrives on challenge and takes pride in delivering results. These qualities extend beyond her professional life and are reflected in her impressive sporting achievements, having been a county champion in hammer throwing and competing at national level. This same focus, discipline, and determination underpin her work at Mendez Nassau, where she is committed to supporting the company’s growth and upholding its reputation for excellence.

Vitor Brito Costa

Architect
Partner

Vitor has recently returned to his native country of Portugal after spending 15 years in the UK, where he worked across both the private and public sectors. This international experience has given him a strong understanding of diverse client needs and a structured, professional approach to complex projects and decision-making. He brings a wide range of skills in management and IT, combined with up-to-date knowledge of modern technology, allowing him to design efficient processes and support clients with clarity and confidence throughout their journey.A driven individual and passionate team player, Vitor’s mindset has been shaped through years of competitive sport, both as a rugby player and as an individual athlete. He continues to support up-and-coming youth teams through coaching, reflecting his commitment to leadership, teamwork, and long-term development. With a calm, detail-focused approach and a strong sense of integrity, Vitor is dedicated to helping clients build solid foundations for their property decisions, aligned with both lifestyle and investment goals.

Sophie Bagnall

Trailblazer
Project Manager

Sophie made the move to paradise from Ireland with her family, seeking new challenges and a life more focused on the outdoors.  With 12 years experience in Pharmaceutical product management and then clinical services oversight in the Healthcare sector, she loves the planning and process of managing a project or service to its happy conclusion. She brings a creative practicality and a can do attitude along with a genuine joy in meeting new people. She can be found indulging her obsession for mountainbiking and climbing when not problem solving with the team.

mendez nassau

Finding and purchasing a property in a new country with unfamiliar processes can be quite a daunting prospect. However your constant availability, advice and support made the whole process so much easier for us. We are very happy to be homeowners again, and feel fortunate to have found such a lovely home in Portugal, the wonderful destination that we have chosen to spend our golden years.

Brian and Anne Davey July 4, 2025

Total Confidence

Over the past seven years, we’ve bought, sold, and rented properties through Mendez Nassau and have complete confidence in them. Their approach is natural, direct, and always feels like a true partnership rather than a transaction. We’ve referred friends who were equally impressed by their professionalism and wide-reaching network. Mendez Nassau remains our first choice for anything property-related.

Jean-Phillipe Sauthier July 8, 2025