The paradiGM community GATHER initiative aims to bring together and connect members beyond professional conferences in genuine, meaningful, and occasionally playful ways to enrich their lives. We hope to create deeper connections among members: how often in our working relationships do we ask people about themselves and their lives, goals and hobbies; and then really listen to what they have to say?
GATHER creates opportunities for interaction between members. We do this through virtual informal chats and events, as well as in-person meetings, where our members gather and share information to assist in the cross pollination of varying personal, cultural, and entrepreneurial experiences across three continents.
Another way is to ensure we are authentic: practicing authenticity means being vulnerable and at paradiGM we create a safe space for members to share.
Gather Team
Kirsty
Kirsty Gies – Advocate is working with Everaert Advocaten Immigration Lawyers in the Netherlands, where she serves as Manager Global Mobility & Immigration. Since joining the firm in 2006, she has been instrumental in developing its corporate immigration practice. She currently co-leads the firm’s Business Unit.
Kirsty advises a wide range of clients, from fast-growing SMEs to multinational companies, across various industries. She has extensive experience managing visa and residence permit procedures and supports clients in setting up internal mobility structures, preparing for government audits, and navigating sponsor compliance.
She also coordinates the team’s administrative operations and provides in-house training to HR professionals, helping companies confidently manage their immigration responsibilities in a changing legal landscape.
Kirsty lives in Amsterdam and has a strong interest in arts, culture, and music. She enjoys exploring the ways global mobility connects people: not just professionally, but personally as well.
Nouran
Nouran Zarroug – Immediate Past Advocate works within a global immigration firm and supports both corporates and suppliers with best practice on GM policy and strategy.
She has previously worked with multi-national companies championing Talent Mobility as well as leading the EMEA region for Worldwide ERC. Nouran possesses a huge passion for people and places which drives her perspective through both her work and personal life. Being a Third Culture Kid and an expat for most of her childhood, she has developed a strong appreciation for diverse cultures. Although British by citizenship, her parents are Sudanese and she has spent many of her formative years living throughout the Middle East and Europe, including, Saudi Arabia, The Sultanate of Oman, Sweden, Ireland and the UK; so continues to be fascinated by East/West nuance.
Having been a member of ParadiGM from the beginning, Nouran is a major advocate of D,E,I&B and feels authenticity and vulnerability are frequently missing from our daily interactions; hence believes this community will be the paradigm shift.
René
René Stegmann is an experienced founder and purpose strategist with over 33 years of expertise in Immigration, Global Mobility, and Serviced Accommodation across the African continent. A recognised entrepreneur with a deep passion for Africa, René is a strategic thinker and sustainability advocate. She holds an MBA in Strategic Marketing from the University of Hull.
As the founder of Relocation Africa, René has led the business for over three decades, helping multinational organisations navigate the complexities of cross-border talent movement. Her leadership has been instrumental in delivering comprehensive immigration solutions — from corporate visa strategies to compliance and relocation support — that enable seamless entry into African markets.
René also co-founded MyResidence.Africa, expanding the company’s footprint to over 15,000 serviced apartments across the continent, supporting relocating professionals with ease and efficiency.
Her industry influence spans the South African Reward Association (SARA), Worldwide ERC, and various chamber and professional committees. She has served as a speaker, author, and past president of the International Relocation Associates (TIRA), and was on the board of the British Chamber of Business in South Africa.
René is married to Andrew and has two children Callum 23 and Ashlyn 20 and lives in Cape Town, South Africa.
Kate
Kate Harding is a UK immigration lawyer at Kingsley Napley in London, specialising in corporate immigration and sponsor licence compliance. She works with organisations of all sizes — from early-stage businesses to established multinationals — helping them to navigate the complexities of UK immigration and nationality law. She trained at Laura Devine Immigration, a highly regarded boutique immigration practice, before joining Kingsley Napley in 2021 where she is now an Associate.
Having grown up as the child of a diplomat, Kate has lived in 10 countries across four continents. Her international upbringing has given her first-hand insight into both the opportunities and challenges that come with building a life across borders. This experience continues to shape her passion for global mobility and her curiosity about people, cultures and the connections between them.
Kate joined the ParadiGM Community in 2025 and is delighted to be part of such a welcoming and inspiring network. Through her involvement in Gather, she is keen to foster meaningful connections and engage with others who share an interest in global mobility and cross-cultural exchange.
Catherine
Catherine Coup is a dual qualified NZ and England and Wales lawyer and works as Business Manager at ASG Immigration, a specialist immigration firm covering UK, Australian, and US practice areas, where she focuses on building the firm’s external profile and developing her expertise as a global mobility professional.
Originally from New Zealand and based in London, she brings an international perspective to everything she does, including her approach to building lasting connections in the industry.
Catherine joined paradiGM in 2025 and attended her first conference in Kraków earlier this year, and is now keen to contribute more actively to the community she’s quickly come to value.
She is currently on maternity leave following the arrival of baby Nico in April 2026 and is very much looking forward to Year 6 as a way to stay connected during this special but busy season of life.
Jorge
Jorge Flores is an immigration attorney and global mobility professional originally from Venezuela, with more than 10 years of experience advising multinational companies and international professionals on corporate immigration, relocation, and mobility compliance matters across Latin America. Throughout his international career, he has lived and worked in Venezuela, Argentina, Chile, and currently the United States, providing him with a practical, multicultural perspective on the challenges and opportunities associated with global mobility.
He currently leads Immigration & Business Development initiatives for Latin America at LARM Group, coordinating regional strategies and delivering comprehensive mobility solutions across more than 33 countries. His expertise combines legal knowledge, business development, and multicultural team leadership, with a strong focus on facilitating international talent mobility and supporting organizations in their regional and global expansion efforts.
Jorge has been an active member of the ParadiGM Community since 2024, and also actively participates in industry initiatives, publications, and professional forums focused on the evolution of global mobility and immigration policies throughout Latin America, helping to promote best practices and innovative solutions for corporate mobility programs.
Ian
Ian Scott is the Managing Partner of Scott Legal, P.C. He received his J.D. from Harvard Law School, where he served as a Primary Editor on the Harvard Human Rights Journal. He also earned both an undergraduate degree and an M.B.A. from the University of Toronto, where he was an Ontario Graduate Scholar. In addition, Mr. Scott is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) with extensive investment banking experience.
As an immigrant to the United States, Mr. Scott has personally held a wide range of visas, including F-1, TN, H-1B, B-2, and E-2. He founded Scott Legal, P.C. over 14 years ago on an E-2 investor visa. Today, the firm is an E-2 success story with over 15 employees.
Mr. Scott is a recognized thought leader on investor visas, including E-2, EB-5, and National Interest Waiver (NIW), and has been invited to speak at numerous conferences around the world. His insights have been featured in major publications such as NBC News, Forbes, Bloomberg Law, The New York Times, Super Lawyers, Above the Law, and the New York State Bar Association. He is also an author in the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) Handbook on E-1 and E-2 visas. In addition, Mr. Scott has been asked to speak on over 10 immigration panels for the American Immigration Lawyers Association & other organizations on topics including; E-2 visas, E-1 visas, National Interest Waiver Petitions, TN Visas and EB-5 Visas.
Finally, he is the author of the book Law School Lowdown (Simon & Schuster Publishing).
