Professional headshot
pending Phase 5
The path
A career built on global mobility
Nadia Read Thaele's career has been shaped by the questions that bring high-net-worth families to investment migration in the first place — optionality, security, and the right of a family to choose where it lives, works, and is taxed.
She grew up with dual nationality and lived across multiple European cities, developing an extensive international network before identifying the gap that became Lio Global. She is also co-founder of Advanced Global Medical Solutions and established the Ladies Power Club, a professional networking group for South African entrepreneurs.
She is based in Cape Town, where Lio Global is headquartered, and travels regularly to programme jurisdictions across the Caribbean, the European Union, and the Gulf for client and regulator meetings.
The founding
Why Lio Global was founded in 2014
Nadia incorporated LIO Global (Pty.) Ltd. in 2014 with a specific positioning in mind: a consolidated advisory model holding residency, citizenship, and real estate under a single mandate, with the principal you spoke to at discovery still on the file at grant.
That positioning had been rare in the vertical at the time and remains uncommon today — most firms specialise in one lane and hand clients off across the others.
Twelve years on, Lio Global continues to operate from Cape Town under the same model. The firm has stayed deliberately compact, on the view that an investment migration mandate is too consequential to be carried by anyone other than a partner-level advisor.
The advisory
Programmes Nadia personally leads on
Nadia carries client mandates across the firm's full programme set, with particular depth on:
- Grenada Citizenship by Investment
- Antigua & Barbuda Citizenship by Investment
- St Kitts & Nevis Citizenship by Investment
- St Lucia Citizenship by Investment
- Greece Golden Visa
- Italy Investor Visa
- Malta residency and citizenship routes
For real-estate-backed mandates, Nadia works alongside Megan Copley, the firm's Director of Sales and real-estate lead.
In the press
Media mentions
Bloomberg · 21 February 2021
"South African High Earners' Exodus May Limit Room for Tax Hikes"
Nadia quoted on Grenada CBI programme cost figures.
IMI Daily · 2021
Investment Migration Insider — People in the News
Two separate items mentioning Nadia and LIO Global.
IOL / Business Report · 26 November 2025
"How powerful is your South African passport?"
Expert commentary on passport strength and investment migration.
Recognition
Awards and recognition
Corporate LiveWire Global Awards 2022/23
Citizenship Consultancy of the Year
South Africa Prestige Awards 2023/24
Immigration Consultancy of the Year
Acquisition International
Top Investment Specialist of the Year 2024
Global Business Award 2025
Most Outstanding Boutique Investment Planning Company (South Africa)
Residency-Through-Investment Specialists of the Year — South Africa
(Awarding body not yet confirmed)
Best Property Investment Firm of the Year 2024/25
(Awarding body not yet confirmed)
Book a private consultation with Nadia
A first conversation with Nadia is private, scoped to your situation, and held under engagement letter. She will bring the programme set; bring the question.
Book a Consultation with Nadia