Raf Jacobs is a long-term Barcelona resident. While originally from Belgium, he started his
professional life working in the start-up world in Munich in the year 2000. In 2001 he relocated to
Barcelona, where -before taking the entrepreneurial path- he first developed his career at different
tier-1 international management consulting firms, Ariba and Accenture.
Raf is the founder and CEO of INSPIRE Property Experts, a real estate buyer agent and investment
advisory firm that helps you navigate the Spanish property jungle. Opposite to Belgium or
Luxembourg, the Spanish real estate sector is very poorly regulated, which can have severe
consequences for international buyers and sellers. Raf´s team of property finders, lawyers, architects,
deal makers, mortgage specialists and even builders, helps to prevent mistakes and to get you better
deals.
Raf runs his own YouTube real estate channel. He is also a lecturer at the Real Estate
Executive Program at the University of Barcelona and is Board Member of the Spanish association
of real estate Buyer Agents. He is frequently consulted by the media and in Belgium he contributes to
the Trends-Tendance magazine for their annual special on properties in Spain. The Barcelona City
Council has appointed Raf as the go-to-property-expert for the international community in and around
Barcelona.
In his free time you will find Raf enjoying a glass of good Spanish wine, or behind his piano – or both
combined.

Christoph is from the vibrant city of Antwerp but already more than 10 years happily residing in Barcelona. He holds an Msc in Economics from Antwerp University, a Master in Corporate Finance from EHSAL Brussels, and an MBA from EADA in Barcelona.

He has more than 12 years of experience as Online Entrepreneur and Performance Marketing expert. His day to day job is the general management at ChameleonAds Affiliate Network, having generated more than 350€ Million in online sales for our clients via affiliate marketing (i.e. email marketing, social media, search, display, incent, native, video). More info can be found at www.chameleonads.eu 

Carlos Galcerán was born in Barcelona, in November 1952.

After his studies at La Salle Bonanova, he got a Degree as Telecommunications Engineer at I.T.T. La Salle University. Later, he obtained the PADE-certification (Programa de Alta Dirección de Empresas) at IESE Business School.

Carlos has known his vocation from a very young age. When he was 16, he started working at COGESA, the insurance broker firm founded by his father in 1917. Since then, he has always been active as an Insurance Broker, both on the national and international market.

Carlos is Vocal of the CCBLB Board of Directors, Head of the Intl. Business of Cogesa and Vice President of “Colegio de Mediadores de Seguros de Barcelona”.

Carl Craen was born in Belgium and raised in Switzerland, where he completed his secondary and undergraduate education while playing basketball semi-professionally.

He then moved to Barcelona, where he completed his graduate studies.
He is the Vice President and Managing Director of EU Business School, as well as the co-founder of the Club of Young Entrepreneurs of Switzerland and the founder of Xblue Digital School.

Carl lives in Barcelona with his spouse and two children.

Experienced Chief Executive Officer with a demonstrated working history in the non-profit organization management industry. Skilled in Strategic Planning, Marketing Strategy, Business Strategy, Event Management and Change Management. Strong business development professional, graduated from TIAS School for Business and Society.

Previously

– Stanford University, Executive Program in Leadership

– Harvard Business School, Strategic Perspectives in Non-Profit Management
– Vlerick Business School, VUB Master in Economic Sciences.

Bridging worlds together
Driven by my passion
Inspired by your brand

Hailing from Belgium, my path took me to Barcelona early on, where a deep love for languages and communication along with a degree in Romance Philology, set the stage for my freelance career as a multilingual voice artist, presenter, interpreter, and event organiser.

My voice delivers messages across the world for prestigious organisations such as the United Nations, Spotify, Palo Alto Networks, Oceana, Stellantis, Amazon and many more.

On camera, as digital media was rapidly expanding, I had the honor to be FC Barcelona’s first official host for the international fans, a pioneering role that allowed me to forge a lasting and valued relationship with The Club. I’ve also hosted several seasons of live recorded shows (from Monster Jam world records to Climate Change and Agriculture) on behalf of BKT Tires, an Indian multinational with its European base in Milan.

In 2023, as an integral part of my freelance ventures, I took on the role of Director at CCBLB, realising how much my experience and passion could contribute to The Chamber—and how much The Chamber could offer me in return! I find deep fulfilment in assisting our Members, fostering their success and growth, while gaining daily insights from everyone around me.
CCBLB is there for you!

ccblb@ccblb.com

Paul was born in Lier, a small medieval town in northern Belgium where Felipe el Hermoso and Juana La Loca were married in 1496. The inhabitants of Lier are nicknamed “sheep’s heads” because in the 15th century the Duke of Brabant thanked them by granting them a great favour. The inhabitants had the choice: either the establishment of a cattle market or the foundation of a university. The inhabitants chose the first offer and the university was established in Leuven in 1425, becoming the first university in Flanders. Sheep’s heads indeed …

After studying translation and interpreting, commercial and consular sciences in Antwerp, Paul worked for more than twenty years in the public administration in Flanders. As a complement to his training, he completed a Master’s Degree in Evaluation and Management of Historical and Artistic Heritage in the University of Salamanca. Paul has always promoted cultural exchanges between Belgium and Spain in his function as President of the Unión de Asociaciones Ibéricas e Iberoamericanas del Benelux for which the Spanish King awarded him in 2006 with the Cruz de la Real Orden del Mérito Civil.

Paul has been living in Catalonia since 2006 with his Catalan spouse Laia. His two great passions are languages and diplomacy, which he develops in his professional activities as a consular agent at the Belgian Consulate in Barcelona. He is the author of the publications in Spanish: “Bélgica en Barcelona. Memorias de un Consulado. 185 años de representación consular belga en Cataluña (1835-2020)” and “Crónica de un centenario. Cien años de relaciones económicas y comerciales entre Bélgica, Luxemburgo y España (1922-2022)” which recounts the centenary history of CCBLB.

Paul is collaborating with CCBLB on a voluntary basis.

Tanya was born and raised in Antwerp, Belgium. Though fond of her beautiful home country, traveling and exploring different cultures has been on her mind as from an early age.

After her language studies at KVH, Tanya first explored the financial sector, working for KBC, Van Lanschot Bankiers and Citibank. A career-switch made her dream come true: she entered the world of ‘Travel and Luxury Destinations’ at XO Private. 

After 5 years roaming the globe, Tanya became Event Manager at Touring. Together with her husband, she moved to Toulouse and then Barcelona.

A decade ago, they settled in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where she gave birth to their son. Representing several organisations over the years, Tanya has been working with Charities as well as the Belgian Embassy. Recently, the family returned from Continental Asia… to Barcelona!

Tanya thrives when she can connect people. She enjoys making you feel welcome and at-ease, especially in international contexts. If you’d ask Tanya where she feels at home, this quote says it all:

“Our homes are not defined by geography or one particular location but by memories, events, people and places that span the globe.”

Contact: events@ccblb.com