An IMGW News Report
Lisa Chanesman, a seasoned migration law expert, has taken the helm as the inaugural Chair of the Investment Migration Council’s (IMC) Community of Practice (CoP)—a transformative initiative designed to enhance professional collaboration and knowledge-sharing within the profession.
Lisa’s journey with the IMC’s project began with an unexpected conversation. “Bruno L’ecuyer, the CEO of IMC, reached out to me about a year ago while he was in Dubai,” she recalls. “Not five minutes into our discussion, he mentioned the idea of launching a Community of Practice, and I was immediately intrigued.” As someone with extensive experience in both migration law and Community of Practice, Lisa recognised the potential of such an initiative in strengthening the investment migration sector.
Over the past year, Lisa and the IMC team have worked to lay the foundation for the CoPs, securing board approval in July 2024 and finalising the regulatory framework in November. The initiative officially launches in March 2025, marking a milestone in the IMC’s 10-year history.
𝐀 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐌𝐢𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐬
The IM Community of Practice aims to bring together professionals from across the investment migration profession, fostering collaboration and structured discussions in areas such as advocacy, digital transformation, education, events, membership standards, and regulatory affairs.
“At its core, a Community of Practice is exactly what it sounds like—a space for professionals to exchange insights, share expertise, and contribute to the evolution of our profession,” Lisa explains. “This is a dynamic and interactive initiative, not just a passive discussion forum.”
The IMC has developed a dedicated Microsoft Teams platform to facilitate discussions, document knowledge, and produce tangible outcomes. Each CoP will focus on a specific topic, with participants actively shaping the conversation and contributing to the IMC’s broader strategy of involving more professionals to be involved with shaping the future of the profession and programmes.
One area of particular interest is regulatory affairs, where IMC members will monitor and respond to developments such as the EU’s new anti-money laundering (AML) rules and the establishment of the EU AML Authority in Frankfurt. “For the first time, investment migration professionals are being recognised as obliged entities under EU AML regulations,” Lisa notes. “This is an area where CoPs can provide valuable insight to help shape IMC’s advocacy efforts.”
𝐀 𝐋𝐨𝐧𝐠-𝐓𝐞𝐫𝐦 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧
Beyond immediate objectives, Lisa sees the CoPs as a long-term investment in the profession. “Five years from now, I believe this initiative will have strengthened the IMC’s role as the leading voice for investment migration professionals,” she says. “It’s about engaging our members beyond traditional networking and creating a structured environment for thought leadership.”
The success of the CoPs will rely on the active participation of IMC members. “We’re looking for committed professionals who want to contribute their expertise and be part of shaping the future of investment migration,” Lisa emphasises.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐚𝐝 𝐀𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝: 𝐋𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭
𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑰𝑴𝑪 𝒉𝒐𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒏 𝒊𝒏𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝒘𝒆𝒃𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒓 𝒊𝒏 𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒍𝒚 𝑴𝒂𝒓𝒄𝒉 𝒕𝒐 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑪𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝑷𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒆 (𝑪𝒐𝑷) 𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒆𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒏𝒐𝒏-𝒎𝒆𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓𝒔, 𝒇𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒅 𝒃𝒚 𝒊𝒕𝒔 𝒐𝒇𝒇𝒊𝒄𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝒍𝒂𝒖𝒏𝒄𝒉 𝒐𝒏 𝟔 𝑴𝒂𝒓𝒄𝒉.
Expressions of interest for joining a CoP will be open until 31 March, with inaugural meetings planned during the IMC’s Investment Migration Forum, which will be held in Dubai from 5 to 9 May 2025.
Lisa sees this initiative as a game-changer. “I encourage members—both new and seasoned—to get involved, bring their expertise, and help shape the future of our profession,” she says. “My mantra is simple: Be the change.”
For more information on the IMC Community of Practice, visit www.investmentmigration.org/im-community-of-practice
