About Us
Our Mission
Expatraders connects expatriates living in Southern Spain with trusted, local service providers. Seekers can find professionals for any job, from home repairs to personal training, while providers can browse and apply for open jobs. We make it easy to match by language so you can brief, negotiate, and agree in a language you share—including many local professionals who speak your languages. Clear communication supports trust. We work to ensure quality service and peace of mind for everyone.
Our Vision
To become the go-to platform for expats in Southern Spain, fostering a trusted community where seekers find trusted providers, providers find work, and everyone connects seamlessly.
Our Team
Award-winning founders with proven track records in security and business.
Expatraders is built to help you find jobs and providers who speak your languages, so instructions, quotes, and expectations stay clear—that social ease supports trust.
Extended profiles and photos are on our private Team Hub: Team Hub (login required)
TeamHub investor background (pitch deck): View pitch deck
Founding team — award-winning innovation and security experts behind our products and platforms.
James Paill
Co-Founder & CEO
Experienced Founder and Owner with a demonstrated history of working in the management consulting industry. Born Product Owner with expertise spanning business strategy, full stack development, cryptography, cybersecurity, and blockchain technologies.
- Management Consulting & Business Planning — Proven track record in strategic consulting and organizational development
- Full Stack Development & Product Ownership — Technical expertise combined with product vision and execution
- Cryptography, Cybersecurity & Blockchain — Deep knowledge in security technologies and emerging blockchain solutions
- Venture Capital & Entrepreneurship — Strong entrepreneurship professional with experience in fundraising and investor relations
- Sales, Marketing & Organizational Development — Comprehensive business skills from strategy to execution
Chris Drake
Co-Founder & CTO
35+ years in the security industry—critical for platform security and trust.
- Multiple patents including mutual authentication security systems (US20170346851, US 8,176,332, US 6,006,328)
- Winner of Pitch at Palace (HRH Prince Andrew), TLV Startup Challenge, and Australian Technologies Competition
- Microsoft Ventures Accelerator graduate (beat 1300+ applicants including from Australia and China)
- CryptoPhoto.com founder — proven entrepreneurial experience in security solutions
- Extensive security expertise — ideal for building a trusted collaboration platform
Senior Team Members
Greg Macpherson
Chief Security Officer
CISSP certified cybersecurity professional with deep expertise in enterprise security, risk management, and compliance frameworks.
- CISSP Certified — Certified Information Systems Security Professional
- Cybersecurity expertise — Deep knowledge in information security and risk management
- Enterprise security experience — Proven track record in securing large-scale systems
- Compliance and governance — Expertise in security frameworks and regulatory requirements
Jess Kitchen
Chief Network & Systems Engineer
Network Architecture & Management expert with deep expertise in Linux kernel development, system integration, and performance optimization. Skilled in implementing robust security measures and creating scalable solutions.
- Network Architecture & Management — Extensive experience designing, implementing, and managing complex network infrastructures
- Linux Kernel Development — Deep expertise in customizing and optimizing Linux kernels
- System Integration — Skilled in integrating diverse systems and technologies
- Security Implementation — Robust security measures at scale
- Performance Optimization — Continuous monitoring and optimization
Steve Dunn
Chief Data Officer
Data Analytics & Business Intelligence expert with extensive experience in data engineering, client demand forecasting, and enterprise data management at Barclays.
- Data Analytics & Business Intelligence — Extensive experience in data engineering and analytics
- Barclays Experience — Senior role in data analytics and business intelligence
- Client Demand Forecasting & Profiling — Predictive analytics and resource planning
- Data Strategy & Operations — Proven track record in enterprise data management
Advisory Board Members
Nigel Oaks
Behavioural Thought Leader & Defence Scientist (FRI)
Advisory board member; behavioural thought leader and defence scientist supporting Expatraders on strategy and trust.
LinkedInGareth Miles
UX Specialist & Advisory Board Member
UX specialist on the advisory board, based in Wales. He advises on clear user journeys, accessible flows, and consistent patterns across Expatraders’ multilingual experience—so seekers and providers understand each step, coordinate in a shared language more easily, and build trust through usable design.
LinkedInThe advisory network also includes former executives from Google, Facebook, Tesco, and Barclays Group.
Proven Track Record
Prestigious competition wins
Chris has won multiple prestigious competitions including Pitch at Palace (HRH Prince Andrew), TLV Startup Challenge, and Australian Technologies Competition.
Complete Security Expertise
35+ years combined experience with multiple patents and CISSP certification—from authentication to enterprise security to compliance.
Enterprise-Ready
Deep understanding of enterprise security requirements, compliance frameworks, and risk management—critical for building a trusted collaboration platform.
Why we'll win
- Proven track record: Chris has won multiple prestigious competitions and built successful security companies.
- Deep security expertise: 35+ years combined experience with multiple patents and CISSP certification.
- Award-winning execution: Microsoft Ventures, Pitch at Palace, and national competition wins.
- Strong network: Established relationships in security, innovation, and startup communities.
- Technical credibility: Patents, security expertise, and certifications build trust with enterprise clients.
- Complete coverage: From authentication (Chris) to enterprise security (Greg) to business strategy (James) to data analytics (Steve).
Our Values
Trust
We verify service providers for quality and reliability, and we surface the languages they use so you can choose people you can talk to with ease—understanding each other builds confidence.
Community
Building connections within the expat community in Southern Spain
Quality
We maintain high standards for all service providers on our platform
Transparency
Clear pricing, honest reviews, and transparent communication
