Ernst Van Der Poll Email and Phone Number

Owner /Founder of ConnectOcean, Place based Marine Education & Professional Career Development Consultant –August 2012-PresentConsultation and Industry Experience Includes but not limited to:• Education – place based, Environment, Heritage culture & Identity• Media – Social Media, Community Journalism, Article & Essay Publications, Television and documentaries.• Non Profit – NGO Advisory services, NGO concept and business Planning, Fund Raising, Keynote speaking engagements with NGO’s • Environmental Consultancy – People centered Ecological problem solving, sustainable development, natural resource management • Corporate Social Responsibility – Stakeholder engagement, program development, project planning and delivery• Event Services – Youth Development Events, Higher Education collaboration events, Edutainment events, Stakeholder engagement workshops, Corporate Team building• Adaptive Training and Disabled Diver Training – currently working at establishing Costa Rica’s first Disabled Diver program working with the ICT to promote Costa Rica as a Disabled Diver destination for Adaptive groups.

Prepare, reconcile, and process monthly statements for accounts associated with Dive BVI at Scrub Island Resort & Marina operationsRead, respond, and follow reservation policies for emails and inquiries associated with Scrub Island and any locations or pickups for Dive BVI customers Implement programs including but not limited to: sales, instruction, diving, and community events that are sponsored or developed by Dive BVIAssist and coordinate with Retail Manager for monthly inventory checks, creating purchase orders based on the set minimums associated with retail and instructional itemsMaintain location issued log for scheduled and/or repair maintenance for tanks, bcds, regulators, consoles, computers, snorkel equipment, wetsuits, and all other customer use items regarding diving and snorkeling or watersports.

Responsibilities include marketing and planning strategies, budgets, forecasts, social media enterprises, and product and curriculum development.Cultivate an environmental awareness and interest within the youth of the U.A.E, in preserving the aquatic environment and its resources. Deliver environmental education, sustainable lifestyle and responsible consumption workshops mobilizing the local community and youth to participate in environmental conservation locally and internationally.To promote corporate support for local schools engaging in environmental projects.Strengthening corporate commitment to the conservation of the aquatic environment.To foster a collaborative spirit across cultures in raising awareness on the fragile nature of aquatic life and to set common conservation goals.To apply techniques that preserve underwater life and cultural heritage.To support research on environmentally sound approaches to interactions with the aquatic life on a recreational or commercial level.Establish a week without walls program for GEMS Schools where children take a week to complete an Openwater Course while attending Environmental and Marine Conservation workshops, engaging them in conservation and community.

Responsibilities include marketing and planning strategies, budgets, forecasts.Responsible for Operational staff of 12 Instructional staff, 2 dive boats and one live aboard charter.Responsible for the implementation and managing of all duties related to customer service, safety and emergency action plans, course scheduling, staff duty rosters, annual budgets, health and safety, staff appraisals and marketing campaigns.Initiated and implemented a business model to franchise dive operations to other Jumeirah locations around the world. Currently working on achieving ISO standards for Dive centre, making it the first dive centre in the Middle East to achieve this rating.Conceive and implement creative and strategic business solutions to drive revenue.Project Manager of the U.A.E's first Traditional Pearl Diving Tourist Experience being developed as a strategic partnership between Jumeirah and EMEG.Gold status Course Director with over 245 Instructor Certifications, Able to teach 20 Instructor Specialties.EFR and DAN Instructor Trainer. Project Manager of the U.A.E. only adopt a reef project that trains schools and universities in Reef surveying and conservation methods from grassroots to commercial level through the Tawasul Marine Education Initiative.

Part of management team that was awarded the ISO 9002 certification, only waterpark in the world to attain this.Responsibility include management of a 180 staff, time keeping and scheduling, strategic marketing, budgets and forecasts