What is your favorite travel memory?
Some of my fondest memories are of first days in a new country, not knowing anyone or anything, hardly speaking the language. Using countless hand signals and smiles to find your lodgings, the best place to eat, and the out of the way amazing non touristy places that you must visit. Building your network, meeting future life long friends, or even just connecting with that unlikely local who steers you down the more adventurous paths.
How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?
Having many focuses and specialities in the past working in my current role has allowed me to hone and combine these skillsets. Coming from a technology/diving/management background working at GVI has given me access to some brilliant scientists and biologists. Supporting my team with statistics, datasets not to mention the field work, has rekindled my passions for the environment and what we can do help out.
What is the best story you've heard from a return student?
We have a student who initially spent a turbulent 4 weeks with us back in January come join our program again in September. One day after her dive she ran up to me and said “this was the best experience ever - thank you for having me back”. When I got to hear more about her dive she told me she had a close encounter with a whale shark. And for those who have had the experience of diving with these gentle giants would know how magical they are. She was overwhelmed with emotions for the rest of her day.
If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?
Being a diver it would have to be one of our dive hubs which to me would have to be Fiji. I love the vibrant soft corals and reef systems which we don't get here, the wonderful people and not to mention the amazing food. Having grown up just next door and visiting many times as a child it would be an unforgettable experience to see again.
What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?
The passion and dedication never ceases to amaze me. While GVI has bases all around the world and have wildly varying specialities and focuses the staff all share the strongest desire to help. Having regular catch ups with other program managers to hear their successes and challenges really bring us together.
What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?
Communication and trust. Open communication with your team is vital to a successful project, this is double so in field where you live and work together in remote and basic environments. I trust my team implicitly and I know that I can be away from base and my science team will keep the high standards we required for our data collection and my dive team will maintain the equipment and provide a safe and enjoyable environment for our participants.