Steve Gwenin, GVI's charismatic Chief Executive, first joined the company some 12 years ago as a Marine Biologist and Expedition Manager in Mexico and rapidly progressed. For over 10 years, he was responsible for setting up and directing all of GVI's ground operations across the globe, including over 350 sustainable development projects and the management of over 3000 volunteers and staff per annum. For the past two years, he has held the position of Director of Operations where a primary focus has been to establish partnerships with organisations such as schools, universities, booking partners and business corporations.

Now Chief Executive at GVI, Steve aims to further build upon the company's excellent reputation as a leading, worldwide operator of critical sustainable development projects. Working with his excellent teams in 13 countries from South America to the Far East, Steve's objective is to increase awareness and recognition of GVI's position as the best volunteering organisation in the world without question, thus allowing GVI to expand the scope and impact of its community development and environmental conservation work.

Steve has dedicated his life to conservation and community development, and to working with volunteers. With a background in marine biology and natural resource management, he has worked in remote environments and with the poorest communities in Latin America, Africa, Europe, Asia and Australasia. He is a certified Commercial Diver, Dive Instructor, First Aid Instructor Trainer, Off Site Safety Manager and Child Protection Officer, and was once also a pilot (he got his pilot's licence before his driving licence!) and a surf lifeguard! He is incredibly passionate about sustainable development projects and, with his extensive hands on experience in the field, is considered one of the foremost figures in the responsible volunteering industry.

Equally at home in the rainforests of Costa Rica, the townships of South Africa or the coral reefs of the Pacific Ocean, Steve is a much liked and admired, mission driven individual with a vast experience of managing sustainable development projects in far flung corners of the globe.

GVI currently operates over 350 development projects around the world, supporting local NGOs and government organisations, such as South African National Parks, Kenyan Wildlife Service and Save the Children. The projects focus upon cultural understanding, direct impact and empowerment of local communities and alumni.

For more information on GVI and the team, visit www.gvi.co.uk.

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For further PR information on GVI please contact Nicole Lovett or Jess Heslop at Grifco PR on 0207 385 7090 or email Nicole@grifcopr.com or Jess@grifcopr.com

Notes to Editors:

- Global Vision International (GVI) was formed in 1997 to provide support and services to international charities, NGO's and governmental agencies. Through our international network of over 150 personnel in 13 countries, GVI continues to support many critical conservation and humanitarian projects around the globe.

- GVI is a non-political, non-religious organisation, which through its alliance with aid-reliant organisations throughout the world provides opportunities to volunteers to fill a critical void in the fields of environmental research, conservation, education and community development. To date over 20,000 volunteers have joined projects resulting in the direct financial support of over £20,000,000 / US $32,000,000