64 Shakespeare Road

London

SE24 0JZ

Mobile: 078 4162 1378

E-mail: ernests.strazdins [at] inbox.lv

Ernests Strazdins

Personal Profile	Professional well spoken business graduate, fluent English, Russian, and Latvian. Recently relocated to London after have gained a year experience in UK as hotel receptionist in Birmingham. Immediately available and seeking employment ideally in client interfacing environment.
Qualifications	1993–1997           University of Latvia         Riga, LV § B.B.A., Batchelor’s Degree in Business Administration
	1998–(2004)         Latvian Academy of Culture Riga, LV § Partly completed Master’s studies in Management of Arts (MA)   (3 semesters out of 5 completed)
Other Courses Attended	Alongside voluntary work in charity organisations I have attended several of courses on youth work, sexual education and HIV/AIDS, grant making and fundraising, project development, management, monitoring and evaluation, human rights, intercultural learning, youth rights and policy, advocacy. Among them:
	Sep 1998 – Dec 2000                          NGO Centre                              Riga, LV                          SAWA                             Amsterdam, NL § Long-term non-governmental organisations consultants’ training programme, including theoretical training and practical work of full project development and implementation (Project for Latvian Parenthood Planning Association – a documentary educational film for young people about sexual education and relationships produced), alongside with monitoring, consultations and evaluation for other projects.
Employment	Jul 2004 – Jun 2005         Quality Hotel Redditch, C.H.E. Group Plc.                    Birmingham, UK Receptionist § Front of House responsibilities using fluent English and Russian: greeted arriving/departing guests, handed guest enquiries and phone calls, took reservations, bar work, dealing with ad hoc problems.
	Dec 2002 – Jun 2004         Hotel “ElizaBetes Nams”                                                  Riga, LV Receptionist § Front of House tasks: dealing with arriving/departing guests, handling guests’ enquiries, managing reservations, serving breakfast, dealing with ad hoc problems including double bookings and complaints.
	Jan – Jun 2002         National Youth Council Of Latvia Riga, LV Project co-coordinator § Developed and co-ordinated a training course for youth leaders: management, organisational and communication skills § Awarded National Youth Council’s best course 2002 § Project development, fundraising, and representing NYC at local and international meetings
	Apr 2000 – Mar 2001         Latvian National Opera                                                      Riga, LV Project co-ordinator, Department of International Relations and Development § Co-ordinated an application to the Government of Japan for a cultural support grant. Succeeded in acquiring new musical instruments and lighting equipment. § Organised Annual meeting for Opera and Ballet house Directors from Nordic and Baltic States. § Ad hoc assistance to Deputy Director – International Relations and Development. § General office administrative duties including filing, scanning, mail, diary management, travel arrangements, answering telephone and preparing quotes and financial reports
	Apr 1993 – May 1998 Baltcom Plus Ltd.                                                            Riga, LV Personal Assistant to Chief Executive of telecommunication company of paging (beepers) services § Monthly financial report drafting for US investors, liaison with their permanent finance representative, ad hoc tasks at company’s secretariat Sales & Marketing, Customer Services § In sales - direct sales, cold calls, work special target audiences § Assistance to Marketing Director, ad hoc office tasks § Operator at customer service hot line
Voluntary Experience	1998 – 2005         different charities dealing with Human Rights Riga, LV, Amsterdam, NL, London, Birmingham, UK Human Rights activist on HIV & social issues § 2004/05 – volunteer of School and Youth Service of West Midlands branch of British Red Cross – lecturer on HIV/AIDS, technical editor of Spring 2005 Newsletter, volunteer on National Assembly § 2004/05 – volunteer of charity ABplus – a drop in centre for people whose lives affected by HIV/AIDS in Birmingham – technical editor of Autumn and Spring Newsletters “Hive” § 2000-2004 –member of Board (of Trustees) of charities “Latvian Support Group for People Living with HIV/AIDS – AGIHAS”, “Support Centre for All Affected by HIV/AIDS – DIA+LOGS”, “European Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS”; § participant, presenter and facilitator on different events, statutory meetings and international conferences in Latvia and Europe
	1999–2003         National Youth Council Of Latvia Riga, LV Various voluntary positions § Work on development projects, fundraising, and representation of NYC on local and international meetings and conferences; § representative of NYC at regular statutory gatherings of European Youth Forum (YFJ – pan-European platform of International Youth Organisations and National Youth Councils of European countries) and Baltic Youth Forum (platform of National Youth Councils of Baltic States);. § 2000–2002 – associated/full Member of the Board (of Trustees), responsible for international relations.
Skills	· Languages: Fluent: English, Russian, Latvian · IT and office skills – MS Office 2003 o  Word - Advanced o  Excel - Advanced o  PowerPoint - Advanced o Publisher - Intermediate o  Access - Basic o  Outlook - Intermediate o  internet, e-mail · 35 words per minute copy typing
Interests	Dance, music, travelling, youth and charity work
References	Available on request