Oliver M. Gruber-Lavin Ochoa

Oliver M. Gruber-Lavin Ochoa, FRSA MBCS (born 24 September 1963) is an Austrian senior expert instructor, councillor, author and ex-servicemen.

Early life

After attending Piarist Order Grammar School and earning his higher education entrance qualification, he studied political science and communication studies at the University of Vienna.

In his student days, he became a member of the student fraternity KÖML Corps Victoria.

Military service

Gruber-Lavin served 1985-1994 as a regular soldier in the Austrian Armed Forces. His service includes a tour of duty during Gulf War I to Syria (1990/91) as logistic officer with UNDOF, supplying a.o. “Hermon Hotel”, the highest permanently manned United Nations position (2.814 m).

Political career

1993 Gruber-Lavin was appointed Chief Organization Officer of the Austrian Liberal Party (Liberales Forum) in Vienna, and served 1994-2000 as Parliamentarian Assistant and Consultant in the Austrian Parliament. 1996 he was elected councillor to the District Council Josefstadt where he was the Liberal Forum leader and was re-elected 2001 and 2005. For the Viennese state parliament elections 2001 he was top candidate in his constituency. For several years he was chairman of the district Cultural Commission. He served there for 15 years.

Professional Experience

Gruber-Lavin collected expert knowledge in the public and private sector as IT- and office trainer. He has comprehensive teaching experience as a lecturer in Vocational Training Institutes and was awarded the professional Membership of the British Computer Society (BCS) and is personally certified (ISO/IEC 17024).

As a member of the Austrian Journalists Club he collected profound journalistic experience as a photojournalist, amongst others during the revolution in Rumania or the war in the former Yugoslavia and as radio presenter for several years. Extensive study travels to South East Asia, Africa, the Middle East and the Balkan followed. Some of his essays and political texts were published 2011. (see published work)

2004 he started to work as a consultant and member of the management committee for Austrian and German mining companies in East Africa (Uganda & Ruanda) and the DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo).

Since 2013 Gruber-Lavin acts as a senior expert instructor in an institution of adult education in Vienna. .

Charity & Philanthropy

Gruber-Lavin has a long record of activities in the field of international humanitarian relief assistance and other welfare activities. Starting with supporting the Druze minority in the Syrian/Lebanese border area during his UN-Mission or operating humanitarian aid transports (with CARE) in the early 90s to Mostar (Bosnia), a bloody siege at that time during the Bosnian war, up to support charities while his work in Africa, like sponsoring Orphanages.

Gruber-Lavin supported numerously social associations and action groups as councillor in Vienna .

As member of the Association of Austrian Peacekeepers he supports the interests of UN Veterans.

2011 Gruber-Lavin, joined the Corps Saint Lazarus International (CSLI) which has Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).Currently he serves as an Officer on staff duty assigned to the UCIC (Union Commander in Chief) and CSLI Group Liaison Officer. 2012 he published the book "Lazarus 2012 - Ein Kompendium" about the history of Lazarus organisations and the social impact today.

He is Member of the Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem (HOLJ) and the Order of Saint Joachim. For the HOLJ Grandpriory of Austria, a partner of United Nations Global Compact, he acts as delegate to the UN network.

Awards and Honours

Aged 17 Gruber-Lavin received 1980 the "Der Große Österreichische Jugendpreis, Art, Literature and Music" for photographic work.

For his distinguished army service he was awarded the:

2013 Gruber-Lavin was awarded the professional Membership of the British Computer Society (MBCS), and elected a Fellow of the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce. (FRSA) in 2014.

Memberships

• The Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA)
• British Computer Society (BCS)
• Austrian Journalist Club
• Cambridge University Heraldic and Genealogical Society
• Association of Austrian Peacekeeper

Published works

• „Lazarus 2012 – Ein Kompendium“, Norderstedt Paperback/eBook, 2012, ISBN 978-3-8482-2151-6
• „Erinnerungen ans Millennium“, Norderstedt, Paperback/eBook, 2011, ISBN 978-3-8423-7532-1

External links

• Works by or about Oliver M. Gruber-Lavin in the catalogue of the German National Library
• personal webpage
• The Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA)
• British Computer Society
• LAZARUS UNION – Union Corps Saint Lazarus International
• Österreichischer Journalistenclub