Ernst has been a consultant to businesses and public institutions in Europe, Latin America, Africa and Asia for more than 25 years, working on the implementation of sustainable development strategies in various fields. From 1986 to 1996, he was managing director and delegate of the board of directors of FUNDES (Fundacion para el desarrollo sostenible), a private institution with the initiative to promote small enterprises in Latin America.

He is the co-founder of BlueOrchard and the founder and chairman of the Board of BHP – Brugger and Partners Ltd., a consulting firm specialised in developing sustainability strategies. He is also president of the Swiss Platform for Sustainable Cacao and the founding chairman of Precious Forests Foundation, which is focusing on research and innovation for protecting natural tropical forests. Furthermore he is also the president of the “tourism council Graubünden”. Additionally, he is an honorary member of the Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).