Record-breaking National AGM 2019 for BALI
On Thursday 12 September the team at BALI Landscape House were joined by over 50 BALI Registered members at the BALI National AGM 2019. A record number of attendees travelled to BALI’s office, located on the beautiful Stoneleigh Park estate, to cast important votes to help shape the future of their Association.
With Designers, Contractors and Affiliates in attendance the event was a success, with all voting matters, including an annual rise in membership fees, passed unanimously by those in the room. A significant moment during the morning session was the election of four new BALI Board Directors; Tessa Stuart Johnstone of Registered Contractor Johnstone Landscapes, Matt Nokes of Registered Contractor Ground Control, Registered Designer Tony Woods MBALI of Registered Contractor Garden Club London and Ricky Whiteman of Registered Group Gavin Jones. They were joined by Paul Downer of Registered Contractor Oak View Landscapes and Clive Ivil of Registered Contractor idverde, both of whom were re-elected. With such a strong and passionate Board of Directors taking the Association forward, the future is looking incredibly bright for BALI and its members.
Several questions were raised by members to the BALI Board of Directors, chaired by National Chairman Matt O’Conner of Registered Contractor John O’Conner Grounds Maintenance, including what BALI is doing to ensure that high standards are upheld within the grounds maintenance industry in the UK. The BALI Board leading the AGM, including Chief Executive Wayne Grills, responded by promoting BALI’s Dispute Resolution Service as a means for commercial clients and local authorities to access should the need arise if using a BALI member to undertake their maintenance contracts. This peace of mind is also a benchmark for members to adhere to when carrying out the work to an expected high standard, or, available for members to lodge complaints against other members.
Following the formal AGM, four presentations were given, including a 12-month update on BALI by Chief Executive Wayne Grills and three guest speakers; Stuart Foster, Chief Executive of RECOUP, Shaun Herdsman, Retail and Industry Division Manager at Modiform and Jason Reeves MCIEEM, Head of Policy and Communications at Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM) who all focused on environment; specifically plastic use in the landscape industry and Biodiversity Net Gain.
BALI members can now download a copy of two of the presentations, RECOUP and Modiform, under the documents tab on this article page. To access, members must be logged in to the BALI website. If you are not a member of BALI and would like to make an enquiry about joining please click here. If members would like more information on Biodiversity Net Gain, which was the third presentation by the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management, please visit their website here.