18 minute read
Chair’s Welcome DEAR MEMBERS
By the time of publication, I will have completed my year as National Chair of BALI.
It has been an eventful 12 months. January was a wake-up call with a rather startling and unexpected admission to hospital with Encephalitis. I am now on the road to recovery, but I need to do more of what I have never been good at - live my life at a slower pace!
I have thoroughly enjoyed holding this position - I see it as one of the pinnacles of the industry. I am never happier than when working with fellow industry members and making change for the better
If I can leave school with few qualifications, join a YTS scheme in 1983 and become National Chair of the industry’s most relevant trade association, then I urge you all to consider what you can achieve within such an open and welcoming industry. It has been a privilege to be a member of the Board for the last 9 years, and during this time the Association has made huge advancements. When I joined, an item on the Board agenda was whether we should use the services of Trustmark. I now feel, because we have grown in every way possible, that Trustmark should be using our services! The support we provide to members, innovation levels, leadership and standards recognition are exemplary, and we should all continue to celebrate these.
Ever since my first Midlands regional meeting back in the 1980’s, I could see how by meeting and being friends with peers within the industry is one of the only sane things to do. When managers, landscape architects, employees, main contractors, clients, ground conditions and the weather all have input into your daily happiness, it is always great to meet people who are experiencing the same madness and still enjoying it - we are a unique bunch!
Most of those kindred spirits I have met remain my friends today, and just that fact alone justifies the fees I have paid over the years to be a member of the Association.
I thank Tessa, Wayne, the Board, and the staff at Landscape House for standing in for me during my illness and recovery. Looking back to when we started in our positions, GoLandscape, the BALI Academy, equality, diversity and inclusion, mental health awareness, and communication topics were our top priorities and with our members’ help, we can achieve even greater things.
I also thank the Board and BALI for supporting me with my challenge of speaking publicly. The relief of being able to stand on stage at the 2022 National Landscape Awards was immeasurable and again, made me realise what can be achieved with support. We all need it at times.
I believe my most rewarding achievement was starting the GoLandscape initiative back in 2016. One of the biggest frustrations in the industry at the time was that so few people were joining the industry compared to previous generations, but little was being done to address it. Against all strategies and agendas, true innovation prevailed and GoLandscape was born. I would never have known or guessed that seven years later we would have over 70 Ambassadors attending schools, colleges and career events to showcase our great industry to those who might fit. I know GoLandscape will go from strength to strength, and I am excited to see more people being able to enter the industry from this initiative.
Finally, thank you to all BALI members - it has been a memorable year. This Association exists to support you, and vice versa, so please get involved either nationally or regionally. Giving back is the new self-help!
Take care,
