BDC Magazine - Online version December 2015 Issue - 216 | Page 55

BALI.qxp_feature 2 20/10/2015 13:13 Page 53

The
Outdoor
Room
David Dodd has been elected by BALI’s
membership to the association’s Board
of Directors.

B

ALI’s membership has elected David Dodd,

courses. He is passionate about bringing young people into

owner of multi-award winning landscape

the industry and promoting landscaping as a profession and

contractor The Outdoor Room, to the associ-

serious career choice with real prospects for those with the

ation’s Board of Directors. The vote took

right attitude, aptitude and skills.

on

David has always played an active role in promoting BALI and

Wednesday, 9th September, and included proxy votes from

place

at

BALI’s

National

AGM

has served as both a regional committee member and Chairman

those eligible members who were unable to attend.

of BALI’s South Thames Region. Joining the board will enable

The Outdoor Room, which David founded in 1995, has

him to work with board colleagues to push forward the associa-

been a BALI Registered Contractor since 2004 and has won

tion’s strategic plan, particularly in campaigns targeted at schools

numerous BALI National Landscape Awards in addition to

and colleges to help address the marked skills gap in the industry.

a host of RHS medals. Every year the company builds some

Speaking about David’s appointment to the board,

of the most prestigious show gardens at the RHS Chelsea,

BALI’s National Chairman Bob Field said: “David is a

Hampton Court and Tatton Park Flower Shows and David

colourful character with a wealth of practical and technical

has worked tirelessly to get recognition for the expertise of

expertise. He’s also a great communicator who is very well

the contractors who build show gardens when the media

known and respected across the industry. I am particularly

focus has been almost entirely on the gardens’ designers.

excited about the potential for the association’s schools and

David, who started his career as an apprentice gardener,

colleges outreach programme now that David has joined the

attended Merrist Wood College in Surrey where he obtained

board. Working alongside board director Nigel Bowcock,

the

David will be an enormous asset in getting this initiative off

National

Diploma

in

Landscape

Design

and

Construction; he still lectures at the college on landscape

to a tremendous start.”