Leadership and Governance
Leadership
Director of Outdoor Programming - Jero Mangku Ketut Mudiada (Chairman of BDS’s parent Yayasan, Guru Gede Budha)I Ketut Mudiada (Mr Mudi) is the chairman of the Bali chapter of the Indonesian Mountain Guide Association (APGI) (2019 - 2022, 2022 - 2025). Pak Mudi currently sits on the Board of the Secretariat of the APGI Bali. Pak Mudi is Chairman of the Mount Agung Tourist Guide Communication Forum, member of the local council of Desa Dukuh, a priest and Balinese Healer.
Pak Mudi has over 30 years of experience as a mountain guide. Pak Mudi introduces tourists to Bali's natural wonders as a way of ensuring that tourists understand and respect Bali's natural environment as the provider of life in Bali.
Pak Mudi is a volunteer emergency responder for Karangasem, providing medical and safety assistance in all types of natural and man-made situations, e.g. from earthquake and eruption evacuations, to injuries sustained on camping trips.
Pak Mudi has created BDS Adventure High, as a commitment to the preservation of Bali's nature and cultural heritage for generations to come.
Director of Culture - I Wayan Arsa
Pak Wayan Arsa (Mr Arsa) is a local government leader, director of cultural activities, and award-winning provider of cultural tourism services in Bakas Village, Klungkung. He is an active member of regional community organizations and village development. Pak Arsa was a member of the Bakas Village Consultative Body (BPD) from 2012 to 2024. He currently holds the position of Head of the Bakas Village BPD and the Head of the Klungkung Regency BPD Forkom for the 2024-2032 period.
Pak Arsa holds leadership positions in both administrative and cultural local and regional government bodies. From 2017-2021, Pak Arsa served as Head of the Bakas Tourism Village Pokdarwis. He currently serves as the Deputy Chair of the Bakas Tourism Village Management Agency (2021-2026). He is Secretary General of the Klungkung Regency Rafting Federation (2023-2027) and the Bakas Traditional Village Collection (2021-2026).
Pak Arsa is committed to preserving and promoting Bali’s and Klungkung’s cultural heritage. He understands deeply the connection between culture, tradition, social justice and environmental conservation, and supports and participates in programs that focus on the intersection of these priorities. His success in these areas has earned him several awards, including the Sakinah Family Award from the Ministry of Religion of Bali Province (2019), a Certificate of Competence from the National Professional Certification Agency (2022), an Award from the Regent of Klungkung at the Balinese Language Speech Competition (2024), and the 2024 Bali Swacitta Nugraha Award from BRIDA Bali Province in the field of Tourism Technology.
Directors of Academics: - Drs Daniel and Lisa Papania
Daniel and Lisa Papania combined have over 40 years of co-ordinating and leading hands-on, experiential education programs. They are passionate environmental and social justice advocates, who see loving and learning in nature as key to protecting it for future generations.
Governance
Bali Dharmada School is governed by the Guru Gede Budha Foundation that focuses on educational programs designed around protecting and promoting Bali’s intrinsically sustainable way of life, and whose programs focus on Bali’s cultural heritage and philosophies of harmony with the natural environment as an example for sustainable living for the rest of the world. Guru Gede Budha Foundation’s board is committed to ensuring that Bali Dharmada School stays dedicated to teaching students to understand their impact and to ensuring that this impact is always positive. Guru Gede Budha Foundation recognizes that culture and the natural environment are interconnected and mutually-dependent. Through Bali Dharmada School, Guru Gede Budha prepares students to respect and support their communities everywhere, in order to make a better world wherever students might go.