Nine new members for the Members' Council 2025

Product group: Schlumbergera and seasonal: Dianthus, Calibrachoa, Argyranthemum and Checkies

Region: Westland

Who are you?
My name is Annemiek Hofland, I am 40 years old and live in Naaldwijk. I have been working at our family business since August 2016. Before that I worked at several companies as a secretary. I am an active, social and committed person and a real family man. I like to spend my free time with my boyfriend, family and friends.

Why do you want to actively contribute to our cooperative?
I would like to help build the future of our cooperative. To future-proof the cooperative for all future generations.

How can you strengthen the Members' Council?
Before becoming a grower, I worked in various industries. I saw and learned a lot there and I hope to be able to contribute this expertise and experience to the Members' Council. A nice combination together with the expertise and experience of the past years as a grower.

Product group: Gardenplants

Region: Hazerswoude-Dorp

Who are you?
Gardenplant grower from grower village Boskoop and father of 2 beautiful children. Very driven to make the best gardenplants as sustainable as possible available to all consumers in Europe.

Why do you want to actively contribute to our cooperative?
The success of the Netherlands depends heavily on a well functioning marketplace. In which a broad supply, standardization and clustering of companies makes the difference. Flora Holland fulfills that place and I want that to be maintained and further improved.

How can you strengthen the Members' Council?

I have expertise in strategic; commercial; digitisation and sustainable. I want to focus in the Members' Council on accelerating sustainability and digitisation. As long as we lead the way in this, we will remain relevant and as a collective we will be able to continue to serve customers in a progressive way, relieve the members of their concerns and facilitate their sales of flowers and plants.

Product group: Greenery Plants

Region: Bleiswijk

Who are you?
My name is Dennis Bunnik, born on August 16, 1984 in Rotterdam. Since my childhood I have been active in the family business, where I gained valuable experience. This has given me the basis for my own business, Bunnik Creations, which I have been running for 21 years now.

Since 2016, I have also become increasingly committed to Bunnik Plants, where I focus on the commercial aspect. In 2021, I formed the management board of the Bunnik Group, where I divide my time between working with the beautiful greenery and creating added value for flowers and plants. My passion for greenery continues to grow, and I am committed to ensuring both quality and innovation in everything we do.

Why do you want to contribute actively to our cooperative?
As a grower within the Royal Flora Holland cooperative, I am determined to make an active and valuable contribution to our common purposes. My experience in the flower and plant industry, both with Bunnik Creations and Bunnik Plants, allows me to bring innovative ideas and commercial strategies that contribute to the growth and sustainability of the cooperative.

How can you strengthen the Members' Council?
I am actively committed to sharing expertise and best practices with other growers so that together we are stronger in an ever-changing market. I am also committed to promoting cooperation within the cooperative.

I believe a collective approach is essential to survive in the future and maintain our image as a sustainable sector. By jointly developing sustainable initiatives and minimizing our impact on the environment, but also contributing to a better world.

Product group: Chrysanthemum

Region: Bommelerwaard

Who are you?
Jarno van Wijk 34 years old, married with 2 children. Born and raised in the Bommelerwaard and from childhood grew up between flowers and plants. As a chrysanthemum grower (+/- 5 ha.) I am a member of Decorum and focus on the top segment of Eastern Europe.

Why do you want to actively contribute to our cooperative?
I have been a member of the FPC Chrysanthemum for a number of years now and thought it was time to take a step further to see how we can be stronger grassroots auction wide. I am a heavy advocate of collective RFH, but at the bottom of the line distributing everything neatly in the base: that's how we keep the club together.

How can you strengthen the Members' Council?
With realistic thinking, being critical and giving a clear opinion, I am confident that I can strengthen the Members' Council for our Cooperative.

Product group: Flowering Plants

Region: Pijnacker

Who are you?
Lennart Lekkerkerk, 41 years old. Co-owner of JHL Group from Pijnacker. Besides growing some flowering houseplants (Potgerbera, Gloxinia, Mandervilla, Amaryllis and Poinsettia), we are at the core breeder of Potgerbera that have a place in the various markets worldwide. Within the company, which is managed by 6 brothers, I have been appointed to the position of General Manager. Hobbies I do not have time for at all, I do try to cycle well once a week to stay fit.

Why do you want to make an active contribution to our cooperative?
First of all, I have been asked many times, but it did not fit into my occupation. Now that the call was very clear, I have been persuaded to make myself available. It is also necessary that rejuvenation takes place in a timely manner, including in the Members' Council.

How can you strengthen the Members' Council?
That is not an easy question to answer. First of all, I do not know the ins and outs of the Members' Council at all, so I will have to find my way around. My expertise lies in the areas of Finance, Legal and Operations. Making a contribution in the form of holding the mirror up to the management board would be quite an achievement for me.

Product group: Chrystant

Region: Westland / Brabant

Who are you?
A down-to-earth 57-year-old man who likes to get down to business. Does not beat around the bush. Does not like favoritism and does not take people who consider themselves important because of their functions seriously.

Why do you want to make an active contribution to our cooperative?
Because that is part of a cooperative and once in a while it is necessary that you make a contribution from the field towards the organization.

How can you strengthen the Members' Council?
By being who I am and sharing vision/strategy from practice and always a little better.

Product group: Roses

Region: Kenya

Who are you?
I am Thomas Fransen, 36 years old. I come from Drenthe where I grew up on a horticultural farm in Klazienaveen. After my studies at Wageningen University I moved to Kenya 10 years ago. Since 3 years I am manager and director of Timaflor, where we grow cut roses on 160 hectares.

Why do you want to contribute actively to our cooperative?
I believe that the cooperative is essential for the floriculture sector and that a strong cooperative contributes to the success of the individual grower. Since we market our flowers 100% through the clock, I would like to contribute actively to RFH.

How can you strengthen the Members' Council?
With a young, fresh and international outlook, I would like to strengthen the Members' Council. International growth is one of RFH's spearheads, so international representation of loyal growers is a must. With 10 years of experience in floriculture in Kenya and having grown up in a true grower's family, I would like to do my part in the Members' Council.

Product group: Roses
Region: Ethiopia

Who are you?
I'm a hardworking, an open-minded and honest person who believes in teamwork.

Why do you want to actively contribute to our cooperative?
As we all know Royal FloraHolland is the only platform of marketplace for floriculture in the world so without this platform thinking expansion, modernization and sustainability of this sector is like dreaming to fly without wings. So the existence, expansion, modernization and sustainability of Royal FloraHolland has a direct relationship with the existence and sustainability of our business. This is the driving force for me to have active contribution to this cooperative.

How can you strengthen the Members' Council?
By developing a strategy that can support councillors' professional development, promote a positive learning culture, and improve members council relationships.

By reviewing members' council skills and capabilities to identify areas for improvement.

By providing context and background history on important issues and available options to help newly elected council members.

By utilizing a board management platform to enhance communication and collaboration.

Product group: Roses and summer flowers
Region: Kenya

Who are you?
I am a Certified Public Accountant (CPA -K), Certified Public Secretary (CPS -K), a holder of Bachelor of Commerce and MBA both from the University of Nairobi. I am also an executive director and shareholder of Flora Ola Limited for the last twelve (12) years. I am an experienced corporate management, financial auditor and financial expert. I have worked as a CEO of a number of institutions in the following sectors: manufacturing, financial institutions, banks and fast moving consumer goods (FMCG), which were in both public and private owned corporates. I have also served in a number of cooperate boards (more than 20 in number), both private and quoted companies in Nairobi Securities Exchange. In the past, I was able to serve in Judicial Service Commission (JSC) and Kenya Anti-corruption Commission (KACC) as a commissioner (both institutions being national public bodies).


Why do you want to actively contribute to our cooperative?
Currently, Royal FloraHolland (RFH) is going through some restructuring and reorganization, with a major focus on being more efficient. Change is a permanent thing which will help us to continue being relevant, and I believe I will be able to help; council, committees, management and members to adopt changes which must be well-thought-out by the entire team through more collective participation by all stakeholders. When members are engaged and by collecting their opinions and getting to know what they need, then RFH will be in a position to develop a solid strategy that will guide us to face future challenges.


How can you strengthen the Members' Council?
Technology in our RFH auction system is key in securing our ability to win in the future.

As a grower who is channelling more than 90 % of our products directly through the auction for the last 12 years, I will support the council in the need for enhancement of ICT services to guarantee efficiency so that we can attract and encourage more growers and buyers to sell and buy more flowers through a more robust digital clock platform.

Flower market is changing every day and this demands that we must be more efficient in the way we do our things by getting the products to reach the customer faster and more fresh as we recognize that the market keeps demanding more sustainability and things generally keep getting more digital. I will therefore strongly support the transformation of RFH systems so that it gives us an upper hand in the market and be able to attract more members who will use RFH facilities to boost revenue growth and increase demand and use of services of the cooperative.

On the side of people, I will encourage more communication, accountability and transparency in what management, committees and council are able to deliver for the growers and buyers. I will encourage extensive consultations on behalf of the council with all stakeholders (growers, buyers, employees and third parties) to allow better space for finding better and collective input and solutions.