Your vote in the Members’ Council elections counts

03 December 2020 Royal Floraholland Kandidaten Ledenraad 2020

Members’ Council elections are being held from 1 to 10 December 2020, with the Nomination Committee putting forward seven candidates for this. How have they been selected, in what way does this committee ensure its diligence and independence?

We talk to Neil Hellings, member of the Nomination Committee and Managing Director of Oserian.

Members apply as candidates for the Members' Council. What happens next?

"We then enter the application procedure. Application interviews are always conducted by two members of the Nomination committee. We discuss the candidates' motivation, and the extent to which someone is willing and able to collaborate. This is essential for a new Council member. We also discuss what knowledge and skills the applicant can contribute. That way, we know in advance which committee within the Members' Council this person would suit. We furthermore gauge whether someone understands the bigger picture: whether he or she appreciates the opportunities and challenges facing Royal FloraHolland and the floriculture industry as a whole.

How does the Nomination Committee see to it that all applicants are assessed equally?

"Candidates are assessed using a template. Every member of the Nomination committee uses the same template. We enter scores into this, as well as documenting all stages of the process. Just like the interviews between candidates and the Nomination Committee. In principle, these documents can only be viewed by the applicants and the Nomination Committee. The procedure can always be checked, should any queries arise."

The Members' Council should be a proper reflection of the Royal FloraHolland membership. Is that the case?

"So far, there have always been plenty of good applicants for vacancies in the Members' Council. Usually more candidates than places available. We select candidates suitable for the vacancies based on application interviews. We then taken aspects such as type of business, location, company size and crop type into consideration. A Members' Council made up of only cut-flower growers is undesirable. Neither is a council primarily with members from North Holland. The balance has to be good, and tie in with our cooperative. That of course also applies to the Nomination Committee itself."

The Members' Council election is around the corner. What would you like to say to members?

"Whatever you do, vote. The world has changed considerably, and corona has only intensified that. We're facing challenges, yet there are also opportunities. With your vote, you're shaping our cooperative's future."

You can cast your vote for the seven new Members' Council candidates and the five members eligible for reappointment from 1 December to 10 December at 7 am. You do so digitally with the voting slip you received by email. The results will be announced on Thursday 10 December. That will occur during the Member Meeting at 2 pm during the Cooperative Day.

Who's on the Nomination Committee?

Joyce Lansbergen of LG Flowers in Pijnacker
Jan Mantel of VOF Mantel in Grootebroek (also Members' Council member)
Tom van der Houwen of HouwenPlant in 's Gravenzande
Eva van Etten of Company J. van Etten in Rotterdam (also Members' Council member)
Neil Hellings of Oserian in Naivasha, Kenya