Meiny Prins

Devoting herself to promoting business sustainability and the international development of greenhouse horticulture, Meiny Prins, CEO of Priva BV, is a sought-after authority in her field and is considered by the Dutch government a leading voice on sustainability issues. Her clear, inspirational message on sustainability bridges the divide between companies, governments, and the private sector. A family-owned business, of which she has been general manager since 2007, Priva BV is a world leader in climate-control hardware, software, and services for horticulture and buildings. Priva BV is active in more than 100 countries through a network of partners (installation companies).

Prins directly applied the results of her thesis, which was on the cultural structural barriers to innovation in a family-owned company, to her own business. This gave her “a feel for what was happening in the company for the first time in [her] life,” she said. Prins’s work is a shining example of how business excellence can make a positive impact on society and future generations. In her own words, “Sustainability is not only a label, it’s our existence.”

In 2009, Priva BV received the first Cleantech Star to be awarded by the World Wildlife Fund, and Prins was recognized as the Veuve Cliquot Business Woman of the Year. In 2012, she was also deemed “Powerwoman” of Dutch horticulture. Prins devotes herself to promoting business sustainability and the international development of sustainable solutions in horticultural business and the built environment. She is a much sought-after authority in this field. With her clear, inspirational message on sustainability, Prins bridges the divide between companies, governments, and the private sector.

Prins is member of the Dutch Trade & Investment Board and member of ""Comité voor Ondernemerschap & Financiering."" In 2014 she started the ""Sustainable Urban Delta"" initiative. Next to that she was co-initiator of quite some developments related to the Greenport. Because of all these involvements, she is in regular contact with policymakers and ministers in The Netherlands.