The Supervisory Board of the Port of Rotterdam Authority has reconstituted itself and appointed two new members, Thecla Bodewes and Jacqueline Prins.
Thecla Bodewes and Jacqueline Prins were appointed to the Port of Rotterdam Authority’s Supervisory Board with effect from December 15. Miriam Maes is stepping down after two terms as Chair of the Supervisory Board. Koos Timmermans takes over the role of Chairman from Maes. Wouter van Benten is appointed Deputy Chairman[ds_preview].
Thecla Bodewes leads shipyard in seventh generation
Thecla Bodewes is the seventh generation to run her shipbuilding company and has been at the helm of the Thecla Bodewes Shipyards Group since 1998. The family business, which includes four shipyards, specializes in the construction and maintenance of various types of seagoing and inland vessels. The company actively contributes to making shipping more sustainable by developing solutions in the areas of methanol, hydrogen and electric shipbuilding, according to a statement.
In addition to her role as CEO, Thecla Bodewes holds various non-executive positions in the maritime sector, including at the Royal Dutch Lifeboat Company and Allseas. Since 2021, she has also been at the helm of Top Sector Water & Maritime. In this role, she is also actively involved in the industry’s sustainability agenda. Bodewes is also Chair of the Supervisory Board of Scania Production Netherlands and Honorary Consul of the Republic of Paraguay.
Prins deals with socio-economic issues
Jacqueline Prins is currently Managing Director/Secretary of the Economic and Social Council. In this capacity, she deals with policy development on socio-economic issues, external relations at political and administrative level, as well as with the civil service and social partners. During her career, she has gained extensive political-administrative experience in various ministries in (deputy) management positions, including in the ministries of Infrastructure & Water Management and Economic Affairs and Climate relevant to the port, namely in the areas of emancipation, telecommunications and aviation.
Prins also holds several non-executive positions in the public-private sector with societal challenges. For example, she is a director of the holding company of the shareholders of the drinking water company Evides and a member of the Supervisory Board of the Netherlands Aerospace Center. Prins is also chairwoman of the supervisory board of the Teaching Money Foundation in the Netherlands.
Port of Rotterdam Authority in transition phase
Chairwoman Miriam Maes on the changes: “We are delighted to welcome Thecla Bodewes and Jacqueline Prins as members of the Supervisory Board of the Port of Rotterdam Authority. We are in the middle of a transition phase that will lead us to a digital and climate-neutral port. Her in-depth knowledge and experience in the nautical-maritime sector and in administration are of great value in this challenging task. Her arrival will further strengthen the Supervisory Board’s expertise in the areas of technology, innovation, sustainability and an affinity for social issues such as diversity and inclusion.”
Miriam Maes has been a member of the Supervisory Board since January 1, 2016 and its Chairwoman since 2018. Her departure is linked to the end of the usual eight-year period. Maes will be replaced by Koos Timmermans. Timmermans has been a member of the Supervisory Board since 2021 and Deputy Chairman since December 2022. Wouter van Benten will now take over this role. Van Benten has been a member of the Supervisory Board since 2018 and is also Chairman of the Remuneration Committee.
With the departure of Maes and the arrival of Bodewes and Prins, the Supervisory Board of the Port of Rotterdam Authority once again has five members. The appointment of a member of the Supervisory Board of the Port of Rotterdam Authority is made by the shareholders at the proposal of the Supervisory Board and is valid for a term of four years.
