UWB expands its board of directors to fourteen members

Greater expertise and stronger ties to the region, city, and industry are expected from the expanded board of directors, enhancing the university’s national and international standing. The two new members are Markéta Meissnerová, head of CzechInvest in Pilsen, and Petr Novotný, CEO of Škoda Group.

New expertise, broader experience, stronger links to diverse sectors and institutions, and fresh perspectives - these are the benefits expected from the expansion of the UWB Board of Directors in Pilsen. Since February, the board has grown from twelve to fourteen members. The university has appointed former diplomat and current head of the regional branch of CzechInvest, Markéta Meissnerová, and CEO of Škoda Group, Petr Novotný. They were officially appointed by the Minister of Education, Robert Plaga, at the end of January.

Forty-nine-year-old Markéta Meissnerová is a graduate of the Faculty of Law at UWB. During her career, she held various positions at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, serving as consul in Bonn and London, later at the consulate in Berlin, and, most recently, as Consul General in Dresden. For the past year, she has headed the regional office of the government agency CzechInvest.

A native of Pilsen, Meissnerová sees her new role on the Board of Directors of UWB in Pilsen as personally significant. “It is an honor for me to be part of this. It’s meaningful work and aligns with my life vision. I want the university to be respected and well-regarded within the university network. I believe Rector Miroslav Lávička is doing a good job by reaching out more and presenting the university to the public. We have nothing to be ashamed of,” she said. She also understands why she was chosen for the role: “It makes sense for the board to include representatives from different sectors and backgrounds. Perhaps my legal education fills a certain gap, and maybe there is a will to enrich the board with someone who sees Plzeň from a certain distance.”

As a member of the UWB Board of Directors, Markéta Meissnerová would like to draw on her international experience. “I believe I have a solid understanding of the German environment and valuable contacts, which could be an asset. However, this is not a managerial position, so I cannot directly influence what happens at the university. The board’s role is supervisory - it approves financial statements, strategic plans, property acquisitions, and major investments. That is where I think I can apply my experience with similar processes from my time at the ministry,” she explained.

The UWB Board of Directors has also been joined by fifty-two-year-old economist and senior executive Petr Novotný. He previously worked for SCANIA and, in 2023, became CEO of Škoda Group. For him as well, membership on the university’s board of directors is highly meaningful. “I was genuinely pleased. It’s a great opportunity to strengthen further the connection between our traditional Pilsen-based industrial company and the academic environment. Škoda has been linked to Pilsen for nearly 170 years, while the university represents the future. Bringing together experience and the energy of young people seems like a logical step,” Petr Novotný said.

In his new role on the university’s board of directors, Petr Novotný aims to strengthen dialogue between the university and the corporate sector. “The world of work is changing faster than ever. Technology, digitalization, and automation are fundamentally transforming the industry. I have worked in Europe, Africa, and India and have seen how differently companies, universities, and entire societies can function. Such experience opens your eyes. You realize that competition is global and that talent can come from anywhere. I want to help reinforce the university’s international dimension and be a partner who supports long-term, realistic thinking. A strong university is important not only for the region but, above all, for the young people who study here. It is their starting line,” he said, adding, “Personally, I hope to see technical education continue to develop here and for young people to see their future right here.”

The UWB board of directors reviews key strategic and property-related matters, operating under the Higher Education Act. Its members include public figures, representatives of professional chambers and employer organizations, local and state authorities, and university alums. Until now, the board had twelve members. “Expanding its composition is an opportunity to strengthen both professional diversity and the university’s connection to its environment. I am convinced that the experience of the new members will be extremely valuable for the further development of UWB,” said Rector Miroslav Lávička. Other members include the Mayor of Pilsen, Roman Zarzycký; head of the regional Labour Office, Pavla Janovská; and the Bishop of Pilsen, Tomáš Holub. The board is chaired by Václav Šimánek, director of the University Hospital in Pilsen. A complete overview of the board’s composition and organization is available here.