CHEONG Koon Hean

Cheong Koon Hean is the Chair of the Lee Kuan Yew Centre for Innovative Cities and a Professor of Practice at Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD). She concurrently serves as Chairman of the Centre for Liveable Cities Advisory Panel and Singapore’s Non-Resident Ambassador to Finland. With a career spanning over two decades in urban development, she previously held leadership roles including CEO of the Housing and Development Board (HDB) and Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), driving major initiatives in public housing, sustainability, and urban planning.

• Education: PhD in Urban Development Planning (University College London), 1st Class Honours in Architecture (University of Newcastle), and honorary Doctor of Architecture.

Her research interests focus on urban policy, sustainable urbanization, and smart city frameworks. She has contributed to global urban discourse through roles in organizations like the World Economic Forum and the International Federation of Housing and Planning. Prof Cheong’s work emphasizes integrating biophilic design and technological innovation into urban planning, as seen in projects like Marina Bay and the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco City.

• Awards: Meritorious Service Medal, Lynn S Beedle Lifetime Achievement Award, and the first Asian recipient of the Urban Land Institute Prize for Visionaries.

She advises multiple international and local entities, including CapitaLand Group, Surbana Jurong, and the National Research Foundation’s Urban Solutions panel. Her career also includes board memberships at HDB, URA, and the National University of Singapore.