Guest speaker: Iris Tam, 17 September 2020

Iris is a veteran urban planner who has served in the forefront of Hong Kong’s urban development for over 30 years.

Iris started her career in the Hong Kong Government, and founded a planning consulting firm, City Planning Consultants Ltd., which she ran for 15 years till she joined Urban Renewal Authority in 2006 as its Executive Director.

Iris was the Managing Director of the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) from 2013 to 2015. Under her leadership, the URA implemented the 2011 Urban Renewal Strategy with a “People First, District-Based and Public Participatory” approach. She led the development and implementation of URA’s new public engagement and policy initiatives, including the District Urban Renewal Forum (a bottom-up urban renewal platform), Flat-for-Flat Scheme (an additional option on top of cash compensation for flat owner-occupiers), and Demand-Led Redevelopment Scheme (a choice for owners to come together to apply for URA assistance in redevelopment).

Dedicated to public service, Iris has contributed to the city’s sustainable development on many Statutory Boards and Advisory Committees. She is Justice of the Peace and currently a Member of the Subsidized Housing Committee of the Hong Kong Housing Authority, and the Steering Group on the Modification of Recycling and Refuse Collection Facilities in Public Places convened by the Environment Bureau. From 2009 to 2015, she was Member of the Council for Sustainable Development. She was President of the Hong Kong Institute of Planners in 1995-1997.