Mr Tai Lee Siang, Honorary Advisor on the board of the Singapore Green Building Council (SGBC), has been appointed Chair of the World Green Building Council’s (WorldGBC) Board of Directors – an influential group of global leaders on green building and sustainability in the building and construction industry.
Mr Tai, a past president of the SGBC, was appointed Chair of the Board for his leadership in the green building movement and dedication to improving the sustainability of buildings, both in Singapore and at the global level. He is the first Asian Chair of the WorldGBC Board since its formation in 2002.
“I would like to congratulate Lee Siang on this very remarkable achievement, which speaks volumes about SGBC’s contribution to the global green building movement,” says Mr Chia Ngiang Hong, President of the SGBC. “Having been on SGBC’s board since our founding days, Lee Siang constantly creates new inroads and opportunities for SGBC, elevating our presence within the industry and our stakeholders. During his term as SGBC’s president (2011-2013), Lee Siang’s expertise and leadership has helped to formulate many of the policies and programmes of SGBC, many of which are flourishing today.”
As SGBC’s second president from 2011 to 2013, Mr Tai established SGBC’s Singapore Green Building Services (SGBS) certification scheme and formed strategic partnerships for the Singapore Green Building Product (SGBP) labelling scheme. These schemes have grown tremendously over the years and have helped the industry to make greener, more informed decisions regarding building design and material selection for buildings. As a prominent figure in the local green building circuit, Mr Tai also actively contributes to many green building conversations through his speaking engagements.
“As one of the leading pioneers and thought leaders for green building in the region, Lee Siang has worked closely with the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) towards putting Singapore on the global map for green buildings,” notes Dr John Keung, CEO of BCA. “His appointment as the new Chair of the WorldGBC is a strong indication of the progress we have made on this front. We certainly look forward to working closely with Lee Siang and SGBC to create a liveable and sustainable built environment for ourselves and our future generations.”
Terri Wills, CEO of the WorldGBC, said: “Lee Siang has been a true champion of sustainability, and has worked tirelessly to transform the industry and position green building as a one of the most effective solutions to climate change. It is this commitment, expertise and strong leadership that has earned him his place as the new Chair of our Board of Directors. Together with our fellow Directors, I look forward to working with Lee Siang further as we to seek to create a world in which greener buildings lead to a better quality of life for everyone, everywhere.”
Mr Tai takes over the role of Chair as the term of Mr Bruce Kerswill, the previous Chair, comes to an end. The WorldGBC Board of Directors is comprised of senior leaders from 15 Green Building Councils around the world, including India, Australia, Colombia, USA and Jordan. The Board guides the strategy of the WorldGBC and ensures that it successfully delivers on its mission. With one hundred thousand buildings and almost one billion square metres of green building space registered globally, WorldGBC works with member councils such as SGBC and other organisations to ensure that green buildings are key facets of any comprehensive sustainability strategy.
On his appointment, Mr Tai is thankful for the confidence placed in him, “I am honoured to be able to contribute towards a more sustainable global built environment. Although green building as a movement has advanced significantly in recent years, there is still much to be done and can only be done with the collective effort of the entire industry. I look forward to collaborating closer with our friends and partners to create better places for people all over the world.”
For media queries, please contact James Tan at +65 6732-5518 or james_tan@sgbc.sg.
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