CEO of Housing Development Board
receives Australian Honorary Degree

The Australian High Commission, Singapore, congratulates Mrs Cheong-Chua Koon Hean, CEO of Singapore’s Housing Development Board, on the conferment of an Honorary Degree from the University of Newcastle.

Mrs Cheong-Chua, a former graduate of the University, received her Honorary Doctorate in Architecture at a graduation ceremony today. She was also the recipient of the University’s 2010 Convocation Medal for Professional Excellence earlier this year.

The Australian High Commissioner to Singapore, HE Mr Doug Chester said, “I would like to extend my warmest congratulations to Mrs Cheong-Chua on this very special occasion. As an influential and prominent leader in her field, Mrs Cheong-Chua has contributed significantly to the development of Singapore into a world class city. She has also contributed to the strong ties between Singapore and Australia, and is an inspiration to many.”

Mrs Cheong-Chua attended the University on Newcastle as a Colombo Plan Scholar, and graduated in 1981 with a Bachelor of Architecture (University Medal). Before her appointment as CEO of Singapore’s Housing Development Board in August 2010, she was the CEO of the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) and was the first woman to hold the role.

During her time with the URA, she distinguished herself as a global leader by spearheading key development projects such as Marina Bay, and led place management efforts in downtown areas such as Singapore River and Orchard Road.