URA names new chairman

Goodbye Alan Chan, hello Peter Ho Hak Ean.

Former Head of Civil Service, Mr Peter Ho Hak Ean will be appointed Chairman of the URA Board from 1 April 2012.

Mr Ho, who is currently Senior Advisor to the Centre for Strategic Futures and Senior Fellow at the Civil Service College, joined the URA Board as a member on 1 Dec 2011. He is also an Adjunct Professor with the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy and the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies. Mr Ho succeeds Mr Alan Chan, who will step down on 31 March 2012 when his service term ends.

Mr Alan Chan joined the URA Board as Member on 1 Dec 2005 and was appointed Chairman on 1 April 2006.
Under his chairmanship, URA unveiled its Master Plan 2008 - a strategic plan that focuses on sustaining economic growth and enhancing the quality of life in Singapore. URA also facilitated the transformation of Marina Bay into a vibrant live-work-play district, with the completion of key developments such as the Marina Bay Sands Integrated Resort and the Marina Bay Financial Centre Phase I, as well as major infrastructures - the Common Services Tunnel, Helix Bridge and Marina Bay Waterfront Promenade.

Mr Chan was instrumental in the formulation of policies for the strategic management of URA’s financial resources as Chairman of the URA Finance and Investment Committee. He also provided substantial guidance to strengthen URA’s corporate governance.

Mr Peter Ho retired from the Singapore Administrative Service in 2010 after 34 years of distinguished public service, including 15 years as a Permanent Secretary.

At retirement, he was Head of Civil Service, concurrent with his other appointments of Permanent Secretary (Foreign Affairs), Permanent Secretary (National Security and Intelligence Coordination) and Permanent Secretary (Special Duties) in the Prime Minister’s Office. Mr Ho was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal in 2007.