CV Write-up of Er. Lau Joo Ming
Senior Advisor
Housing & Development Board
Bachelor of Engineering (University of Singapore), Master of Science
(University of Singapore)
Er. Lau Joo Ming is HDB’s Senior Advisor, providing technical advice to the HDB
Building Research Institute (BRI) and the Building Group. In this role, he helps drive the
development of a strategic plan for HDB BRI, to spearhead R&D works to tackle future
challenges in building green and sustainable homes. Er Lau passionately placed paramount
importance in enriching HDB’s core competencies. He guides the building up of expertise
among HDB’s young building professionals. He is also an adjunct professor in the Nanyang
Technological University (NTU), encouraging the younger generations of engineers to come up
with innovations that would be beneficial to all.
In his professional fraternity, Er. Lau is a Registered Professional Engineer, a Chartered
Engineer (UK) as well as an Accredited Checker. He is currently the President of the
Professional Engineers Board (PEB) leading a 15-member Board, Fellow of the Institute of
Engineers (Singapore), Fellow of the Institute of Civil Engineers (UK) and Fellow of the Institute
of Structural Engineers (UK).
Er. Lau was the Managing Director of the HDB Building Research Institute from 2009 till
2012. He steered the formulation of a holistic framework to guide HDB’s sustainable
development efforts in new and existing towns. Prior to this appointment, he was the Deputy
CEO of the HDB Building Group. He was one of the key officers in HDB’s story of Housing a
Nation, which saw the completion of 1 million flats over 50 years, with 82% of Singaporeans
living in HDB flats, and more than 90% of them owning their flats. Er. Lau spearheaded
sustainability for the future through redevelopment initiatives such as Remaking our Heartland,
Home Improvement Program, Neighbourhood Renewal Program, Lift Upgrading Program and
Selective En-bloc Redevelopment Scheme.
Er. Lau is always mindful that while working on specifics and details, it is important to
have the broad picture in mind so that innovative solutions can be optimized. In the journey of
innovation, there will be successes and failures. Er Lau took calculated risk in implementing the
solutions. It is due to this persistence and perseverance that Er Lau played a key role in the
structural engineering, development and implementation of prefabrication and precast
technologies that leads to the overall success of Singapore’s public housing programme. As a
result, HDB’s construction site labour productivity is about 3 times higher than the private
sector’s and its building structures are safe and sound.
He continues to play active role in shaping Singapore infrastructure planning
development as a member of Development Projects Advisory Panel set up by MOF as part of
Whole of Government initiative to enhance the assessment and management of mega
development projects (typically exceeding $500m in value or complex in nature).
In 2004, Er. Lau was specially appointed by the Minister of Manpower to be one of the
assessors of the Committee of Inquiry formed to look into the incident at the MRT circle line
worksite that led to the collapse of the Nicoll Highway on 20 April 2004. The Committee's final
report provided the blue-print to strengthen the entire safety system for the construction industry,
leading HDB’s safety achievement to a world class standard.
Er. Lau had also played an instrumental role in spearheading some of HDB’s key iconic
projects. These projects are
a) The Pinnacle@Duxton, the iconic 50-storey public housing development, which was
awarded the 2010 Best Tall Building Asia & Australasia by the Council on Tall Buildings
and Urban Habitat.
b) HDB’s first eco-friendly public housing project Treelodge@Punggol, which has also won
several international recognition such as FuturArc Green Leadership Award 2011
'Residential Architecture - Multiple Houses' and 2012 CAPAM International Innovations
Awards.
c) My Waterway@Punggol, Singapore’s longest man-made waterway, which has garnered
numerous awards such as ASEAN Outstanding Engineering Achievement Award 2012,
gold winner for FIABCI Prix d’Excellence Awards 2013 - Public Infrastructures/Amenities
Category.
On a personal front, in recognition of his significant contributions, he had been conferred
many awards and the following are some of the key awards.
a) Awarded the Public Administration Medal (Bronze), (Silver) and (Silver)(Bar) by
Government of Singapore in 1983, 1993 and 2011 respectively,
b) Star Award in 1999 by PSB for significant contribution in the Singapore National
Standardisation Programme
c) Standards Council Merit Award in 2000 by PSB for substantial contribution towards the
development of standards and promotion of standardisation programme in Singapore
d) Received Derrington Award in 2001 for technical excellence in prefabrication for Public
Housing Upgrading.
e) Conferred the NUS Engineering Faculty’s Distinguished Engineering Alumnus Award
(2003) for his contribution to engineering development in Singapore
f) Awarded the Asean Federation Engineering Organisations (AFEO) Honorary Fellowship
Award in 2010
In line with his belief in sharing his knowledge with the industry, Er. Lau has published
several books, which include ‘Blueprints for Successful Public Housing Development' and ‘The
Green Housing Book- HDB’s approach to Sustainable Development’. The first book documents
a complete picture for the entire building life cycle performance. The second book is a collation
of HDB's green efforts, experience and knowledge in designing environmentally sustainable
developments.