Renowned architect, urbanist and Talking Architecture & Design guest HY William Chan has been elected to the City of Sydney Council and is thrust into a role as part of Lord Mayor Clover Moore’s independent team.
Chan assumes the role following recent council elections. He has additionally been elected to a number of leadership positions, including Chair of the Local Pedestrian, Cycling and Traffic Calming Committee and Deputy Chair of the Transport, Heritage, Environment and Planning Committee.
As well as being appointed to a number of other City of Sydney committees, Chan will serve as an executive of Climate Emergency Australia, which acts on behalf of 104 local government areas and some 9.9 million Australians intent on moving the country towards net zero.
With over a decade of design innovation experience, Chan has contributed to a slew of city defining projects across the harbour city in the realms of urban renewal, infrastructure, transport, social and affordable housing developments. His work has seen him win a number of industry awards including from the Australian Institute of Architects and Good Design Australia.
Chan says the transformation of the harbour city overseen by Clover Moore and Philip Thalis convinced him to stand for election.
“Sydney is a living example of what can be achieved with the community when both citymaking and policymaking are one,” he says.
“Our City is powering ahead with strong and visionary leadership that continues to be committed to progressive urban governance and community-led policies.”
The architect says he is motivated by the City’s record of achievement on climate policy and the team’s ability to find solutions for complex city social problems.
“With the converging crises of the pandemic, climate change, social injustice and housing unaffordability, we are at a most critical moment in time where the City’s work must further safeguard the liveability of future Sydneysiders.”
Chan will be tasked with delivering the council’s newly announced strategic plan, Sustainable Sydney 2030–2050: Continuing the Vision. The new framework builds upon over a decade’s work to create a greener, more connected, affordable and equitable city.
“Our 2050 vision for the City of Sydney is courageous and pragmatic. It’s backed by the community with extensive data analysis, particularly from the lessons learnt during Covid-19,” he says
“Global cities like Sydney have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to recover and thrive beyond the pandemic. This is guided by our strategic foresight to provide more space for people, improve active transport, increase innovation and cultural capital, invest in the night-time economy, and accelerate greening and water-sensitive urban design.”
Image: Supplied
