Young Mayor Competition 2025. Judges Lists

Junior category (11th April) 

Andy Goh

Andy Goh is a seasoned design and development professional with over 24 years of experience across Southeast Asia, bringing Singapore’s standards of excellence to diverse markets. Formerly CEO of Emerging Markets at ONG&ONG, one of Singapore’s largest architecture and engineering firms, he successfully established offices in Myanmar, Thailand, and Cambodia, building strong partnerships with developers across the region. In 2019, he founded White Matter Design Studio, a multidisciplinary practice with offices in Singapore, Taiwan, Cambodia, and Vietnam, and also launched Landform Development Consultancy, a think-tank focused on creating market-relevant, sustainable development strategies. His latest venture, r+, is a pioneering Singapore-grown hospitality concept that integrates agriculture, property, and technology (Agro-Prop-Tech) to create modular, community-integrated resorts. With its first site in Kampot, Cambodia, r+ reflects Andy’s vision of scalable, mobile, and sustainable living that blends modern innovation with traditional wisdom to benefit both guests and local communities. whitematter landformconsult rplus Linkedin

Ang Kian Nam

Ang Kian Nam, founder of AKN Architects since October 1998, has extensive experience in architecture, urban planning, and sustainability. A lifelong cyclist, he has integrated cycling into daily life—from commuting to transporting goods—and actively advocates for active mobility in Singapore. He has volunteered with the Land Transport Authority, contributed to cycling-related conferences, and led the planning and design of cycling infrastructure as part of his consultancy work. His efforts aim to address urban sustainability challenges, and he remains committed to promoting cycling as a key strategy for sustainable living in a highly urbanized society. Linkedin

Tom Smahon Ho Way On

Tom Smahon Ho Way On is a seasoned lecturer in economics and business models at the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS), bringing over 30 years of combined academic and industry experience in corporate banking, treasury, and applied economics to his students. A strong advocate for sustainability—both environmental and social—Tom is the developer of one of Singapore’s earliest AI-driven “Super Marker” systems, enabling instant marking and feedback for major international exams such as the Cambridge A-Levels, IB, IGCSE, IELTS, and India’s CBSE. His work promotes teacher work-life balance, reduces carbon footprints in schools, and expands educational access through scalable, feedback-driven learning models, particularly in remote areas across Asia. He also lectures regionally on sustainable business strategies and is currently focused on sustainable education and medical models aimed at reducing national healthcare costs and income inequality through scalable pricing and delivery innovations. Linkedin

Koh Wei Kiang

Koh Wei Kiang  is a Senior Principal Architectural Associate at Surbana Jurong Consultants, with prior experience at CPG Consultants. With over 17 years of experience, he has been involved in a wide range of urban design, planning, and architectural projects across Singapore, Vietnam, China, Kazakhstan, and Malaysia. He is particularly interested in projects that integrate urban planning with transport and traffic systems and values the opportunity to follow a project through from the conceptual planning stage to final implementation and completion. Linkedin Facebook

Choo Meng Foo

Choo Meng Foo Choo Meng Foo is a multidisciplinary design professional, urban designer, and educator with over 30 years of experience leading projects across Asia, including in China, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, the Philippines, Pakistan, and Singapore. His career spans professional practice, education, and creative exploration, with a strong focus on the intersection of design, community, and sustainability. He is also a published author and passionate advocate for lifelong learning, often conducting seminars and workshops on photography, fine art and digital techniques. In recent years, he has ventured into the Metaverse, AI, Music and integrating technology with spatial design to envision innovative and sustainable urban futures. His work reflects a commitment to creative expression, social impact, and the continual evolution of design thinking. Writings. Currently, he dedicates much of his time to birds photography, writing under different persona, and building communities. Linkedin

Senior category (12th April) 

Karen Tham

Karen Tham is an accomplished city planner and licensed architect with international experience spanning the U.S., Hong Kong, and Singapore. She holds a Master of City Planning from MIT and a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Oregon, and is affiliated with multiple professional institutions including the California Architects Board, AICP, the Hong Kong Institute of Urban Design, and is a Fellow Member of the Singapore Institute of Planners. Karen has led the design and delivery of large-scale, multidisciplinary projects—from the Singapore Sports Hub and HDB Smart Urban Habitat Master Plan to eco-tourism destinations in Southeast Asia and the Master Plan for Dilmunia Health Island in Bahrain. Her expertise covers the full project lifecycle, from concept to implementation, with a focus on sustainability, smart city strategies, and resilient urban environments. Linkedin

Zalina Sapie

Zalina Sapie is an experienced architect, educator, and urban design specialist with over 20 years in the architecture and planning industry. A co-founder of the award-winning DO Agency, her work bridges architecture, art, and design education to foster inclusive and transformative urban experiences. She currently serves as an ICC Specialist at Nanyang Technological University and has held key roles at the Building and Construction Authority and Nanyang Polytechnic. Zalina holds a Master’s in Architecture and Urban Design from Columbia University and a Bachelor of Architecture from the National University of Singapore, with expertise in curriculum development, research, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Linkedin

Chin Kin Keong

Chin Kin Keong is a practicing architect, he has been actively involved in a range of architectural projects in both professional and personal capacities, demonstrating a consistent commitment to thoughtful, context-sensitive design. With more than three decades of experience, he continues to contribute to the built environment through selective projects that reflect his architectural vision and dedication to quality.

Pram Chandran

Pram Chandran has over 30 years of experience in the development and construction industry, Pram Chandran has built a diverse career spanning developer, contractor, and consultancy roles. He has successfully delivered Build-to-Suit (BTS) and Design & Build (D&B) development projects for clients across Singapore, the UAE, India, China, and other ASEAN countries.

Linkedin

Karthik Karkal

Karthik Karkal is a seasoned urban development expert with over 22 years of experience delivering visionary, financially viable projects across Asia. Specializing in complex, multi-stakeholder developments, he blends strategic urban planning with commercial insight to create sustainable, people-centric environments. Formerly Senior Vice President at CPG Consultants, he doubled the Urban Planning Division’s revenue in four years and has led landmark projects, including a USD 4 billion waterfront CBD in Metro Manila. He leads the launch of Urban Development Advisory, he focuses on aligning master planning with investment strategies. Karthik holds advanced degrees in Architecture and Urban Design, with certifications from INSEAD, SMU, MIT, and Harvard GSD. Linkedin

Liu Zhilin (Singapore)

Liu Zhilin Zhilin LIU holds a Master of Arts in Urban Design from the National University of Singapore and is currently an Executive Planner at Surbana Jurong Consultants. She is currently a Full Member of the Singapore Institute of Planners (SIP). Since 2019, she has been engaged in multidisciplinary projects across China, India, Sri Lanka, and Cambodia, with core expertise in industrial planning, regional planning, urban design, and sustainable development strategies. Her work reflects a strong interest in shaping future-oriented, context-sensitive solutions across diverse urban and economic landscapes. Linkedin

Mo Wenyi 

Mo Wenyigraduated with a Master of Arts in Urban Design from the National University of Singapore in 2019 and has since gained experience in planning and urban design across various scales in Asia, particularly in China, Singapore, and India. Her work spans sustainable city planning, conceptual integrated developments, new town master planning, large-scale industrial design, green building strategies, and architectural design, reflecting a comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach to shaping urban environments.. Linkedin

Vikram Kannappan

Vikram Kannappan holds a Master’s degree in Architecture from the National University of Singapore and is an avid explorer with a deep passion for how design shapes human experience and cultural connection. Having traveled to over 70 countries, he approaches life with curiosity and a desire to understand diverse ways of living. Now working in hospitality design, Vikram merges his love for immersive environments with practical user experience. His thesis explored mixed reality architecture, proposing virtual solutions to land use inefficiencies, and he continues to explore the intersection of interactive media, game design, and emerging technologies to create responsive, meaningful spaces that extend beyond the physical realm. Linkedin

Choo Meng Foo

Choo Meng Foo Choo Meng Foo is a multidisciplinary design professional, urban designer, and educator with over 30 years of experience leading projects across Asia, including in China, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, the Philippines, Pakistan, and Singapore. His career spans professional practice, education, and creative exploration, with a strong focus on the intersection of design, community, and sustainability. He is also a published author and passionate advocate for lifelong learning, often conducting seminars and workshops on photography, fine art and digital techniques. In recent years, he has ventured into the Metaverse, AI, Music and integrating technology with spatial design to envision innovative and sustainable urban futures. His work reflects a commitment to creative expression, social impact, and the continual evolution of design thinking. Writings. Currently, he dedicates much of his time to birds photography, writing under different persona, and building communities. Linkedin