WEI YANG & PARTNERS - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• Chairman
• Co - Founder and CEO of the Digital Task Force for Planning
• Planner

Wei was President of the Royal Town Planning Institute in 2021 and holds various other board-level and advisory roles across different sectors. Wei is a co-founder and CEO of the Digital Task Force for Planning, a not-for-profit social enterprise with a mission to unlock the full potential of spatial planning in the digital era. Wei co-authored "A Digital Future for Planning - Spatial Planning Reimagined" (Batty & Yang, 2022), which outlines a blueprint for the digital transformation of spatial planning and the sector's future. Dr Wei Yang is an internationally renowned town planner and urban designer who champions a place-based, whole-systems approach to tackle the grand challenges of our time. She is an influential thought leader and a powerful advocate for climate action, nature-based solutions, health and well-being, and social equality. Wei was named a Net Zero Hero by Digital Leaders in 2022. Wei has extensive experience in leading multidisciplinary teams and implementing large-scale regeneration and low-carbon master planning projects in Britain and internationally. Her professional strength lies in combining innovative planning inspiration with feasible implementation solutions. She is also a popular keynote speaker, author, and scholar. Wei was President of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) in 2021 and an independent trustee of the Landscape Institute (LI). She champions a revival of spirit and a modernised planning profession to tackle global challenges in a systematic way and achieve collective well-being and fulfilment for all. Wei is a leading figure in researching, promoting, and implementing 21st-century garden city and green and low-carbon development approaches worldwide. She is a co-author of the bestselling book, "Humanistic Pure Land and Garden Cities" (Shi & Yang, 2021).

Job Titles:

• Managing Director
• Managing Director and Design Partner

Jun Huang is the Managing Director and Design Partner at Wei Yang & Partners. Founded in 2011, the esteemed urban planning and design firm won a Finalist Award from the Wolfson Economics Prize in 2014. As a visionary designer, Jun champions design excellence, promotes thought leadership, and advocates for an interdisciplinary approach. Trained as an architect, Jun brings extensive experience across disciplines, embracing a diverse range of projects at varying scales. His achievements have been recognised with prestigious awards for built works, innovative designs, and pioneering research. Jun acts as an expert advisor and holds advisory roles with various organizations while also lecturing in leading institutions, serving on professional juries, and publishing widely. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and an Academician of the Academy of Urbanism. Jun Huang is the Managing Director and Design Partner at Wei Yang & Partners. Founded in 2011, the esteemed urban planning and design firm won a Finalist Award from the Wolfson Economics Prize in 2014. Prior to joining WYP, he was a director at the global architecture firm Benoy, where he led significant projects across continents. Widely regarded as a visionary designer, Jun champions design excellence, promotes thought leadership, and advocates for an interdisciplinary approach. Trained as an architect, Jun brings extensive experience across disciplines, embracing a diverse range of projects at varying scales. His passion for arts and technology, coupled with his interdisciplinary approach and leadership skills, ensure that his projects seamlessly integrate beauty, sustainability, social cohesion, cultural identity, and economic viability. Jun has primarily focused on large-scale mixed-use developments, arts and culture projects, integrated master planning, and the revitalization of historic towns and villages. Notable projects include St. David's 2 in Cardiff, Earl's Court and Covent Garden in London, Baoshan Future City in Shanghai, and the 'Silicon Valley' in Beijing, among many others worldwide. In recent years, he has devoted particular attention to implementing 21st-century Garden Cities and developing digital planning methods. Jun's achievements have been recognised with prestigious awards for built works, innovative designs, and pioneering research, including the Wolfson Economic Prize Finalist Award, top honours from BCSC, ICSC, RLI, RTPI, as well as other architectural and urban design awards. In 2009 he was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and an Academician of the Academy of Urbanism. Throughout his career, Jun has actively promoted best practice and creative exchange internationally through high-level trade missions, conferences, and advisory roles. He advises both public and private sectors on business strategy, investment, and technical expertise. He supported UKTI in design export initiatives and was a core member of the UK-China Eco-Cities & Green Building Group. He contributes to organisations such as the Design Council, the Design Commission for Wales, and the Advisory Board of the Welsh School of Architecture at Cardiff University. Jun serves on professional juries for leading institutions (e.g., RIBA, and Landscape Institute) on art, design, planning, engineering, and digital technologies. He lectures in executive programmes at prestigious professional and academic institutions (e.g., Cambridge University). He publishes on a wide range of subjects, including design, culture, heritage, development, management, and sustainability.