PETALING JAYA: Datuk Seri Michael Yam (pic) has been appointed as the 119th president of Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) for 2022 and 2023.
Yam becomes the first Malaysian and the second Asian to be given the prestigious role at the UK-based body that was established 188 years ago.
CIOB is the world’s most influential professional body for the construction sector.
Triterra Metropolis Sdn Bhd said in a statement that Yam has been a member of CIOB since 1983 or 39 years and is renown in the property development industry.
“He has over 35 years of experience in the construction, real estate and corporate sector, not only in his home country but also in the United Kingdom, Australia and South Africa,” it said.
Yam is currently the joint chairman of Triterra and the chairman of InvestKL, a Malaysian government investment agency, as well as several investment holding companies.
In his first speech as the president at CIOB’s annual member’s forum that took place virtually, Yam spoke of his ambition to adapt sustainability in the built environment sector.
He said the “gradual reset” is needed to reach net-zero commitments, along with his belief that sustainability will be a “catalyst for greater innovation and new skills”.
“I look forward to using my time as CIOB president as a platform to help bring about change to the sustainability agenda, along with our 47,000 global members who are well placed to be hugely influential on this important matter, which will affect all our future,” he said.
The Triterra statement noted that Yam has served in top management positions at various award-winning public-listed property companies prior to his retirement.
These include Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd
, Paramount Corp Bhd and a global bank in Malaysia with headquarters in London and Hong Kong.
“With more than four decades of construction and real estate experience, Yam has always been revered by his peers and with this milestone achievement, it also serves as an inspiration to young, aspiring builders,” it said.
