Event Description
Introduction and welcome to AIAISC’24, the AIA International Spring Conference 2024 from AIA International President, Yew Kee Cheong, AIA President, Kimberly Dowdell and the Conference Chairs, Steven Miller and Adam Pantelimon.
Speakers
Yew Kee Cheong, FAIA, AIA International President
Kimberly N. Dowdell, AIA, NOMAC, AIA 2024 President
Dr. Adam Pantelimon, FRIBA, Intl. Assoc. AIA, MRAIC, MCIP, RPP, OUQ, ARB (UK), CNOA (France), AIA Intl Spring Conference Co-Chair
Speaker Bios
Yew Kee Cheong is a Singaporean architect with more than 25 years of professional experience as an architect and educator, with passion in sustainable design, biophilic design and wellness. He is the 2024-2025 President of the American Institute of Architects International (AIA Intl). He was its 2020-2021 Treasurer and Y017-2018 Director for Unassigned Members.
He received his Master of Science in Sustainable Design from the University of Nottingham, UK and Master of Architecture from the University of Texas in Austin, USA. He worked in reputable firms in USA, Mexico and Singapore with projects over eight countries. Yew Kee is Founding Principal of 2B ARCHITECTS, an award-winning boutique firm. He is a licensed architect both in Texas and in Singapore.
In his first term as AIA Intl Director, Yew Kee led and organized successfully the AIA International Region Conference 2018 in Singapore. Presently, he is spearheading efforts, working with the country representatives of Singapore, Philippines, Vietnam and Malaysia, in Section formation for AIA South-East Asia. In Singapore, Yew Kee is a Council Member of the Singapore Institute of Architects and its Chair for SIA Wellness Committee and previously, Chairs for SIA Design Competition and SIA Sustainability Committee.
Yew Kee is active in bridging professional and community works. He serves on institutes council, sits on advisory committee of statutory boards, mentor students in university, speaks in public forum and acts as juror for institutes awards. In 2013, Yew Kee received the Singapore Ministry of National Development Medallion for Distinguished Service.
Kimberly N. Dowdell, AIA, NOMAC, is a licensed architect and frequent speaker on the topic of architecture, leadership, diversity, sustainability, and the future of cities. In her 2019-2020 term as national president of the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA), she worked to increase opportunities for women and people of color to gain more equitable access to the building professions. She also more than doubled the organization’s membership and significantly raised NOMA’s profile.
Kimberly’s career aspirations are rooted in her upbringing in Detroit, where she was initially driven to utilize architecture as a tool to revitalize cities. She earned her Bachelor of Architecture at Cornell University and her Master of Public Administration at Harvard University. Her professional experience has spanned architecture to government and teaching real estate development. Kimberly is currently the director of strategic relationships and a principal with HOK, a leading global design firm. She co-founded the SEED Network in 2005 and has been a LEED-accredited professional since 2007. In 2022, Kimberly was elected to the Cornell University Board of Trustees.
Kimberly’s overarching mission is to improve people’s lives, by design.
A visionary strategist and futurist, Adam Pantelimon joined the Government of Canada’s National Research Council most recently from the Government of Alberta, where he worked as a portfolio lead & director with the ministries of Health, Seniors & Housing, and Infrastructure. With Seniors & Housing, Adam held responsibility for 47,000 units valued at $7+Billions. Along with Infrastructure, he led the Capital Planning and the Facility Evaluation program of 12,000+ facilities. Currently a Technical & Policy Advisor, Adam is playing a key role in the Low Carbon Regulatory Solutions thrust of the Platform to Decarbonize the Construction Sector at Scale, and the development of the National Building Code of Canada. Moreover, Adam delivered 60+ resilient projects in commercial, mixed-use development, residential, and hotelier realms, concurrently managed nine school construction projects, led urban design, heritage, and seven Municipal Development Plans & zoning by-laws.
A Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects, a regulated member of seven professional organizations in five countries, he is the Past President of the Canadian chapter of the American Institute of Architects, and the Past Chair of the Institute of Public Administration of Canada (YEG, AB). He taught at several European universities, and served above Arctic Circle with the Government of Nunavut.
Adam has received several honors, including the 2016 Canadian Institute of Planners President’s Award in recognition of a lifetime of outstanding contribution to professional planning. He earned a six-year BArch, a two-year Post-graduate Diploma in Heritage, Master degrees in Engineering and in Urban Design/Planning, and a PhD “Cum Laude” in History of Culture.
