Event Description
The world needs to rapidly reverse the trends caused by extraction economy processes and recognize that sustainability and resilience are not enough to meet global 2030 commitments. Increasing carrying capacity and regenerating the earth is needed to achieve a future of equity and abundance while greatly reducing GHG emissions along with building resilient capacity. Project by project Architects can and must meet these challenges.
Speaker
Illya Azaroff, FAIA, AIA 2023-2025 At-Large Director, COP28 delegation lead; Founding Principal, +lab Architect
Moderator: Yew Kee Cheong, FAIA, AIA International President
Speaker Bios
image credit: A Hitzenberger
Illya Azaroff, FAIA is an Architect, Geographer and professor in practice at New York City of Technology (CUNY). He is the founding principal of +lab Architect with offices in New York and Los Angeles. The mission of +lab is to give greater voice and visibility to underserved communities around the world. He is an internationally recognized leader in disaster mitigation, resilient adaptation and regenerative design strategies. Illya is a founding director of KIGRR - Kalinago Institute for Global Resilience and Regeneration on the island of Dominica and he is honored to be named a 2023 Star of Oceana for his regenerative design work in the Pacific and Caribbean. Over the years Illya has served as a Subject Matter Expert for NGOs, governing bodies and think tanks around the world. He is part of Resilient 21, a coalition advising the white-house on resilient strategies. Recently he served as a scientific advisor contributing to the, New York State Climate Impact Assessment, New York City’s HMP - Hazard Mitigation Plan and on Designing for Natural Hazard publications with US Federal Government HUD. Prior engagements include the Rockefeller Foundation 100RC and as a Technical Advisor to HHS-ASPR-Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response informing the NDFR-National Disaster Recovery Framework. It is noteworthy that Illya is often called upon by the US Department of State, receiving delegations from around the world, exchanging sustainability and regenerative capacity building strategies. Most recently, he has been working in the Republic of Türkiye on behalf of the US following the devastating earthquakes in 2023. With the AIA he served as a COP27 delegate and leads the COP-28 team. In 2021 he served as the AIA New York State president and is currently an at-large director the AIA National Board. Prior to coming to New York, he worked in Germany, Italy, and Holland. He has worked in the field for over 30 years.
Moderator: 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 2017-2018 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.
