Last night, the BAME Planners Network had the privilege of hosting our first in-person event in celebration of East and Southeast Asian Heritage Month. This special evening brought together planning professionals from all backgrounds to celebrate diversity, exchange insights, and learn from one another.
We were delighted to have industry leaders @Wei Yang, @May Lam and @Michael Chang take the stage, and generously share their professional journeys and personal reflections.
In his opening remarks, steering group member Ransford Stewart expressed his pride in the profession’s evolution, "Forty years ago, I couldn't have imagined being in a room with planners from such diverse backgrounds. The profession has changed—and that speed of change is only accelerating."
During the panel discussion, the speakers shared their early inspirations and paths to planning, reflecting on how their cultural heritage has shaped their careers and approaches to planning.
Dr Wei Yang, who grew up in a diverse neighbourhood in Beijing, embraced diversity from a young age. She shared how Buddism’s concept of compassion has influenced her to care about other people’s lives and help others. Unafraid of challenges, she founded her own company rather than joining as a partner at her previous firm and advocated for modernising the planning system with technology. As the first Asian president of RTPI and the first female and Asian Chair of the Construction Industry Council, she noted she never felt discriminated against for being an Asian. With humour, she reflected on her early days navigating the UK workplace culture, particularly the after-work socials at pubs. She did not participate as she did not understand the customs initially, but it did not hinder her promotion.
May Hope, Head of Strategic Planning and Design of Enfield Council, spoke about how her Chinese heritage has shaped her approach to inclusive planning and generational living. As the second generation of migrants growing up in the 90s, she recounted how her mother’s experience of being attacked on the street led her to think about how urban design could improve street safety, sparking her interest in geography and planning. May encouraged planners to seek diverse experiences and “say yes” to opportunities even outside their initial area of interest, believing that passion in one’s work does shine through.
As a Programme Manager in Planning and Health at Department of Health and Social Care, Michael Chang has been an advocate for integrating public health into spatial planning. Raised in Taiwan and New Zealand, Michael Chang began his career as a volunteer with TCPA, where he later worked for 11 years. He reflected on how being an Asian has affected his perfectionist approach to work and commitment to going the extra mile. He encouraged planners to explore the third sector as a fulfilling career path, highlighting its often-overlooked potential alongside the public and private sectors.
The evening ended on a high note with networking over drinks and canapés, where attendees from all walks of life exchanged stimulating ideas and celebrated the power of diversity within the planning community.
A heartfelt thank you to all who attended, and to Prior + Partners for their generous sponsorship. We look forward to continuing to build bridges and create spaces for meaningful connections in the planning profession. Stay tuned for more exciting events!
The event photos can be downloaded directly here.
At our recent September event celebrating East and Southeast Asian Heritage Month, May Lam, Michael Chang and David Nip shared how their cultural and ethnic heritage has influenced their work in urban planning alongside with the changes they would like to see in the planning profession. We are excited to share their inspiring interviews with you. Watch the video and take a moment to reflect on how your own heritage has shaped your planning career.
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