- Rector, NUS College
- Non-Resident Ambassador of Singapore to Finland
- Chairman, Centre for Liveable Cities Advisory Panel, Ministry of National Development
- Chairman, Lee Kuan Yew Centre for Innovative Cities, Singapore University of Technology and Design
- Professor of Practice, Singapore University of Technology and Design
- Tan Swan Beng Endowed Professor, Nanyang Technological University
- Board member, CapitaLand and Surbana Jurong Pte Ltd
A globally recognised urban planner and architect, Professor Cheong is instrumental in shaping Singapore’s urban form across multiple decades, from strategic land use and heritage conservation to sustainable public housing and smart‑town innovation.
- Professor Cheong was the first woman to head URA. As its CEO from 2004 to 2010, she focused on strategic planning, heritage conservation and city‑scale design uplift, and was instrumental in the development of the Marina Bay, Jurong East and Paya Lebar areas, among others.
- She went on to lead the Housing & Development Board (HDB) as its CEO (2010—2020), where she oversaw the development and management of over 1 million public housing flats. Under her leadership, HDB implemented sustainable and biophilic smart‑town planning, as well as policies that enabled access to affordable housing for the vast majority of Singaporeans, especially vulnerable groups. During her tenure, Professor Cheong also launched the HDB’s Roadmap for Better Living.
- From 2001 to 2016, Professor Cheong was also the Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of National Development, where she oversaw urban development, public housing and real estate policies on a national level.
Professor Cheong continues to shape international discourse on city development, urban governance and policy innovation.
- She heads the Centre for Liveable Cities and the Lee Kuan Yew Centre for Innovative Cities, platforms for research and discourse on critical issues related to cities and urbanisation. As a member of the NUS Board of Trustees for 12 years and now the Rector of NUS College, Professor Cheong bridges academia with public policy through her extensive experience in public service. Professor Cheong has also served on the advisory committees of the former NUS School of Design and Engineering, and NUS Faculty of Engineering.
- Professor Cheong also advances global urban sustainability through her many advisory and leadership roles with institutes such as the International Federation of Housing and Planning, the Urban Land Institute, and the World Economic Forum’s Real Estate and Urbanisation Council. She has served on several international expert panels advising on governance, planning and sustainability, and oversaw the master planning of the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco City in China.
- Urban Land Institute Prize for Visionaries in Urban Development (2016)
- CTBUH Lynn S. Beedle Lifetime Achievement Award (2016)
- Honouree, Singapore Women's Hall of Fame (2014)
- International Women's Forum's "Women Who Make a Difference" Award (2011)
- Meritorious Service Medal (2010)
- Public Administration Medal Gold (2005) and Silver (1997), National Day Awards
- BSc, BArch, DArch honoris causa (University of Newcastle), University Gold Medalist, Colombo Plan Scholar
- MSc (University College London)