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Through strategic change, HR innovation, and purpose-driven youth development, URA is building an organisation equipped to meet the future needs of urban renewal.
This article is brought to you by Urban Renewal Authority.
As Hong Kong’s statutory body for urban renewal, Urban Renewal Authority (URA) is transforming more than just the city’s physical landscape – it is also reimagining how HR can drive strategic impact, foster innovation, and build a future-ready workforce.
URA’s multiple accolades at the recent HR Excellence Awards (HREA) underscore its leadership in change management, HR innovation, and next-generation talent development.
“Receiving these awards is a welcome affirmation of our strategic direction. It validates the organisation’s focus on cultivating an environment where our people can thrive and contribute effectively to our public mission,” says Patricia Yeung, Director, Human Resources, Urban Renewal Authority (pictured below).
“This recognition is a credit to the collective effort and professionalism of our teams across the Authority, who are instrumental in driving our work forward. It reinforces our employer brand, which is essential for attracting and retaining the right talent to serve the community.”
Driving change through innovation
Guided by its “people first, district-based, public participatory” approach, URA’s HR strategy centres on three key areas: empowering employees through change, leveraging technology for efficiency, and cultivating future talent through immersive development.
In URA’s largest business unit, the Building Rehabilitation Division, HR expertise was embedded to co-lead a strategic transformation involving a large workforce. By focusing on process streamlining, job redesign, and large-scale workflow digitalisation, URA enhanced operational efficiency, strengthened workforce agility, and aligned its people with long-term urban renewal and social impact goals.
But change at URA is not just structural – it’s cultural. Understanding that transformation can be disruptive, URA prioritised psychological safety and engagement. Through proactive communication, sentiment tracking, and targeted programmes to reward early adopters, the HR team ensured employees felt heard, supported, and empowered throughout the journey.
Nurturing the next generation
A core part of URA’s HR vision is the cultivation of skilled, innovative, and dedicated professionals to tackle ongoing urban development challenges. To attract and engage Gen Z talent, URA reimagined its internship recruitment process with the 'Optimise Digital Requisition with GenAI' project. Using 'Kotter's 8-Step Change Model', the initiative ensured stakeholder buy-in and smooth implementation across divisions. By integrating Generative AI for CV screening and video interviews, URA streamlined operations, reduced bias, and improved candidate fit while maintaining transparency and fairness.
These innovations support URA’s summer internship programme, 'Ignite Your Passion for Urban Renewal – Unleash Your Potential', which offers Gen Z interns immersive, real-world experiences. From participating in a freezing survey and supporting townhall meetings to engaging in professional development and presenting ESG proposals to the management, the programme connects young talent with URA’s mission to build a better Hong Kong.
Leadership at the helm
At the heart of URA’s HR success is strong leadership support. By championing a culture of openness, trust, and continuous improvement, URA’s management empower HR to adopt new technologies, implement forward-thinking policies, and respond proactively to workforce needs. Through authentic communication and recognition, leadership builds a supportive environment where people feel valued and motivated to perform at their best.
This is exemplified by Yeung herself – who earned silver in the HR Leader of the Year category at the HREA. Under her leadership, URA’s HR has evolved from a process-driven function into a strategic powerhouse.
Looking ahead, URA remains focused on three strategic priorities for sustaining HR excellence: developing organisational capabilities, enhancing productivity through technology, and deepening employee engagement.
“Our forward focus is on embedding these capabilities to build a resilient and agile organisation. The goal is not simply to respond to the future of work, but to ensure URA is well-positioned to meet its long-term objectives for the city,” affirms Yeung.
Photos / Urban Renewal Authority
Read more interviews on why organisations have won trophies for their HR practices – head over to our Behind the Win section!
Want to be part of the celebration next year? If you’re ready to showcase your achievements and join the ranks of our winners, we’d love to hear from you! Reach out to Gloria Yam to learn how you can enter the awards and stand a chance to win.
Are you a respected industry leader? We’re also inviting senior HR professionals to join our esteemed panel of judges. If you’re passionate about recognising excellence and shaping the future of the industry, contact Selina Kwok to explore judging opportunities.
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