BIO

Mr. Shaveen Silva is an Urban and Regional Planning professional, Real Estate Specialist, and Academic with over nine years of experience spanning urban planning, real estate development, development control, spatial policy, valuation, and strategic planning. His career integrates professional practice, academic scholarship, and policy engagement, allowing him to connect research, industry, and public-sector decision-making.

He currently serves as a Lecturer in the Department of Estate Management and Valuation at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka, where he is engaged in teaching, research, academic supervision, curriculum development, and industry collaboration. His academic work focuses on advancing knowledge and professional practice in urban planning, real estate, land management, and sustainable development.

Prior to joining academia, Mr. Silva held planning positions at the Urban Development Authority of Sri Lanka, where he contributed to the formulation and implementation of national, regional, and local planning initiatives, development policies, regulatory frameworks, and strategic urban development programmes. Throughout his professional career, he has been involved in a wide range of multidisciplinary planning, real estate, infrastructure, tourism, and urban regeneration initiatives, working closely with government agencies, international development partners, private-sector investors, and professional stakeholders.

His expertise encompasses urban and regional planning, real estate development, land-use planning, development appraisal, planning governance, policy analysis, development control, feasibility assessment, spatial analytics, and sustainable urban transformation. He has also played a leading role in planning innovation, institutional development, process improvement, digital transformation, and capacity-building initiatives within the planning sector.

Mr. Silva holds a First-Class Honours Degree in Real Estate Management and Valuation from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura and is currently reading for a Master of Science in Spatial Planning, Design and Management at the University of Moratuwa. His research interests include planning systems and governance, urban complexity, development regulation, density-based planning approaches, real estate-led urbanisation, spatial economic development, and sustainable city development.

Through his combined experience in academia, public policy, and professional practice, Mr. Silva actively contributes to consultancy, research, training, and advisory assignments related to urban planning, real estate, land management, development policy, and sustainable urban development. He is committed to supporting evidence-based decision-making and delivering innovative solutions to complex urban and development challenges in rapidly evolving socio-economic environments.