Citation on the award of NZSEE Fellow, April 2025
Bo-Yao Lee is conferred Fellowship of the New Zealand Society for Earthquake Engineering for her services both to the Society and for her work in earthquake engineering professional practice in New Zealand.
With over 25 years of experience in policy development and implementation in property-related engineering, design, emergency management, insurance, and risk management, Bo-Yao has made significant contributions to the advancement of Earthquake Engineering in New Zealand. Her experience of the catastrophic Chi-Chi Earthquake has shaped Bo-Yao’s determination for a resilient community and the need for the implementation of effective seismic risk strategies. In this sense, Bo-Yao has served in various managerial and chief advisor roles within New Zealand central government agencies, shaping and implementing critical technical policies and seismic programs essential for Aotearoa’s resilience. Bo-Yao’s collaborative efforts with experts from diverse fields have influenced government policies and their execution to reduce seismic risk in central government infrastructure.
As a dedicated member of New Zealand Society for Earthquake Engineering for more than 10 years, Bo-Yao has actively participated in the Learning from Earthquakes Programme and society conferences. Bo-Yao’s leadership was pivotal in two Learning from Earthquakes missions to Taiwan, following the Meinong earthquake in 2016 and the recent Hualien earthquake in 2024, ensuring the New Zealand delegation’s successful engagement with Taiwanese authorities to maximize learnings. The success of these missions and NZSEE’s close relationship with Taiwanese counterparts wouldn’t have been possible without Bo-Yao’s selfless dedication. Bo-Yao has coauthored several LFE papers, led seminars on these findings, and worked closely with the NZ government through NZSEE to integrate these learnings into New Zealand’s practices.
Her contributions exemplify leadership, commitment, and a vision for a more resilient future for all New Zealanders. Therefore, it is an honour to acknowledge these efforts by the award of a New Zealand Society for Earthquake Engineering Fellowship.
