Kevin Lee
CEO, Canadian Home Builders' Association and IHA Chair
“The Canadian Home Builders’ Association (CHBA) has been a member of the International Housing Association (IHA) since its inception, and I became CHBA’s representative when I joined CHBA as CEO in 2013. The value of the IHA became evident immediately at my first IHA meeting, as we engaged with key international players like the International Monetary Fund, and worked with other country representatives from around the world in open dialogue about challenges facing our domestic industries and solutions that could be gleaned from across the globe. Testimony to the value that CHBA has found in the IHA is best exemplified by the fact that I gladly accepted the nomination to be Chair of the IHA in 2016. As we work together to address issues from housing affordability, social housing, cost-effective energy efficiency, counterfeit products, NIMBYism and more, the collaboration with my international colleagues has brought great value back to Canada for CHBA. As chair I am pleased to be working with my colleagues on the priority issues of most importance to all our member countries.”
Tsutomo (Tom) Ito
Japan International Association for the Industry of Urban Development, Building and Housing (JUBH)
I am Tom Ito, Secretary of International Affairs of the Japan International Association for the Industry of Urban Development, Building and Housing (JUBH). I am honored to serve as the first International Housing Association (IHA) Chair from the Asia market. 
My organization, JUBH, was formed in 2018. Our mission is to foster healthy relationships in the building and housing industry globally, and to promote friendship and goodwill between other countries and Japan. We do this by promoting professional exchanges of information and sharing best practices. In my experience, the IHA mirrors these same priorities.
I joined IHA in 2018. I have had the opportunity to participate in a number of meetings, sharing Japan’s industry successes as well as exploring alternative techniques which may be of value to the Japanese residential construction industry. I have also had the opportunity to contribute to IHA Working Groups, including the Skilled Trades Working Group and our newest Working Group addressing Industry 4.0. I have reported on Japan’s efforts to engage women in the building trades and how Japan has implemented technologies designed to further the industry through technology.
Throughout my term, I hope to actively focus on IHA’s mission of advancing Housing Affordability while effectively addressing the major environmental issues facing the world. I look forward to sharing the progress Japan is making by utilizing housing technologies. Additionally, I will work to leverage the resources available to and from all IHA members, inclusive of the National Association of Home Builders.