Ming Zhang, a Chinese National, is Global Director for the Urban, Resilience and Land Global Practice (GPURL) at the World Bank starting July 2024. In this position, he leads the Bank’s global efforts on sustainable urban development, disaster risk management, and land under the Infrastructure Vice Presidency. He is responsible for spearheading global knowledge programs, fostering innovative thought leadership, and ensuring client impact and global partnership in these sectors which together represent around $36 billion of the Bank’s investment portfolio.
Mr. Zhang joined the World Bank in 1997. Prior to his current position, he served as the Practice Manager for Urban, Resilience and Land in three different regions (South Asia, Latin America and Caribbean, and East Asia and Pacific) where he oversaw the formulation and implementation of knowledge and financing programs. His earlier career positions at the World Bank included roles as team lead on urban development, infrastructure, and local government.
Mr. Zhang holds a PhD in City and Regional Planning and an M.A. in Economics, both from the University of California, Berkeley, USA. He also holds a B.A. in Geography from East China Normal University, Shanghai, China.