Le-Yin Zhang is a Professor of Urban Economic Development at the Development Planning Unit (DPU), University College London (UCL).

She holds a BSc in Geography from the Beijing Normal University and a PhD in Planning Studies from the Bartlett School of Built Environment, University College London.

Before joining UCL in 1997, Le-Yin had previously worked on a full-time basis for the Zhejiang Institute of Education, Constance University, and the University of Greenwich.

She is an economist specialized in economic development and the management of cities. She directed and co-directed the MSc in Urban Economic Development (and its predecessor) for 23 years at UCL. She is the author of “Managing the City Economy: Challenges and Strategies in Developing Countries” (Routledge, 2015) and “Conducting and Financing Low-carbon Transitions in China: A Governmentality Perspective” (Edward Elgar, 2021). She is a co-editor of “Finance for City Leaders Handbook” (UN-Habitat, 2016).

She was a co-lead for Habitat III Policy Unit 7 (Urban Economic Development Strategies) (2015-2016). She has worked with several international organizations and national and local authorities as a consultant.