He was previously Professor of Architecture in the Department of Architecture, School of Design, at the National University of Singapore (NUS)Associate Professor and Associate Dean of the Faculty of Architecture at the University of Hong Kong (HKU). He is also Honorary Professor at Hong Kong University, Tongji University, Southeast University and the Guangzhou University, China.

He is Coordinator of the International Council of Building Innovation & Construction (Rotterdam) CIB Task Group: Mega-cities, a member of two Hong Kong Government Appeal Panels for Architects and Noise Control Ordinance, and Vice Chair of both the China Green Building Council Hong Kong Chapter and the China Green Building Council Macau Chapter.

Stephen Siu Yu Lau obtained a Master of Architecture from the Bartlett School of Architecture, University College, London University in 1980.

He worked previously with the London multi-disciplinary practice of Robert Matthew Johnson Marshall & Partners (London, Singapore and Hong Kong), and the Hong Kong multi-disciplinary practice of N G Chun Man, Dennis L A U and Associates.