Jenn-Chuan Chern is the CEO of the Tang Prize Foundation. He is Professor Emeritus of Civil Engineering at National Taiwan University. He received his PhD in civil engineering from Northwestern University. He is an honorary member and Fellow of the American Concrete Institute (ACI).
Chern is Vice President and academician of the International Academy of Engineering (IAE) and a foreign academician of the Russia Academy of Engineering (RAE).
Chern has served in several important roles in the cabinet of the Executive Yuan of the ROC, Taiwan, such as Minister without Portfolio and Minister of Public Construction Commission. In recognition of his outstanding service in the cabinet, he received the First-Class Executive Yuan Award. He has also served as deputy CEO and later the CEO for the Morakot Post-Disaster Reconstruction Council of the Cabinet from 2009 to 2014. Typhoon Morakot struck Taiwan on 8 August 2009, bringing torrential rainfall that triggered flooding and landslides across central and southern Taiwan. Chern became an expert in hazard mitigation and post-disaster reconstruction. In 2015, he received the Third-Class Order of Brilliant Star with Violet Grand Cordon from the President in recognition of his exceptional contribution.
Chern is the recipient of many awards, including the Significant Contribution to 921 Chi-Chi Earthquake Reconstruction Award from the 921 Post-Disaster Recovery Commission of the Cabinet and the 921 Earthquake New Campus Movement Contribution Award from the Ministry of Education. In 2008, he received the International Contribution Award from the Japan Society of Civil Engineers (JSCE). In 2010, he was honoured with the ACECC Civil Engineering Achievement Award from the Asian Civil Engineering Coordinating Council (ACECC) for his lifetime of devotion and contributions to the field. In 2015, he received the Engineering Medal, the highest honour from the Chinese Institute of Engineers (Taiwan).
In addition, Chern plays an active role both locally and internationally in civil engineering and concrete societies. He is the past Chair of the Executive Committee of Asian Civil Engineering Coordinating Council (ACECC), Honorary President of the International Society for Social Management Systems (SSMS), past President of Taiwan Chapter of International Academy of Engineering (TCIAE) and the Vice President of the Asian Concrete Federation (ACF). He also served as President of the Chinese Institute of Engineers (CIE), a leading engineering organisation in Taiwan, and completed two terms as the President of the Chinese Institute of Civil Hydraulic Engineering (CICHE). He is the founding President of the Taiwan Concrete Institute (TCI).