Ms Ho Wing-yin, Winnie, JP
Secretary for Housing
Housing Bureau
The Government of the HKSAR
Ms Ho is appointed the Secretary for Housing on 1 July 2022. Ms Ho joined the Government as Architect in 1992 and was promoted to Chief Architect in 2009, and to Government Architect in 2012. She was appointed the Director of Architectural Services in 2020. Apart from serving in the Architectural Services Department, Ms Ho had been posted to work as the Deputy Head of Energizing Kowloon East Office under the Development Bureau. During the out-break of COVID-19 in 2020 to 2022, she has actively participated in the construction of quarantine facilities, temporary hospitals and community isolation facilities at Penny’s Bay, Kai Tak and many other locations by adoption of Modular Integrated Construction method.
Ms Ho graduated from the Faculty of Architecture of The University of Hong Kong. She also attended the Advanced Management Program of INSEAD in France. She is a fellow of the Hong Kong Institute of Architects, a Registered Architect, a fellow of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers, an honorary member of the Hong Kong Institute of Urban Design, an honorary fellow of the Hong Kong Institute of Project Management and an honorary fellow of the Hong Kong Institute of Building Information Modelling.
GUEST OF HONOUR
Opening Speech
Dr Rosana Wong, MH
Founder, Prosit Philosophiae Foundation
Rosana leads Yau Lee Group’s integrated business sectors, focusing on strategic planning with an emphasis on sustainability and corporate responsibility. With over 20 years of entrepreneurial experience, she manages corporate business development and oversees construction projects in Hong Kong while driving expansion into regional and overseas markets. Her commitment to sustainability is evident in initiatives like full lifecycle management, Virtual Design & Construction, and the integration of AI & Robotics, which enhance efficiency and promote environmental stewardship. Under her leadership, Yau Lee Group has become a globally recognized green corporation committed to sustainable construction practices.
Passionate about technology and innovation, Rosana founded Ophylla Ventures in 2016 to support startups in realizing smart city visions. She is devoted to creating resilient urban environments and addressing climate change challenges.
Rosana serves as Vice President of the Smart City Consortium, Chair of the Smart Living Committee, and Deputy Director of the China Green Building (Hong Kong) Council. She is involved in various committees within the Construction Industry Council and participates in social innovation initiatives with organizations like the Hong Kong PropTech Association. Previously, she was a director at Hong Kong Cyberport and Chair of the Construction and Facilities Committee.
Welcome Remarks
Mr Simon Chan,BBS,JP
Chairman, Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited
Mr Simon Chan has 40 years of experience in banking, finance, and information technology. He has held various senior roles, including Vice Chairman, Executive Director, and Chief Executive at Nanyang Commercial Bank and Bank of China (Hong Kong). Additionally, he has served as a director for Nanyang Commercial Bank (China), Cinda Financial Holdings, and Hong Kong Interbank Clearing Limited, among others.
Mr Chan's expertise encompasses information technology, corporate governance, risk management, and IT security, which he applies to strategic development and project implementation. He has been appointed to several senior roles in public organizations and industry entities by the HKSAR Government. His positions include Chairman of the Hong Kong Internet Registration Corporation, member of various committees focused on innovation, education, and finance, and involvement with the Hong Kong Trade Development Council.
He is a Past President of the Information Systems Audit and Control Association (China Hong Kong Chapter) and Vice-President of the Hong Kong Information Technology Joint Council. Mr. Chan holds a Bachelor’s degree in Social Science from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, a Master’s in Science from the University of Ulster, and a Master’s in Commerce from the University of New South Wales. He is also a Certified Information Systems Auditor and a Certified Internal Auditor.
Welcome Speech
Session 1: Sustainable Transport Infrastructure and Low Altitude Economy
Under Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Transport and Logistics Bureau,
The Government of the HKSAR
Mr Liu was appointed Under Secretary for Transport and Logistics in July 2022. Before that, he was the Under Secretary for Development from August 2017 to June 2022.
Mr Liu is an engineer by profession with over 40 years of experience in the civil engineering industry. Mr Liu joined the Government as an Assistant Engineer in 1986. He was promoted to Chief Engineer of Civil Engineering and Development Department in 2009, Government Engineer in 2013, and Principal Government Engineer in 2016.
Mr Liu is a member of a number of professional bodies including the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers, the Institution of Civil Engineers, the Institution of Structural Engineers and the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.
Keynote Speakers
Mr Liu Chun San, JP
Dean, School of Architecture
Royal College of Art
Professor Adrian Lahoud is Dean, School of Architecture at the Royal College of Art, London.
His work focuses on intercultural and intergenerational approaches to architecture that draw on diverse artistic and scientific traditions. He consults on major international projects and serves on several boards with missions to advance and diversify architectural culture including the Architecture Foundation, Design Museum Future Observatory, New Architecture Writers, the Arabic cultural platform Ma3azef, Great Arab Minds Prize, King Salman Prize for Architecture and Urbanism, and RIBA Jencks Award.
In 2019 he curated the inaugural Sharjah Architecture Triennial, the first major international platform for architecture and urbanism in the Global South. He is Convenor and Co-Chair of the Rights of Future Generation Working Group. Prior to his role at RCA, he was director of the MA programme at the Centre for Research Architecture, Goldsmiths and Studio Master in the Projective Cities MPhil in Architecture and Urban Design at the Architectural Association. His work has been translated into Arabic, French, Mandarin and Spanish and featured in the Economist, The Guardian, The Hindu Times, Folha de São Paulo, Art Review, Domus, Dezeen, among others.
Keynote Speakers
Prof Adrian Lahoud
Mr Gary Yeung, MH
President of Smart City Consortium
Here attached the profile picture of Gary, and the following is the bio of Gary Yeung:
As the founding member and President of the Smart City Consortium (SCC), he has always been committed to promoting the development of information technology. With growing enthusiasm, unique business insight and cutting-edge technology, he is seizing the rare opportunity of China-Hong Kong Smart City development. He is also the guest host of RTHK, Metro Radio, CRHK and HoyTV. Apart from contributing to SCC, he also undertakes different professional roles in different organizations. Gary is appointed by the HKSAR Government to serve as the Member of the Court of Hong Kong Metropolitan University, and the Member of the Common Spatial Data Advisory Committee of Lands Department of Development Bureau.
Moderator
Mr Michael Law
Director, Thinkpower2 Technology Limited
Mr Michael LAW was graduated from the University of Hong Kong with a Bachelor Degree of Science in Civil Engineering. Since then, he has been working in the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for various civil engineering projects, including the design and construction of To Kwa Wan Typhoon Shelter and the Tseung Kwan O - Lam Tin Tunnel. He has also been substantially involved in information technology during his career. For example, he was the Chief Engineer/Smart Mobility of the Transport Department in 2018 responsible for intelligent transport systems. Before he retired from the civil services in 2023, he was the Assistant Commissioner/Technical Services of the Transport Department responsible for delivery of various smart mobility initiatives. Now, he is the director of Thinkpower2 Technology Limited, which he founded in 2025 for the promotion of use of AI and big data analytics to resolve practical problems.
Panelist
Mr Desmond Ho
Founder, Alpha AI
Desmond Ho named “Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia 2020 - Entrepreneur”. He is a serial entrepreneur specialising in AI and drone technology. In 2017, he Initiated a crowdsourcing and financing platform to expedite the social infrastructure development in Myanmar. In 2021, he founded Alpha AI to assist building inspection and maintenance with the company admitted into Cyberport Incubation Program. Alpha AI is the 1st HK startup that obtained the BVLOS License under the Low Altitude Economy (LAE) sandbox, utilising locally developed AI and 3D technology for building, infrastructure and slope maintenance. Additionally, Alpha AI has partnered with a Japanese Listed Company to provide the Asia’s smallest industrial drone for confined space inspections, including building false ceilings, lift shafts and piping. He graduated from the University of Cambridge with a background in urban planning and economics. He served as the Vice President of the Cyberport Startup Alumni Association from 2022 to 2023.
Panelist
Dr Stella Zhu
Principal Engineer, Smart Mobility Technologies, ASTRI
Dr. Zhu Xinghua received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Electronic Information System from South China University of Technology, and her Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Hong Kong. She currently serves as the Chief Artificial Intelligence Engineer for Intelligent Transportation at the Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute. Dr. Zhu Xinghua mainly engages in research areas such as multimodal deep learning and artificial intelligence. She has published more than ten academic papers in top academic conferences and journals, obtained more than twenty domestic and international patents, and presided over three projects funded by the Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Fund and the Smart Transportation Fund.
Panelist
Mr Ben Ng
Senior AI Engineering, Urban.Systems
Mr. Ben Ng is a Senior AI Engineer with extensive experience in autonomous vehicles, artificial intelligence, and robotics. With a robust background in developing cutting-edge AI solutions, Ben has played a pivotal role in advancing technologies that enhance vehicle automation and intelligent systems.
Throughout his career, Ben has worked on various projects involving the integration of machine learning algorithms and robotics, focusing on creating efficient and reliable systems for real-world applications. His expertise in designing and implementing APIs has allowed for seamless communication between complex software systems, facilitating the deployment of innovative AI solutions.
Ben's passion for technology drives him to stay at the forefront of the rapidly evolving AI landscape. He is dedicated to exploring new methodologies that improve the capabilities of autonomous systems, ensuring they meet the highest safety and performance standards.
In addition to his technical skills, Ben is an effective communicator and collaborator, often working alongside multidisciplinary teams to achieve project goals. His commitment to continuous learning and professional development makes him a valuable asset in the ever-changing field of AI and robotics.
Panelist
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Session 2: Digital Transformation & Computational Intelligence
Ir Dr Ted Suen
CEO, ASTRI
Ir Dr Suen has over 30 years of IT experience, specialising in IT outsourcing services, large-scale system integration and digital transformation. Prior to ASTRI, he served as President of Lenovo PCCW Solutions (LPS) and Executive Director of Digital Mobility and Chief Technology Officer of the NEOM Land Mobility Department for Saudi Arabia's globally renowned mega city project. He also spent a decade as Chief Information Officer of MTR Corporation Limited, where he spearheaded digital transformation initiatives and managed highly intricate global IT operations.
His industry contributions have earned him numerous accolades, including the 2012 China Top 5 CIO Award, the 2013 Hong Kong CIO Award for Large Enterprises, the 2013 China Best Value CIO Award, the 2014 Asia CIO Award, and the 2019 ASEAN Top 20 CIO Award. Serving as the President of Hong Kong Computer Society from 2017 to 2021, he was bestowed the Medal of Honor from the HKSAR Government in 2020 for his contributions to local ICT talent cultivation and development, and was appointed Adjunct Professor of City University of Hong Kong from 2020 to 2022 and currently an Honorary Professor of Hong Kong Metropolitan University.
He holds a Doctorate in Business Administration from SBS Swiss Business School, a Master's Degree in Professional Accounting from Charles Sturt University and double degrees in Economic and Science from the Australian National University.
Keynote Speakers
Dr Sina Sareh
Academic Lead, RCA Robotics Laboratory
Dr. Sina Sareh is the Academic Leader and Reader in Robotics and Design Intelligence at the Royal College of Art’s Robotics Laboratory. His research focuses on developing robots that safeguard people in high-risk industrial environments while ensuring the systems last longer, work smarter, and minimize waste. Dr. Sareh has served as PI or Co-I on projects with competitive research funding totaling over £8 million. As an EPSRC Fellow, he pioneered anchoring systems that enhance robot mobility and manipulation in unpredictable settings. He was a Co-Investigator on MIMRee (Multi-platform Inspection, Maintenance, and Repair in Extreme Environments), an Innovate UK-funded project for the remote repair of offshore wind turbine blades. He currently leads the £1.9 million EPSRC project Circular Robot 5.0, which applies cutting-edge robotics, AI, and blockchain to extend the service life of industrial robots in manufacturing. Dr. Sareh served as an Impact Assessor for Sub-panel 12: Engineering in the Research Excellence Framework (REF2021), and serves on the Editorial Board of IET Cyber Systems and Robotics.
Keynote Speakers
Prof Hayden So
Director of School of Innovation, HKU and Founding Co-director of Joint Lab on Future Cities
Prof Hayden So is currently serving as the Acting Director of the newly established School of Innovation at the University of Hong Kong.
Previously, he joined the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at the University of Hong Kong in August 2007.
He leads the research efforts of the Computer Architecture & System Research Lab (CASR), where they study the design, implementation, and application of reconfigurable computing systems. He is also the co-director and a founding member of the Joint Lab on Future Cities (JLFC), a collaboration between the Department of EEE, Civil Engineering, and Geography at HKU.
Before joining HKU, he spent considerable time in the EECS department at the University of California, Berkeley, where he earned his BS, MS, and PhD degrees. At Berkeley, he worked with his advisor, Bob Brodersen, and spent most of his time at the Berkeley Wireless Research Center.
In 2012, he spent some time at Stanford and MIT, helping to teach their introductory course, EECS 6.01.
Keynote Speakers/Moderator
Dr Wilson Lu
Chair Professor (Digital Construction) and Head of the Department of Real Estate and Construction, HKU
Dr Wilson Lu leads research grants totaling over HK$60 million from prestigious funding bodies, including the Hong Kong Research Grant Council and the National Natural Science Foundation of China. He has authored two books and over 200 book chapters and journal articles, with more than 12,000 citations and an H-index exceeding 64. Since 2017, he has been recognized as a Top 1% Scholar by Clarivate Analytics. His accolades include the HKU Outstanding Young Researcher Award (2014-15) and multiple awards for research output and knowledge exchange.
As the Director of iLab@hku, an urban big data lab, Dr Lu focuses on opportunities related to Smart Cities and Industry 4.0. The lab aims to modernize the construction industry through world-leading R&D in BIM, smart construction, and Proptech while nurturing future leaders and addressing industry needs.
Since March 2016, he has served as Associate Dean (Research) of the Faculty of Architecture, assisting with scholarship, grant applications, and the Research Assessment Exercise. Dr Lu is also the immediate past President of the Chinese Research Institute of Construction Management and currently heads the Department of Real Estate and Construction.
Panelist
Dr Jack Cheng
Associate Head and Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, HKUST
Prof. Jack Cheng is a Professor and Associate Head in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Associate Director of GREAT Smart Cities Institute, Director of BIM Lab, and a Member of Low Altitude Economy Research Center at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). His research interests include BIM, digital twin, artificial intelligence, construction robotics, blockchain, construction and facility management, smart and low-carbon buildings, and construction digitalization. He has led several R&D projects in smart buildings and construction. He is an author of over 350 international journal and conference publications, with over 20,000 citations.
Prof. Cheng is currently the Chairperson of Committee on BIM and Construction Digitalisation and a Council Member at Hong Kong Construction Industry Council (CIC), Chairperson of CITF BIM Vetting Subcommittee, a Director of the BEAM Society Limited, and Editorial Board Member of several international journals. He is a Past Chairperson of the CIC Task Force on BIM Standards, Past President of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Greater China Section, Past Honorary Treasurer of the Hong Kong Institute of Building Information Modeling (HKIBIM), and Past Director of the Hong Kong Green Building Council. He is a Fellow Member of the Hong Kong Institute of Civil and Building Information Management (HKICBIM), Professional Member of the HKIBIM, CIC Certified BIM Manager (CCBM), and Certified Carbon Auditor Professional (CAP). He has received the Construction Industry Outstanding Person Award in 2019 from CIC, Gold Medal at the 48th and 49th International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva, and several research and paper awards in international conferences.
Panelist
Mr Benny Liu
Chief Technology Officer, Global Virtual Design and Construction
Mr Benny Liu is the Chief Technical Officer of Global Virtual Design and Construction Limited (GVDC) and a renowned expert in BIM technologies, excelling in BIM project execution, quality assurance, training, and digital transformation for both public and private sectors.
Currently, Mr. Liu serves as the Vice-Chairman of the Hong Kong Institute of Building Information Modelling (HKIBIM) for the 2025-2027 term and is a Fellow Member of HKIBIM. He also holds memberships in esteemed professional bodies such as CIOB and IET, and is a Chartered Construction Manager, Certified BIM Manager (CCBM), and Certified BIM Coordinator (CCBC).
An accomplished trainer, he has led BIM training courses for HKCIC and Singapore's BCA Academy. He has also contributed as an Assessor for HKCIC’s BIM Certification and Accreditation Schemes. His contributions to the industry have been recognized with awards such as the Construction Innovator Award (BIM 2014) and BIMer of the Year (2022).
Panelist
Mr Will Tsang
Project Manager,Yau Lee Holdings Limited
Will is a BIM and digital delivery leader with 8+ years’ experience and degrees in Surveying (BSc) and Digital Management of Built Assets (MSc). He strengthens information management across design, construction, and operations, aligning delivery to industry standards to ensure accurate, timely, and traceable data from construction through to asset management.
As a BIM Manager, he has led multidisciplinary teams to implement BIM Execution Plans, govern CDEs, coordinate models, and automate QA/QC. He standardizes asset data and structured information models to streamline handover, improving reliability and reducing rework while enhancing compliance and auditability for owners and operators.
Will champions digital twins and integrates GIS, IoT, and building management systems to unlock lifecycle value, enhance maintainability, and support evidence-based decision-making. His toolkit includes model-based quantity takeoff, 4D/5D planning, reality-capture alignment, and open standards such as IFC and COBie to improve interoperability, performance, and traceability across the supply chain.
An advocate for innovation and continuous improvement, he mentors teams, designs training, and advances automation and analytics—driving collaboration, transparency, and measurable outcomes across the built environment. He is passionate about leveraging data-centric workflows, robust governance, and standardized information delivery to reduce risk, accelerate handover, and maximize whole-life asset performance.
Panelist
Session 3: Spatial Data / AI / Data-Driven Solutions Intelligence
Prof Thomas Ng
Chair Professor and Head Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering City University of Hong Kong
Prof. Ng is Chair Professor of Smart and Sustainable Construction in Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, City University of Hong Kong. He assumed the roles as Associate Vice-President (Campus Development, Facilities and Sustainability), Chief of Campus Development, Facilities and Sustainability, and Head of Department. His research interests include smart city, sustainable built environment, community resilience, infrastructure asset management, digital transformation, construction informatics, construction performance and productivity, project delivery systems, etc. Prof. Ng has secured more than HK$170 million of research grants through 132 research projects. He has published over 500 scholarly items, and 300 of which being international refereed journal papers. Prof. Ng is listed amongst Stanford University’s Top 2% of Scientists Worldwide. His research excellence has earned him the Chartered Institute of Building International Innovation and Research Awards 2012: Project Innovation Award – Highly Commended Award and other international research paper awards. Prof. Ng is a Member of Technical Committee of Thermal Performance and Energy Use in the Built Environment set up by the International Organization for Standardization. He is Fellow of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers, Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors, Institution of Civil Engineers, Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, and Chartered Institute of Building.
Keynote Speakers
Dr Sam Jacoby
Research Lead, School of Architecture
Royal College of Art
Sam Jacoby is Professor of Architectural and Urban Design Research, Research Lead of the School of Architecture, and Director of both the Intergenerational Design Lab and the Future Cities: Laboratory for Design and Machine Learning at the Royal College of Art in London. His interdisciplinary work is interested in the social impact of design research, spatial strategies, and architecture.
Keynote Speakers
Dr Winnie Tang, MH, JP
Chairman, Esri China (Hong Kong) Limited
Dr Winnie Tang, MH, JP, is an Adjunct Professor in the School of Computing and Data Science; Department of Geography, Faculty of Social science at the University of Hong Kong (HKU). She is a local IT entrepreneur from Hong Kong who has almost 30 years of experience in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry.
Dr Tang is the Founder and Chairman of Esri China (Hong Kong) Limited, which is an international office of Esri, specialising in geographic information system (GIS) technology. Esri is the global market leader in GIS industry. She is also the Founder and Honorary President of the Smart City Consortium as well as Founding Vice President of the Greater Bay Area Low-Altitude Economy Alliance.
Over the years, she has been actively advocating the use of technology and sharing her views on education, the ICT industry, eHealth, environmental conservation, entrepreneurships and the smart city through her services in government and non-government organisations throughout Hong Kong.
In recognition of Dr Tang's work, she has been awarded the Honorary Fellow by Lingnan University in 2020, the Distinguished Alumni by the Faculty of Science, HKU in 2009, the Ten Outstanding Young Persons by Junior Chamber International Hong Kong (JCIHK) in 2006, the Women of Influence – Young Achiever of the Year Award by the American Chamber of Commerce in 2004 and the Ten Outstanding Young Digi Persons Selection by JCIHK in 2001.
Moderator
Sr YC Chan
Head of Spatial Data Office, Development Bureau, The Government of the HKSAR
Sr Chan possesses over 20 years professional experiences covers engineering surveying, hydrographic surveying, cadastral surveying and geospatial data analysis/management.Over the past few years, Sr CHAN has been actively involved in the smart city and Common Spatial Development Infrastructure (CSDI) development.
Panelist
Dr Eric Schuldenfrei
Associate Professor, Faculty of Architecture, The University of Hong Kong
Eric Schuldenfrei served six years as the Head of the Department of Architecture and currently teaches architecture and design at the University of Hong Kong. Receiving his PhD from the University of Cambridge, he has taught at Princeton, Columbia, and the Architectural Association. His book The Films of Charles and Ray Eames: A Universal Sense of Expectation, focuses on architecture, politics, cinema, and education. Schuldenfrei served as the Curator of Exhibition, Education, Film, and Media for the Hong Kong & Shenzhen Biennale and has presented his work at the V&A museum, Harvard University AsiaGSD series, the University of Cambridge, and the Royal College of Art in London. Together with Marisa Yiu, Schuldenfrei founded ESKYIU – a multi-disciplinary architecture studio integrating culture, art, community and technology. They have been awarded the “Architectural League Prize” and “Design Vanguard” as well as edited the books Instant Culture and Industrial Forest together.
Current research includes examining architects who created projects as educational experiences. From the late 1950s to the early 1960s there was a moment of introspective self-reflection in the West stemming from the events of the Cold War. This moment of uncertainty was crucial, for it provided the incentive to question the values and concerns of society as a whole. In turn, designers began to question their own sense of purpose, temporarily expanding the purview of design to a broader field of inquiry. The solution of promoting greater education experiences as an alternative to consumerism in America required that different sectors of society functioned in unison to address political, social, economic, and educational concerns. The research reconsiders how design intersects with humanity, culture, and the sciences.
Panelist
Prof CK Shum
Professor and Distinguished University Scholar, The Ohio State University
C K Shum is a Professor and Distinguished University Scholar at the Ohio State University, USA. He is the chief scientist and founder of Spaces-Analytics, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation dedicated to climate sustainability and environmental actions for human good, enabled by AI-aided big satellite data analytics. He is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and a Fellow of the International Association of Geodesy. As a Lead Author of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Assessment, he contributed to the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize, which was jointly awarded to IPCC and Al Gore, Jr. “for their efforts to understand and to counteract the man-made climate crisis”. He received the European Geosciences Union’s 2012 Vening Meinesz Medal for his “Distinguished research in Geodesy applied to sea-level science”. He has published over 450 journal articles, with Google Scholar citations of 24,775, Hirsch index of 72, and i-10 index of 275. His Research.com World Ranking is 984, and National Ranking is 453 in Earth Sciences.
Panelist
Session 4: Infrastructure & Sustainability, Carbon Neutralization
Prof Becky Loo
Professor, Department of Geography, HKU and Founding Co-director of Joint Lab on Future Cities
Becky P.Y. Loo is Professor of Geography and Founding Co-director of the Joint Lab on Future Cities at the University of Hong Kong. She is a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences, United Kingdom, and a Chang Jiang Chair Professor of the Ministry of Education, China. Becky holds an Honorary Professorship at University College London (UCL) (UK), an Honorary Professorship at Beijing Jiaotong University (China) and a Distinguished Professorship at Liaoning Normal University (China). Her core research interests are i) transit, walkability and urban form; ii) road safety and spatial analysis; iii) sustainability and transport decarbonization; and iv) smart cities. She is a Founding Co-Editor-in-Chief of Travel Behaviour and Society and an Associate Editor of Sustainable Cities and Society and the Journal of Transport Geography. Becky has a proven track record of international research collaboration, research assessments, quality assurance and leadership as a former Head of Department, Associate Dean of Faculty, and University-level Institute Director. Under the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Honours and Awards System to recognise persons who have made an outstanding contribution to Hong Kong, Becky has been conferred a non-official Justice of Peace (JP). She is committed to fostering people-oriented and place-based interdisciplinary research. Her curriculum vitae is available at www.bpyloo.hku.hk.
Keynote Speakers
Mr Amin Taha
Studio Lead, School of Architecture, RCA
Amin Taha was born in Berlin, is settled in London where he is chair pf GROUPWORK, an employee ownership trust of architects, engineers and designers, noted for their innovative and poetic use of materials with a lens to low and carbon sequestration outcomes. Amin is also a trustee at the Sir John Soane Musuem, chair of its annual Soane medal and currently the Norman Foster Chair at Yale, studio master at the Royal College of Art and visiting professor at Harvard GSD.
Keynote Speakers
Dr Ying Liu
Research Fellow, Joint Lab on Future Cities
Dr Ying Liu is a Building Services Engineer and Environmental Design researcher focusing on sustainable urban development and data-driven building performance. As a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Hong Kong, she contributes to the circular economy and carbon trading in construction. Her doctoral studies at the University of Sheffield and subsequent research at Trinity College Dublin focused on empirical studies of urban carbon emissions and the hygrothermal performance of buildings.
Dr Liu possesses strong technical skills in building simulation, Life Cycle Assessment, and programming, making her a valuable contributor to interdisciplinary research on future cities. Her work has been published in high-impact journals, including Building and Environment, Energy Policy, and the Journal of Building Engineering.
Moderator
Mr Ricky Leung
Deputy Director, Cyber Security & Analytics · ASTRI
Ricky Leung is the Deputy Director, AI and Trust Technologies of ASTRI. He leads a R&D team on the trust technologies including cybersecurity, blockchain and compliance related applied research projects, including lightweight adaptive intrusion detection and prevention system (IDPS) for IT/IoT/OT, blockchain based worker credential verification platform, and trusted carbon credit tracking & verification platform, etc. The core applied technologies are AI (machine learning, deep learning, generative & LLM), Blockchain (smart contract), privacy computing, IoT/OT. Ricky is also the member of IEEE Blockchain and Distributed Ledger Standards Committee, the member of the Stakeholder Consulting Panel of Asia Carbon Institute, and a Certified ESG Planner.
Before joining ASTRI, he was working in another research institute and a startup company in AI robotics and smart construction projects. Ricky got his MPhil in Computer Science in HKUST and BSc (Hons) in Information Technology in City University of HK. After graduation, he started his own company for over 20 years.
Panelist
Ms Grace Kwok
Chairman and Executive Director
Allied Sustainability and Environmental Consultants Group Limited
Grace is the Chairman and Executive Director of Allied Sustainability and Environmental Consultants Group Limited as well as the Chief Sustainability Strategist of AEC Capital. She is currently the Chairman of the HKSAR Environmental Campaign Committee, member of the Advisory Council on the Environment and the Energy Advisory Committee, and serves on the board and/or committees of various public and professional bodies, including HKIQEP, HKGFA, GRESB, USGBC and IWBI. She is a Board Director of the Hong Kong Green Building Council and World Green Building Council. Grace is the recipient of various local and international awards, including HKMA Sustainability Leader of the Year 2021, APEC Bio-Circular-Green Award 2023, WorldGBC Asia Pacific Leadership in Green Building Awards 2024 - Women in Green Building Leadership.
Grace has been involved in many green building and sustainable design projects in Hong Kong, China and across Asia-Pacific, acquiring vast professional experiences and regional insights. With a background in environmental engineering, she is a keen advocate for regenerative sustainability. Driven by a vision to shape a sustainable future for all, Grace facilitates collaboration through her work with environmental, building and construction, and finance sectors to build climate resilience and accelerate net-zero transition. With AEC Group’s expanding operations in Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand and Dubai, Grace is utilizing her experiences in bridging finance and sustainability through her extensive network to create impact at scale and drive transformative change.
Panelist
Ir Antonio Chan
Deputy Managing Director, REC Engineering Company Limited
Ir Antonio Chan is the Deputy Managing Director of REC Engineering Company Limited (REC). In addition to his capacity as the Chairman of the Hong Kong Federation of Electrical and Mechanical Contractors, Ir CHAN actively participated in public services, serving on various committees and boards under Government Bureaux and Departments, as well as industry associations, providing advice related to energy conservation, construction innovation and technology.
As a visionary leader in the industry, Ir CHAN has led pioneering engineering innovations in Hong Kong, such as the first floating solar photovoltaic power generation system and the first puzzle-stacking automated parking system. He has also piloted the first concrete MiC project in Hong Kong. These initiatives advanced industry standards and positioned Hong Kong as a hub for innovative construction practices.
Panelist
Session 5: Space Economy
Prof Gregg Li
Adjunct Professor and Ambassador at the Laboratory for Space Research, and the Convenor of the International Council of OASA
Gregg is a 10x Entrepreneur, Angel Investor, Governance Architect, and technology advisor, as well as a former venture capitalist, with domain expertise in Data, Finance, Education, and the business of Space. He is currently the Convenor of the International Council of OASA, also known as the Orion Astropreneur Space Academy, an NGO he co-founded in 2019. Educated as a systems engineer and systems architect, Gregg has over four decades of experience investing in and building leaders, companies, and ecosystems. Having personally coached and mentored high-flyers from global companies such as Aon, American Express, Citibank, Protiviti, and PwC, he now invests in NewSpace start-ups in the GBA and advises Single Family Offices on how and where to invest.
Before his retirement, he served on the boards of Cyberport (2017 – 2019), eBRAM, the Urban Renewal Authority (2015 – 2019), and the Central Policy Unit of the HKSAR. Currently, he advises the Federation of Hong Kong Industries, Our Hong Kong Foundation, the Privacy Commissioner on Personal Data, the Lab for Space Research at HKU (since 2020), the Tech London Advocates in London (since 2013), and the Institute of Management Consultants in Hong Kong as an emeritus fellow.
Over the past 20 years, time permitting, he has shared his know-how as an adjunct professor at various universities, including Tsinghua, U of Chicago, HKU, PolyU, CUHK, and HKUST in Hong Kong, teaching esoteric subjects like Applied Corporate Governance, the Management of Technologies and Transformation, Family Business Governance Practices, and Space Entrepreneurship.
Dr Li is a graduate of Washington University in St. Louis, UCLA, HKU, and the University of Warwick.
Keynote Speakers
Prof Quentin A Parker
Professor, Faculty of Science, HKU and Director at the Laboratory for Space Research
Quentin Parker joined the University of Hong Kong in March 2015 to take up Headship of the Department of Physics. He was Associate Dean (Global) of the Faculty of Science (2017-2020) and is Director of the Laboratory for Space Research https://www.lsr.hku.hk/ (2017-present). Prior he worked at the Royal Observatory Edinburgh (1986-1992), Anglo-Australian observatory (AAO; 1992-1999), University of Edinburgh (1999-2002) and in a joint position with the AAO and Macquarie University (2002-2015) where he was director of the MQ research centre in Astronomy, Astrophysics and Astrophotonics growing membership from 2 staff when he arrived to 50 when he left. Research activities are mainly associated with Wide Field Astronomy and Planetary Nebulae where he has discovered more than anyone in history. He has extensive experience as an spectroscopic instrumentalist and with narrow-band filters. He has a strong interest in the Chinese Space program and the emerging NewSpace economy and contributes regularly on this to various fora, including TV, radio and newspaper articles. He has published more than 600 papers and articles and has ~24,400 citations with a h-index of 71. He has supervised and co-supervised about 30 PhD, MSc/MPhil and honours students. Quentin also has a long-term interest in Chinese Bronze artifacts and cultural heritage, interdisciplinary studies and science pedagogy.
Keynote Speakers
Mr Perry Lam
Executive Chair,
Orion Astropreneur Space Academy
As Executive Chairman of Orion Astropreneur Space Academy or OASA, Perry Lam has a singular focus on preparing today’s youth for their future roles as leaders in the NewSpace economy.
Perry is the Founder of the LAM Institute (“LAM” stands for Leadership & Advanced Management), based in Hong Kong. He regularly works with top leaders of Fortune 500 Corporations, Governments and NGOs in heightening their leadership.
He regularly travels throughout Asia, Europe and North America to support the business requirements and talent development of his clients to maximise their ongoing success in the global marketplace. His clients are drawn from the Financial Services, Legal, Technology and Healthcare Industries as well as Family Offices.
Perry was previously responsible for developing leaders and sales professionals at the Xerox Corporation and DHL Worldwide Express, where he served as Regional Director, Sales in Asia. He initiated the DHL "Centre of Excellence and Leadership Center” which included establishing the DHL Internal Coaching and Training Curriculum in Asia which later established as the global standard and best in class. He has lived and worked in Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, the Philippines and the United States.
In his spare time, Perry works with NGOs like ICM, Asia Charity Services, ASEAN Inclusive Business Awards Conference as well as the curator and international speakers coach for TEDx Hong Kong and is a 2030SDGs Game Facilitator.
Modrator
Ms Clara Lo
VP and Director,
Orion Astropreneur Space Academy
Clara Lo is Vice President at Orion Astropreneur Space Academy (OASA). A Hong Kong qualified lawyer, she has over 14 years of experience in the telecoms, media, and technology (TMT) industries, primarily in legal and compliance at one of Asia’s leading regional satellite operators.
She is also a certified anti-money laundering specialist with in-depth knowledge of U.S. trade compliance (ITAR, EAR & OFAC).
Clara was educated in the US, with an undergraduate legal studies degree from UC Berkeley, a master's degree from UC San Diego. She holds a postgraduate certificate in laws from the University of Hong Kong.
Clara started her career in Silicon Valley as a market research analyst focusing on satellite communications and broadband services.
She is passionate about learning and applying her skills to make a positive impact in the world. She takes a leading role in organising OASA's monthly SpaceBiz Dialogues on cutting-edge space-related topics such as Financing New Space Ventures, Smart Cities, Spacecraft Leasing, and Space Food, aiming to keep audiences ahead in the fast-evolving Newspace industry.
Panelist
Mr Bryant Lu, JP
Vice Chairman, Ronald Lu & Partners and Founder & Chairman, BEHAVE
Mr Bryant Lu JP is currently Vice Chairman of Ronald Lu & Partners (RLP); an architectural practice housing over 600 staff across Hong Kong, Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai and Shenzhen. He is a graduate from Cornell University and possesses over fifteen years of experience in architectural design, management and business development. Bryant was awarded one of the 40 young designers under 40-year old in “40 Under 40” by the global magazine Perspective. He is instrumental in leading development and driving changes at the firm. He is honored to contribute in shaping Hong Kong through the participation of major landmark projects such as Xiqu Centre, the New World Centre re-modeling, Peak Tower revitalization, Academic 3 - The City University of Hong Kong, AsiaWorld-Expo, etc. Always concerned and willing to be of service to society, Bryant holds many public positions, enabling the best use of his talents, expertise and experience. He is Founding Member of Hong Kong Spirit, Advisor of Our Hong Kong Foundation, Council Member of Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra, Deputy Chairman – Board of Governors of Hong Kong Arts Centre, Member – Building Committee of Hong Kong Housing Authority, Member – Board of Practices of Hong Kong Institute of Architects, Honorary Chairman of Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce in China – ShenYang, Member of PRC Chengdu Municipal Committee of C.P.P.C.C..
Panelist
Mr Ron Chiong
Managing Partner
Perpetual Space Ventures
Ron Chiong, a financial services veteran with over 25 years of experience in both the public and private sectors, founded Perpetual Space Ventures, a business platform offering specialized investment and collaboration in space technology.
Ron is also the managing partner at AvantFaire, where he invests in sustainable technology and smart cities which align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Previously, he worked at the Securities and Futures Commission in Hong Kong, focusing on policy research and development in fintech and crypto assets. Prior to his regulatory role, Ron held senior positions at Standard Chartered, BNP Paribas, KBC, Nomura, and Allianz, specializing in derivatives trading and portfolio risk management. He also manages his family office portfolio, with investments in SpaceFund, SpaceX, Voyager Technologies and Deep tech stocks in the U.S.
Ron holds a master's in space systems engineering from Johns Hopkins, an MBA from the University of Western Ontario, and degrees in mechanical and industrial engineering from the University of Toronto. He also holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) designations.
Ron is currently establishing a venture capital fund focused on ASEAN space technology, which will adopt a highly engaged engineering risk management approach to de-risk investments.
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