The Opportunities and Challenges of Building the Northern Metropolis as Hong Kong’s Silicon Valley

Jason is the Head of Land and Housing Research at Our Hong Kong Foundation. He manages a team of research professionals to conduct in-depth research on land and housing, transport and logistics, and retail and tourism. He is also a regular commentator on land and housing policies and the real estate market on various media channels including TV, radio, and print newspapers. Before joining HOKF, Jason worked at the MTR Corporation, where he was part of the leasing team that opened The LOHAS, a regional mall at the centrepiece of LOHAS Park.

He holds a Master of Social Science degree in Public Policy from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, a Master of Science degree in Real Estate from the University of Hong Kong, and a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Global Business and Management from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.

Ms. Eva Hua has over 18 years of experience in urban planning and design and currently leads AECOM’s Hong Kong Urban Design Studio. An alumna of UC Berkeley with a master’s degree in city planning, she is a certified China Registered City Planner and an esteemed member of the Hong Kong Institute of Urban Design (HKIUD).

Eva’s urban design and planning career spans the US, Mainland China, Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, and Macau, championing sustainable urban planning and innovative design. She also played a key role in integrating urban planning initiatives between Shenzhen and Hong Kong. Her portfolio boasts significant international and regional projects, including the Mauna Kea Summit Cultural Conservation Plan in Hawaii, the San Tin Technopole in the Northern Metropolis, and key developments in the Greater Bay Area like the Shenzhen River Greenway Landscape, as well as Dasha River and Shekou Ocean City masterplans.

Known for her ability to blend her global insights with latest technologies and sustainable practices, Eva advocates for mixed-use developments that enhance community life and reduce environmental impact. Her designs are characterized by extensive green spaces, smart city technologies, eco-friendly mobility options and energy-efficient buildings, all promoting sustainable and resilient urban environments.

Under Eva’s leadership, AECOM’s Hong Kong Urban Design Studio is recognized for its commitment to innovative and impactful urban designs. Her approach is forward-thinking, setting a benchmark for future urban development that fosters social integration and economic growth for vibrant and livable communities.

Li Zi is the Senior Expert in Sustainable Development at Tencent. He also served as a research fellow at Alibaba Group before. Prior to this, he was a guest critic at MIT and a research fellow at National University Of Singapore. Li Zi’s primary focus is on providing scenario analysis and strategic planning in the areas of technological transformation (AIGC), geopolitics, and climate change for digital platforms. As a result of his work, he was awarded “The 10 Years Best Research Fellow (2009-2019) on digitalization” at The New Economy Think Tank Summit 2020.
He holds a doctoral degree from the NUS and a master’s degree from TU Delft. With 15 years of professional experience, he has worked extensively in the field of digitalization in Europe, China, Southeast Asia, and the United States. Li Zi also served as a guest editor for Domus , where he initiated the “Online” series of publications, including topics such as “Smart Nation” and “Online Urbanism”. His book, titled “Online Urbanization: Online Services in China’s Rural Transformation”, has been recognized by SpringerLink as one of the most referenced works related to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Currently, he is working on a book about the new covenant between humans and AI.

Wander is a senior executive with 25+ years management experience in businesses and NGOs in Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America.

Wander leads Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden as Executive Director, where he and his team of 250+ staff work on biodiversity, wildlife rehabilitation, organic farming, reforestation, sustainable living and holistic education with the mission to harmonize our (human) relationship with nature.

Furthermore, Wander is business advisor of and impact investor in social enterprises in Africa and the Netherlands, related to poverty alleviation and agricultural transition.

Wander has a master’s degree Development Geography and Economics with as main subject: ‘Why are some countries rich and others poor?’ and what can we do about it! Specifically, how can we change our current economic model and human behavior to better live within the ecological boundaries of the earth.

My Sustainability Goals for 2024:

To make Nature the most important stakeholder in any (re)development plan for Hong Kong.

James is Director of Strategic Projects with Arup East Asia Region. He leads multidisciplinary teams to secure and deliver major and complex projects through technical excellence, seamless collaboration within Arup and beyond, digitalisation and a focus on sustainability.

With 30 years of experience in all stages of major infrastructure and building projects across the region, James has been playing a prominent role in various major planning studies and subsequent infrastructure design projects in Hong Kong. Notable projects include Planning & Engineering Studies for Kau Yi Chau Artificial Islands in which Smart, Green and Resilience planning principles promulgated by Arup has been applied to enhance livability and sustainability. The digital planning standard developed has also extended to various New Development Areas in the Northern Metropolis where Arup has two decades of involvement to achieve a better planning outcome.

Former Chairman of the Association of Consulting Engineers of Hong Kong, James currently serves on various government, professional and university committees, where he influences policymaking and industry practice to advance sustainable development and betterment of the consulting sector.