Integrating Technology and Sustainability for Urban Challenges: A Collaborative Vision For Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area

Dr. Bruce Chong is a Fellow and Director of Arup, leading climate, urban sustainability, and smart city-related services, and has supported international organisations such as the World Bank, IFC, ADB, AIIB, and EMF on climate adaptation, sustainable infrastructure, and circular economy initiatives. His work also includes a super-typhoon study for the South China region, advising on the TCFD, 3D city map production, Digital Twin Standard, and a smart city district plan for Kowloon East – the first pilot area to explore the feasibility of developing a Smart City in Hong Kong. Bruce is a Cambridge Overseas Scholar and Research Fellow at Sydney University. He is also a fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers(ICE), Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE), and Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE), as well as committee members of various organisations, including the co-chairperson of the Real Estate Working Group in the HKGFA, Committee Member of the ESG Group of the Financial Service Development Council (FSDC), Director of the Hong Kong Green Building Council (HKGBC), Working Group Member on Engineering & Climate Change of the World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO), and Council Member of the Appointment Advisory Board of the HK International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC). His book Smart-Green-Resilient was published in 2016 by Hong Kong University Press, and his upcoming title, Tackling Climate Hazards in Coastal Urban Areas of Est and Southeast Asia: Connecting Climate Science, Engineering, and Finance, will be released by ICE Publishing in November 2025.

Enrico Durbano is Eco-Counter General Manager. Eco-Counter is the world leader in cyclist and pedestrian counting technology with projects in more than 56 countries worldwide. He graduated in Italy as Forest Engineer in 2000. After some work experiences, he settled in France in 2003 and integrate Eco-Counter as first employee. Since then, his career has allowed him to develop project in a variety of cities, in Europe and Worlwide at any level, local, regional and national. His most valuable accomplishments has been to set the National standards in France for Bike Counting (more than 140 local authorities involved). He has extensive experience in project management, consulting and data analysis.

Over the last 10 years, Enrico Durbano covers the position of General Manager and lead the company with a strong vision of innovation in sustainable mobility.

Bruno Lhopiteau brings nearly 30 years of experience in optimizing the lifecycle of infrastructure projects, managing assets and technical risks, ensuring sustainability and regulatory compliance.

Since 2004, as Managing Director of Siveco China, its R&D arm Bluebee Technologies and affiliated companies, he has spearheaded advancements in Smart O&M technologies, working primarily on high-impact infrastructure projects in China and the Belt & Road.

For over a decade, he has shared his expertise as a lecturer on Industrial Risk Management at Shanghai University’s Sino-European School of Technology. With over 100 published articles, Bruno is a prominent voice at global conferences, addressing asset management, risk control, and digital transformation.

His innovations in mobile solutions, 3D BIM for maintenance, and AI-driven Prognostics & Health Management have earned multiple awards and serve over 1,000 clients in Greater China, including Hong Kong Tramways, the Environmental Protection Department, the Drainage Services Department and Hong Kong International Airport, alongside mainland utilities such as Shanghai Chengtou Water, Beijing Environment, Capital Water, and Zhongshan Water. Partnering with leading Chinese builders, they have been applied globally, most recently for power plants in Saudi Arabia, metro systems in Egypt, power grids in Brazil and wastewater facilities in India.

My Sustainability Goals for 2025:

1. Advocate for smart technology’s role, aligned with ISO 55000 standards, in enhancing resilience, compliance, and sustainability through academic lectures and professional conferences.
2. Foster international cooperation on high-impact Belt & Road infrastructure projects, leveraging my unique French and Chinese perspectives.
3. Help streamline Hong Kong’s often complex IT systems for Asset Management, applying my business expertise to unlock sustainability potential.
4. Promote local sustainability by maintaining my traditional home on a quiet Shanghai canal, supporting organic gardening, and integrating into village life.

Ir Prof. Chi Sun Poon is currently the Director of Research Centre for Resources Engineering towards Carbon Neutrality (RCRE), the Michael Anson Professor in Civil Engineering and Distinguished Research Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU). He is also one of the Directors of PolyU-NAMI 3D Concrete Robotic Printing Research Centre. He was awarded the title of Changjiang Chair Professor by the Ministry of Education in 2017. Ir Prof. Poon specialises in the research and development of environmentally friendly construction materials, waste management, waste recycling technologies, concrete technologies and sustainable construction. He has been listed among the World’s Top 2% Scientists released by Stanford University and ranked 4th globally in the field of Building and Construction. Ir Prof. Poon has been an Editor of Construction and Building Materials from 2014 to 2024. He has also been an Editorial Board Member of Cement and Concrete Composites since 2017. He has published over 500 papers in international journals. He has obtained more than 20 patents related to concrete and waste recycling technologies. He was awarded the State Technological Innovation Award 2017 (2nd Class).

My Sustainability Goals for 2025:

1. Adopt the use of low carbon material
2. Spend more real effort on addressing climate change
3. Develop more climate friendly technology