Alain Chiaradia is Associate Professor at The University of Hong Kong, Faculty of Architecture, Department of Urban Planning and Design, and Programme Director for the Master of Urban Design programme. He is Council Member of the Hong Kong Institute of Urban Design, Affiliate of Planners for Climate Action (UN-Habitat), an International Expert on the advisory scientific committee of Efficacity (a French R&D PPP), and a ULI Member. Alain has been Executive and Board Director of the urban design consultancy Space Syntax Ltd. Alain was educated in France, Italy and at the Architectural Association, London with degrees in the history of cities and economics. He is an urban designer and architect with 20 years’ experience on placemaking and research on the values of urban design, advising national, regional, and local government, large developer, communities, and international urban design teams. Alain brings systemic insights from professional urban design consultancies, educating urban designers and urban design research with expertise on complex high-density volumetric urban design. Volumetric urban design offers opportunities yet to be fully understood, embraced, and projected as high-quality liveable and inclusive place.

Catherine Li is Chief Executive Officer for Asia Pacific at Atkins, a member of the SNC-Lavalin Group, based in Hong Kong. She has been involved in large-scale infrastructure developments spanning the UK, Asia, Africa and Latin America. Catherine is a board director of the China Britain Business Council (CBBC). She is also a board member of the British Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, and Vice-Chair of its International Infrastructure Forum (IIF). Catherine is an alumna of Harvard Business School (AMP).

Fiona Waters, is Managing Director, Waters Economics Ltd., a Hong Kong-based Place-Economics Consultancy and Adjunct Associate Professor at The University of Hong Kong, Faculty of Architecture, Department of Urban Planning and Design*. Fiona also sits on the Board of A Plastic Ocean Foundation and is a senior executive of a UK innovation start-up in the Future of City Mobility. Fiona is a Cambridge economist with experience covering more than 25 years and 20 countries. Her focus is the economics, value and governance of city planning and infrastructure, destination development and the business case of investment. Often working as part of a multi-disciplinary team, her clients include government and public agencies, corporates, international development banks and NGOs. Fiona is highly regarded for her insight and creativity in turning complex issues into manageable strategies and frameworks with pragmatic objectives and actions; inspiring others to think outside the box.

Amanda joined Link Asset Management Limited in April as General Manager, Corporate Branding, overseeing brand communications and strategy for the group. Prior to LINK, Amanda was Director, Marketing & Communications at one of the world’s largest privately owned property businesses, Grosvenor Group, responsible for the planning, development and implementation of corporate communications and project marketing for the Asia region. The role led her to identify impact-driven strategies around community engagement and research into local neighbourhoods. She was also instrumental in managing community partnerships with Caritas Hong Kong to deliver the Neighbourhood Kitchen, a pioneering corporate-NGO collaboration that gives residents of sub-divided flats in Shek Tong Tsui a safe place to cook and socialise. Prior to Grosvenor, Amanda helped to establish Edelman’s property practice, where she held the role of Director for 10 years. Prior to Edelman, Amanda worked as a features writer for various lifestyle publications and newspapers in Hong Kong. Amanda is a member of the Royal Institute of British Architect’s Marketing Sub-Committee and Urban Land Institute’s (ULI) Programming Committee. Amanda was educated at Southampton Solent University (BA Journalism, 1996-2000).