RIBA Hong Kong and RIBA Singapore Chapters present: Climate action in Asia webinar series
This collaboration between the RIBA Hong Kong and Singapore Chapters brings together professionals and experts across the innovative value-chain in the built environment. They will present unique insights into how we can - collectively and through our actions - address the ongoing climate crisis in Asia.
During these events, the audience will hear from three expert panellists from Singapore, Bangkok, and Hong Kong who will present their insights into how to address the climate crisis from different parts of the world. The discussion will be followed by a Q&A session.
Session 1: Thursday 30 June 2022
Speakers
Dr Senaka Basnayake - Director of Climate Resilience Department, Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre, Bangkok
Dr Basnayake has more than 30 years of experience in the climate change field, and in implementing projects and programs to improve climate and disaster resilience in Asia and the Pacific.
Before joining ADPC in 2010, he served as a scientist at SAARC Meteorological Research Centre in Bangladesh. He also worked as a Senior Meteorologist at the Department of Meteorology in Sri Lanka from 1988 to 2007. He holds a BSc (special) Degree in Physics from the University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, a Postgraduate Diploma, and a Ph.D. in Meteorology from the University of the Philippines, Diliman.
Dr. Tony Lam - Director of Sustainability, ARUP HK
As a sustainability specialist, Dr Lam has extensive experience in tackling environmental impacts on the built environment, particularly in implementing low carbon, wellness, and health developments. He is a green design expert and has completed a number of exemplar sustainable projects in East Asia, including K11 Atelier King's Road, CIC Zero Carbon Building (ZCB), Hong Kong Housing Authority (HKHA) housing communities, the Hualian residence in Taiwan, and South Beach in Singapore.
Dr Lam has been a WELL Faculty member since 2016, and IWBI Global Research Advisory Council Member since 2020. Currently, he is leading a specialist team to implement various innovative solutions using IoT and big data to help clients address their wellness and zero carbon objectives for properties and facilities operations. Tony was awarded the CIC Young Innovator Award in 2017, and the Winner Award of HKGBC Advancing Net Zero (ANZ) Ideas Competition in 2021.
Dr. Hossein Rezai - Structural engineer, founding member of Construction Declares, Singapore
Dr. Rezai is an engineer, a design visionary, and an educator. One of the initiators of the concept of “fusion engineering,” he is the first and only engineer to receive the coveted title of “Designer of the Year” from the President of Singapore. He is passionate about the process of advanced computational design, and takes a holistic approach to architecture, structure, and the environment. Dr Rezai’s high profile contributions to industry discourse include his involvement in the 13th cycle Aga Khan Award for Architecture’s master jury in 2016, as a jury member for the Singapore President’s Design Award (2017 to 2018), and as their Vice-Chair (2019 to 2020).
