Educational Background
Professional Background
- Registered Professional Engineer (Building) RPE(BUD)
- Member of The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers Building Discipline (MHKIE)
- Member of Chartered Institute of Building
- Member of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors in Quantity Surveying (MRICS)
Academic Background
- Bachelor of Law (Honours)
- Bachelor of Planning and Design (Property and Construction)
- Master of Construction Management
- Doctor of International Real Estate and Construction (DIREC)
Industry Sector
Construction
Career/Job Position
Assistant Bid Manager, Leighton Contractors (Asia) Limited
Key Professional Achievements
Throughout my career, I have built a diverse foundation as both a quantity surveyor and a building engineer, enabling me to contribute to projects from financial, technical, and managerial perspectives. As a quantity surveyor, one of my core challenges was managing the financial outcomes of complex projects while maintaining cost certainty in environments where design, scope, and site conditions often evolved rapidly. This strengthened my analytical skills, contractual awareness, and ability to negotiate practical solutions.
Transitioning into an engineering role broadened my responsibilities significantly. I worked closely with consultants and clients to resolve design and engineering issues under tight timelines, ensuring that technical decisions supported both financially, quality and programme certainty.
Another key milestone was taking up a challenge set by Prof. Li to publish a research article in our BRE690 subject. Using the work from the module, I successfully published my paper, “A multi-level safety culture maturity model for (new) building projects in Hong Kong” (HKIE Transactions, Ref: THIE‑2022‑0040). Completing the research, data analysis and write‑up under considerable time pressure with the guidance from PolyU remains one of my proudest academic and professional achievements
Reasons for Pursuing a Doctorate Programme
As a construction professional with a strong foundation in both quantity surveying and building engineering, I have always viewed continuous learning as an integral part of my career. My academic and professional journey has been shaped by a commitment to broadening my knowledge base and strengthening my ability to contribute meaningfully to the built‑environment sector.
Over the years, I have intentionally diversified my expertise beginning with my surveying background, expanding into engineering within the building discipline and later undertaking a Bachelor of Laws degree to deepen my understanding of contractual, regulatory and commercial frameworks.
Each stage of my education has opened new perspectives, enhanced my analytical capability, and supported my progression into more complex and strategic roles. Pursuing a doctorate is therefore the next logical step in this long‑term learning trajectory. It represents an opportunity to consolidate my multidisciplinary experience, engage in rigorous research, and contribute new insights to industry challenges. A doctoral programme allows me to develop advanced critical thinking, strengthen my theoretical foundations, and position myself to influence practice, policy, and innovation within the construction and real estate sectors. Ultimately, the doctorate aligns with both my professional ambitions and my personal commitment to lifelong learning.
Why do you choose PolyU DIREC Programme
I was drawn to PolyU’s DIREC programme because of its strong reputation for integrating academic rigour with practical relevance. PolyU has long been recognised for its industry‑focused research culture, interdisciplinary approach, and commitment to applied innovation. DIREC offers a flexible yet structured pathway that enables working professionals to pursue advanced research without compromising ongoing career responsibilities.
The programme’s emphasis on real‑world problem solving aligns closely with my personal objective in research that produces tangible impact. I valued the opportunity to work closely with experienced supervisors engaged in innovative research across the built environment. PolyU’s strong industry networks, research facilities, and collaborative ethos further enhance the attractiveness of the programme.
The DIREC curriculum also provided a balanced combination of methodological training, scholarly development and research independence. This framework supported the development of robust academic foundations while allowing candidates to focus on industry‑relevant challenges. PolyU’s culture of fostering practitioner‑researchers resonates strongly with my career aspirations, making DIREC the ideal platform for advancing both professional and scholarly goals.
Overall Learning Experience from Studying DIREC Programme
Studying the DIREC programme took place during a particularly peculiar period, as it coincided with the downturn of COVID and a transition into a new normal. The learning experience was well adapted to these circumstances through a hybrid model of online and in-person teaching, supported by the strong professionalism of the professors and the accommodating campus facilities. Whenever possible, returning to campus was a source of great enjoyment, as it allowed meaningful interaction with fellow students. Sharing ideas and learning from classmates with different professional backgrounds enriched the experience, including Edward CHAN in finance, Stephen CHAN in private equity, Queenie CHENG in property development, Kenny LIU in architecture and Bob CHAN in building services. Through these interactions - we formed a partnership that lasted throughout the remainder of the DIREC programme and we named our group “5CL” representing five Chans/Cheng and one Liu.
The group projects were especially rewarding particularly when we coordinated workshops with highly knowledgeable senior managers from different disciplines. Each brought a distinct line of thought. The process of amalgamating our diverse ideas into a cohesive and shared goal was both challenging and fulfilling. I remember fondly our first major assignment on the redevelopment of IFC - where we discussed topics such as financing the purchase, change of use to hotel and commercial retail and the expected return on investment. These concepts were entirely new to me, while for my teammates they reflected their day-to-day professional work, making the learning experience both challenging and eye-opening. It was exciting to see how our diverse ideas were amalgamated into a cohesive proposal and to watch presentations from fellow classmates who had gone through similar workshops. In the final year, although we each embarked on separate research journeys, we stayed connected and supported one another. The professors were especially supportive during this stage, often providing guidance, ideas and assistance beyond normal hours. Overall, the DIREC programme was not only academically enriching but also personally meaningful, allowing us to build lifelong friendships.
Outcomes/Expectations from Studying DIREC Programme
From the DIREC programme, I expected to gain a deeper and more structured understanding in both construction and real estate. As a construction professional I was interested in real estate side particularly in areas that directly influence strategic decision‑making.
A key outcome I hoped to achieve was developing stronger financial literacy specifically how real estate valuations are carried out, how investment financing works and how returns on investment are assessed across different asset types and market conditions.
I became more aware in the latest advancements in innovation and technology that are reshaping the industry. Technologies such as robotics, automation, VR/MR and AR as well as artificial intelligence/machine learning were becoming increasingly relevant. Understanding how these developments came and the future advancements allowed me to anticipate trends and contribute to forward‑thinking strategies within my organisation.
Equally important is networking opportunity of high‑calibre candidates, industry professionals, and senior leaders in both the construction and real estate sectors. Learning alongside experienced practitioners we broaden our perspectives sharing different ideas, opening new collaborative opportunities and helped build a valuable professional network. Overall, I am pleased that the DIREC programme was able to enhance my analytical capability, industry awareness and long‑term leadership potential.
Advice for Prospective Candidates
For prospective candidates, I would encourage approaching the programme with openness, discipline, and a genuine curiosity to learn across both construction and real estate domains. One of the most rewarding aspects is the opportunity for cross‑disciplinary learning—understanding how decisions in the construction sector influence real estate outcomes, and vice versa, naturally strengthens critical thinking and broadens your professional perspective.
Engaging deeply with research literature is essential. Each academic paper forms part of a wider conversation, with researchers contributing insights to fill specific knowledge gaps. Recognising these gaps helps you position your own work more effectively and develop the foresight needed to imagine your final research output from an early stage.
Good research habits are crucial. Begin managing citations from the start, using tools such as Zotero and the Word plugin to keep your references organised. Make short notes for every article you read; over time, patterns and shared themes will emerge, guiding you toward conceptual clarity and thematic saturation. Ultimately, this structured approach not only supports strong academic performance but also builds a resilient foundation for long‑term research success.
