Donor
Vantage Charity Foundation Limited
Vantage Charity Foundation Limited (“Vantage Charity Foundation”) was founded in 2015 by Vantage International (Holdings) Limited (“Vantage”).
Established in 2000, Vantage focuses on construction and maintenance works, and other contract works in public and private sectors in Hong Kong. The company also engages in property investment and development, as well as provision of finance services. The company founder Mr Ngai Chun-hung, has been at the helm as Chairman and Executive Director since July 2000. With his wealth of experience in and great enthusiasm for construction and real estate, he is determined to help extend the frontiers of research in sustainable structures and materials.
Initiated by Mr Yau Kwok-fai, an alumnus of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), and with the full support of Mr Ngai, this Endowed Professorship was set up by Vantage Charity Foundation to facilitate the research work of PolyU’s Faculty of Construction and Environment, which echoes the Foundation’s commitment to sustainable urban development. By dedicating this Professorship to Ir Professor Ko Jan-ming, former Vice President and Chair Professor of Structural Engineering of the University, Mr Yau pays tribute to Professor Ko for his guidance during his studies at the then Hong Kong Polytechnic. In addition, it recognises Professor Ko’s significant contributions to the related industries and his invaluable dissemination of not only knowledge but also values to the next generation.
Appointee
Professor Li Xiangdong
Professor Xiangdong Li is the Director of Research Institute of Sustainable Urban Development (RISUD), Chair Professor of Environmental Science and Technology at Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Acting Dean of Faculty of Construction and Environment, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. He obtained his BSc in Geology and MSc in Geochemistry from Nanjing University, and his PhD in Environmental Science from Imperial College London.
Professor Li’s major research interests include regional pollution, urban environmental studies, and remediation of contaminated sites. He has published more than 200 papers in leading international journals, and is one of the highly cited researchers in Environment/Ecology of the Web of Science database. He was awarded the Outstanding Young Researcher (Oversea) Fund from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) in 2007.
Professor Li is the past President (2011-2013) of the Society of Environmental Geochemistry and Health (SEGH). He is currently an Associate Editor for Environmental Science and Technology (ES&T). Professor Li is also an associate editor and editorial board member for several other international journals in related research fields.
