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ULI Asia Pacific Summit ULI Asia Pacific Summit
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Regent Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong S.A.R. 26-29 May 2025
Tour Host

Dr. Sujata Govada

CEO and Managing Director UDP International

Dr. Sujata S. Govada is an award-winning, qualified urban designer, certified urban planner and registered architect in India with over 35 years of experience having worked on a diverse range of projects in Hong Kong, US, Philippines, India and the region. She is the CEO and Managing Director of UDP International, an award-winning global boutique practice based in Hong Kong since 1994. UDP International has won several major planning and design awards including Central Harbourfront Master Plan, Graham Street Urban Regeneration Alternate Proposal, Harbourfront Connectivity Study in Hong Kong, the Clark Green City Master Plan in the Philippines, Naya Dharavi Master Plan and IT Master Plan in India. UDP International is Innovative by Design leveraging award- winning smart and sustainable design and planning using a collaborative place-making approach with a focus on People, Place and Planet. Some of her recent and current projects include the ADB Metro Rail TOD Project in Bengaluru and Urban Design and Architectural Guidelines for Amaravati in India; Smart Cultural Precinct @ Central, Kai Tak Sports Park and several Planning Projects in Hong Kong; large waterfront master planning, campus planning, tourism and mixed-use development projects in the Philippines and a Balanced land use plan for a Marina District in the US. Dr. Govada is the Founding Director of the Institute for Sustainable Urbanisation (ISU) which she set up in 2014 in Hong Kong. She has undertaken Smart City Research leading to the Hong Kong sections in Springer publications “Smart City Smart Economy” (2016), “E-Democracy” (2017), “Smart Metropolitan Region” (2018), “Smart Environment for Smart Cities” (2019), “Smart Living for Smart Cities (2020) and Smart Mega Cities” (2021). ISU has also undertaken local initiatives such as the Smart Cultural Precinct (SCP) engaging the local community with a vision to develop a walkable Cultural Precinct in Central in Hong Kong. Over the last two years Dr. Govada has been involved with RHEA International Workshops and was instrumental in getting universities in Hong Kong, India and the US to participate as well. She has gained a reputation as a thought leader in shaping smart, sustainable, resilient, liveable and walkable communities and cities around the world. Currently, Dr. Govada is teaching part time in the Urban Design & Regional Planning Program of City University of Hong Kong. Prior to this, she was an Adjunct Faculty for several years, at the School of Architecture, The Chinese University of Hong Kong and at the Department of Urban Planning and Design, the Faculty of Architecture, The University of Hong Kong. Dr. Govada taught courses and studios as part of the master’s program in Urban Design at CUHK that she also helped to start. She also taught several Urban Design, Placemaking, Physical and Transport Planning courses, Urban Design studios and Planning workshops including thesis supervision in the Urban Design and Urban Planning Programs at HKU. She is a Global Trustee of the Urban Land Institute (ULI) and the 2015 President of the Hong Kong Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA Hong Kong). She is the Founding Vice President of the Hong Kong Institute of Urban Design (HKIUD), which she was primarily responsible for setting it up in 2010. Dr. Govada was also a former representative of the Harbourfront Commission in Hong Kong working towards the enhancement the Hong Kong harbourfront. Dr. Govada was also an advisor for World Bank on their Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Study focused on design, planning, development, implementation and scaling up of TOD based developments around the world.

Speaking at

Tours
Mon 26 May 2:15 PM — 5:00 PM (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi

Study Tour | Exploring Central’s Smart Cultural Precinct

Central is Hong Kong’s frenetic business and retail heart, crammed with skyscrapers, swanky malls and luxury hotels set within a historic district. The rich cultural heritage in Central sets the stage for the Smart Cultural Precinct (SCP), ISU’s local initiative that highlights the area within and surrounding the Cultural Triangle, formed by the three key adaptive re-use buildings of PMQ, Central Market, and Tai Kwun.

Join us in an immersive experience of Central Market and Tai Kwun, two of the key historic developments of the Cultural Precinct, that have been beautifully restored and revitalized for a new generation of visitors.

1. Central Market:

Formerly one of Hong Kong’s first wet markets, Central Market is a Grade III historic building that has been revitalised into a ‘Playground for All’ by offering dining outlets, retail stores and cultural experiences that connect visitors to the neighbourhood’s history, tradition and contemporary culture.

2. Central-Mid-Levels Escalators:

The Central–Mid-Levels escalator and walkway system in Hong Kong is the longest outdoor covered escalator system in the world. It is a unique pedestrian link, that provides a great view of the bustling city and also was instrumental in the organic regeneration of the core of Central.

3. Tai Kwun:

Tai Kwun is Hong Kong’s beating cultural heart, enabled by The Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) in partnership with the Hong Kong Government. A vibrant and welcoming space that brings people together, Tai Kwun is committed to inspiring and enriching the community through arts, culture and heritage.

End the tour in style with a visit to The Magistracy at Tai Kwun: Once known as Hong Kong’s Supreme Court, The Central Magistracy was decommissioned and ceased its judiciary functions in 1984. After being dormant for 40+ years, Black Sheep Restaurants have restored it into a vibrant destination for warm hospitality and thoughtful storytelling. The Black Sheep team will share their insights into the achievements and challenges of this restoration process.

Know Before You Go

  • Cost: US$60 per person
  • Eligibility: Open to ULI Asia Pacific Summit 2025 delegates by registration only.
  • Capacity: Limited spots available on a first-come, first-served basis.
  • Departure Point: Regent Hotel.
  • What to Bring: An umbrella, comfortable walking shoes, weather-appropriate clothing, and a bottle of water.

How to Register

  • Select your preferred tour when registering for the Summit.
  • Already registered? You can sign up for a study tour by managing your registration [here].

About Black Sheep:

Founded in 2012 by Syed Asim Hussain, Black Sheep is Asia’s most compelling hospitality movement with over 35 brands built on connected storytelling and a deep love for the people, places, times, and memories that inspired them. At the intersection of art, culture, innovation and hospitality, Black Sheep crafts narrative-driven experiences that have revolutionised the hospitality industry in Hong Kong, the city it calls home, and abroad.

A catalyst for the future of hospitality, Black Sheep is community-focused and committed to doing work with a social conscience that will make a positive impact on the world. By choosing to collaborate with others who dream big and by approaching their work with joy and optimism, Black Sheep crafts memories for the guests in the dining room and for those who are part of its journey and has woven itself into the fabric of hospitality’s future.

Black Sheep has time and time again established itself as a pioneer in the field of service, defining its own brand and rules of hospitality. Its collective work has received notable recognition from some of the world’s leading culinary awards, including MICHELIN Guide, Asia’s 50 Best and La Liste.

Four days of inspiration, thought leadership, and connections

Regent Hong Kong
Kowloon, Hong Kong S.A.R.

26-29 May 2025

Register for the Summit

Shape the future of the built environment at ULI Asia Pacific Summit, 26-29 May 2025, in Hong Kong.