Visionary roboticist David Hanson, creator of Sophia the robot, will explore how AI, robotics, and bio-inspired technologies are converging to reshape the built environment.

Together with James Wong, this keynote will delve into:

• How robotics and AI can help create more sustainable, adaptive cities
• How empathetic technologies may revolutionise the real estate sector
• How soon we might begin to see these futures materialise

This session will explore not just automation, but a fundamental shift in how we live, work, and play in cities—ushering in the era of conscious cities: urban environments that are intelligent, empathic, and responsive.

 

This session is brought to you by:

As financial constraints tighten and geopolitical uncertainties grow, how can the real estate industry sustain its commitment to decarbonisation? This session confronts the difficult trade-offs between financial viability and long-term environmental responsibility. Where do sustainability initiatives create real value, and where do they fall short? What should the industry prioritise when balancing economic pressures with climate commitments? Are current sustainability targets realistic, or are they being sidelined as "too hard to achieve"? Industry leaders will engage in a frank discussion on the future of sustainability in an era of competing priorities.

 

This session is brought to you by:

Designed to raise awareness among young people in creating better communities, the ULI Hines Student Competition Asia Pacific encourages future land-use professionals for collaboration, innovation, and creativity. Meet the region’s competition champions and hear their fresh perspectives on future urban development.

“The ache for home lives in all of us. The safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned.” – Maya Angelou

A home is more than just a physical space; it’s an emotion, a state of mind, and a place in time. For those of us involved in providing homes for families, it’s easy to overlook the deeper question: How does it feel to live here?

As Asia’s cities drive global growth, they must evolve to meet shifting needs. Climate change, demographic shifts, and social isolation are reshaping how and where people live, yet housing remains rigid, often unaffordable, and disconnected from daily life.

This session will introduce ULI’s Home Attainability Index 2025 followed by a panel that will explore innovative solutions to create housing that is user-centric, flexible, inclusive, and climate-resilient. How can we design communities that truly feel like home?

Artificial Intelligence (AI) may well transform real estate and the built environment as we now know it in remarkable ways. Across value chains, progressive organizations are already experimenting with AI to enhance efficiencies, optimize assets, and harness vast amounts of data to make better design, financial, operations, and risk management decisions. At the same time, AI enabled drones, humanoid robots, and other emerging technologies have the potential to disrupt, end-to-end, many aspects of buildings and the built environment. 

Capital-intensive data infrastructure – whether data centres, secure cloud networks, or decentralized urban and on-premise solutions – will be essential to manage the explosive growth of data for years to come. As the industry embraces this promising technology, the question isn’t just what AI can do today or on the horizon, but how we can empower AI to transform the built environment in the future.

 

This session is brought to you by:

Widely recognised as one of the real estate industry's most prestigious competitions, this year’s winners represent the highest standards of development practice in the region’s private, public, and non-profit sectors. Meet the outstanding winners of the 2025 ULI Asia Pacific Awards for Excellence and celebrate their exemplary work which will inspire our industry.

A city's infrastructure and liveability are crucial as they directly impact residents' quality of life, economic growth, and overall sustainability, fostering a thriving and resilient urban environment. Strategic investment in sports and entertainment, cultural events, and the beauty of a city plays a crucial role in shaping vibrant, liveable cities.?

This session will discuss Asia Pacific city liveability and the impact of infrastructure investment on the community. Asia Pacific Stadium and Real estate experts will examine how integrating sports and entertainment into communities enhances the urban experience - and why this matters for real estate professionals.

You’ll also hear from Hong Kong's young sports athletes highlighting their perspectives on how investments in sports infrastructure foster talent development, strengthen community engagement, and contribute to the overall vitality of our cities.?

As economic volatility, geopolitical uncertainty, and shifting monetary policies reshape global investment landscapes, how are leading real estate investors adapting their strategies? This panel brings together major capital allocators to examine where capital is flowing, which markets and asset classes are attracting interest, and how investors are balancing risk and return in an unpredictable environment. How are institutional investors redefining value creation? What structural shifts are influencing capital deployment? And what strategies are being employed to build resilience in an era of uncertainty? Expect a candid discussion on the forces shaping global real estate investment today and, in the years, ahead.

 

This session is brought to you by: