The symposium titled “Between Development and Natural Restoration: Merging Future Urban Life and Biodiversity” held on 25 March 2025 at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) School of Architecture was not only a successful event, but enabled Seneca to meet a lot of new faces in Hong Kong. Organised by the CUHK MSc in Urban Design programme and supported by various professional organizations, the event brought together local and international experts to discuss and identify integrated approaches for balancing future urban life and biodiversity.
One of the highlights for us at the symposium was the session on “Financing Nature,” where Jean-Marc Champagne, Managing Director of Seneca Impact Advisors discussed the need to scale commercially viable nature positive projects, emphasizing the importance of mobilizing private-sector capital. Jean-Marc was joined by other distinguished panelists including Stephen Suen, Director of AECOM, and Ben Ridley, Partner at ERM. The session was moderated by Daniel Pätzold, Adjunct Associate Professor, School of Architecture, CUHK.
The Collective Vision Roundtable discussion at the end of the symposium was particularly engaging, as it brought together diverse expertise to drive the conversation on this important topic. Participants shared their insights and experiences, fostering a collaborative environment that aimed to create a balanced vision for the future of Hong Kong and the Asia-Pacific region.
Overall, the symposium successfully highlighted the need for interdisciplinary dialogue and collaboration to address the complex challenges of sustainable urban development and biodiversity conservation. The positive feedback from attendees and the productive discussions throughout the day underscored the event’s success in advancing the conversation on merging future urban life with natural restoration.
Special thank you to Mr. Eric Ho for the invitation.
25 March 2025 | CUHK MSc in Urban Design Programme | Events – Participant | Hong Kong SAR, China
