“Artificial intelligence and the Sustainable Development Goals: a policy perspective.” Pritzker Forum on Global Cities: Harnessing AI Tools for Urban Leaders, sponsored by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. (Nov. 2023)
“Public sector innovation and new structural economics: creative interventions for provincial competitiveness in Vietnam.” 5th Vietnam Symposium on Leadership and Public Policy, organized in collaboration with the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University (Vietnam campus) and City University of Hong Kong. Co-authored with Nhung Nguyen and Le Vinh Trien. (Oct. 2023)
“Scaleup among circular startups: a case analysis and policy framework for promoting industrial transformation.” Advancing Industrial Policy in the Era of Strategic Competition, co-sponsored by the Science, Technology and Innovation Policy Institute (STIPI) at King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT), and the European Research Council. Co-authored with Maarten Heerink and Julian Kirchherr. Bangkok, Thailand. (Aug 2023).
“Public trust in Covid-19 tracking technology: evidence from Hong Kong’s LeaveHomeSafe mobile application.” 27th IPSA World Congress of Political Science, sponsored by the International Political Science Association. Buenos Aires, Argentina. Co-authored with Austin Aldag. (July 2023)*
“Public trust in smart cities: survey insights from Singapore.” 6th International Conference on Public Policy (ICPP6), sponsored by the International Public Policy Association. Toronto, Canada. Co-authored with Austin Aldag. (June 2023)
“The technocratic panic button: Disrupted power and knowledge in the global policy discourse.” 8th Annual AP-PPPN Conference, sponsored by the Asia Pacific Public Policy Network. Hosted by Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Co-authored with Glen Kuecker. (June 2023)*
“Measuring the political perceptions of smart city programs: public awareness and government communication in Hong Kong.” Data for Policy 2022, sponsored by Cambridge University Press, the Alan Turing Institute, and the Office for National Statistics (UK). (Dec. 2022)*
“Capitalism and city futures in the age of crisis.” Workshop on City, Public Value, and Capitalism: New Urban Visions and Public Strategies. Hosted by Ritsumeikan University (Japan) and Northwestern University (USA). (July 2022)*
“Theorizing SDG localization: new models or replication of power dynamics?” International Workshops on Public Policy (IWPP3), International Public Policy Association, Budapest, Hungary. (June 2022)
“Source Effects on Attitudes to COVID-19 Vaccination Policy in Differing Trust Settings: Experimental Data from Australia and Hong Kong.” 2021 APPAM Fall Research Conference (Austin, Texas, USA). Sponsored by the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management. Co-authored with Erik Baekkeskov, Aaron Martin, and Gosia Mikolajczak. (Mar 2022)*
“The perils of sustainability technocracy in urban water management.” Risk and Fragmentation of urban water knowledge, hosted by the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia. (TBD 2021)*
“Urban infrastructure and the politics of crisis.” International Conference on Sustainable Infrastructure. Sponsored by the American Society of Civil Engineers. (Dec 2021)*
“Transitioning to a Circular Economy in the EU: policy insights.” The climate-resources-nexus: modelling and policies to foster synergies between resource conservation and climate protection. Hosted by Ecologic Institute (Germany) and funded by the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) (Germany). (Sept 2021)*
“Smart city policies in global cities: towards a framework for analyzing patterns of adoption.” The Sixth AP-PPN Annual Conference. Hosted by the Education University of Hong Kong, sponsored by the Asia-Pacific Public Policy Network. (Mar. 2021)*
“Evolutionary governance takes flight: drawing on the bird nest as a policymaking metaphor for unstructured problem situations like Covid-19.” 2021 Australasian Public Policy Network Conference. Sponsored by the University of Melbourne and the Policy Studies Research Group. (Feb. 2021)*
“Lasswell in the Covid ward: another paper that tries to find theoretical novelty in a modern crisis.” Society of Policy Scientists Annual Institute. Claremont McKenna College and UCLA. (Nov. 2020)*
“Urban governance in the COVID-19 crisis.” Pritzker Forum on Global Cities: Adapting Governance. Sponsored by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. (seminar host; virtual) (Oct. 2020)*
“Lasswell and critical policy studies: epistemic currency in an era of wicked problems.” Winter School on Public Policy: Critical Policy Perspectives in Asia. Sponsored by the School of Public Policy, Chiang Mai University, Thailand. (Mar. 2020)*
“Global Goals, Global Cities: Achieving the SDGs through Collective Local Action.” Tenth World Urban Forum (WUF10), Abu Dhabi, UAE, sponsored by UN Habitat. (https://www.eduhk.hk/aps/assistant-professor-at-aps-delivered-presentation-at-the-united-nations-tenth-world-urban-forum/) (Feb. 2020)
“Enough of experts: wicked environmental problems and the policy sciences epistemic.” Environmental Governance: Policy Discourse, Deliberative Practices, and Public Participation, sponsored by the National University of Singapore and the Institute of Water Policy. Co-authored with Glen Kuecker and Diana Ascher. (Jan. 2020)
“Neo-professionalization of the public service: opportunity or threat for policy sciences education?” First Workshop on the Future of Policy Sciences, sponsored by the Department of Asian and Policy Studies, the Education University of Hong Kong. (Nov. 2019)
“Smart as intelligence? A policy sciences perspective on the smart city phenomenon.” Society of Policy Scientists Annual Institute, Brown University. Sponsored by the Society of Policy Scientists. (Oct. 2019)
Opening speech. The Sixth International Conference on Social Policy and Governance Innovation, sponsored by Lingnan University (Hong Kong), South China University of Technology, and The Education University of Hong Kong. (Oct. 2019)
“Let nine universities blossom: opportunities and constraints to the development of higher education in China.” Fourth International Conference on Public Policy, sponsored by the International Public Policy Association. University of Concordia, Montreal, Canada. Co-authored with Darryl Jarvis. (June 2019)
“Public acceptance of emerging technologies: the case of wastewater reuse.” Fourth International Conference on Public Policy, sponsored by the International Public Policy Association. University of Concordia, Montreal, Canada. Co-authored with Asit Biswas and Cecilia Tortajada. (June 2019)
“Breaking the linear lock-in: stakeholders’ perceptions of policy options for a circular economy.” Fourth International Conference on Public Policy, sponsored by the International Public Policy Association. University of Concordia, Montreal, Canada. Co-authored with Julian Kirchherr. (June 2019)
“Cities and the sustainable development goals.” Pritzker Forum on Global Cities, sponsored by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. (Rapporteur and output author). (June 2019)
“Making peace with wicked problems: policy practice in an age of disruption.” The Fourth AP-PPN Annual Conference. Hosted by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, sponsored by the Asia-Pacific Public Policy Network. Co-authored with Glen Kuecker and JJ Woo. (Mar. 2019)
“How smart cities became the urban norm: Power and knowledge in New Songdo City.” Second International Conference of the India Public Policy Network, sponsored by the University of Delhi. New Delhi, India. Co-authored with Glen Kuecker. (Feb. 2019)
“The politics and planning of urban public space in Asia.” The New Urban Agenda Standing Conference and 26th EAROPH World Congress. Newcastle, Australia. (Nov. 2018)
“Understanding secondary cities in Asia: a policy capacity approach.” The New Urban Agenda Standing Conference and 26th EAROPH World Congress. Newcastle, Australia. (Nov. 2018)
“An examination of the negative effect of comparative advantage-defying industrial policy on economic growth.” The 2nd International Conference on Administrative Science, Policy and Governance Studies (ICAS-PGS), sponsored by Universitas Indonesia, Canberra University, and Gadjah Mada University. Co-authored with Iftikhar Lodhi. (Oct. 2018)
“Civic tech for public good.” Chicago Forum on Global Cities, sponsored by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. (Rapporteur and output author). (June 2018)
“The Role of Domestic Resource Mobilization in Structural Transformation in Africa.” 3rd Asia-Pacific Public Policy Network Conference, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China. Co-authored with I. Lodhi. (Apr. 2018)
“Developing a Global Strategy in Cities to Ensure Effective and Comprehensive Coordination.” Ninth World Urban Forum (WUF9), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, sponsored by UN Habitat. (Feb. 2018)
“Asian cities and innovation policy in the global knowledge economy.” Third International Conference on Public Policy, National University of Singapore, sponsored by the International Public Policy Association. Co-authored with Woo Jun Jie and Sun Chung. (June 2017
“Public sector innovation and new structural economics: creative interventions to facilitate upgrading and competitiveness.” The Second Symposium on New Structural Economics, Peking University, National School of Development, sponsored by the Center for New Structural Economics. (Dec. 2016)
“Space and society in the new creative economy: civic enterprise in the Philippines.” 11th Singapore Graduate Forum on Southeast Asia Studies, sponsored by the Asia Research Institute (ARI), National University of Singapore. (July 2016)
“Environmental resilience and intergovernmental collaboration in the Pearl River Delta.” Workshop: Urban resilience: the impacts of droughts and floods, sponsored by the Institute of Water Policy, National University of Singapore. (July 2016)
“Institutional reform and policy innovation in Vietnam.” HKU-USC-IPPA Conference on Public Policy, co-sponsored by the University of Hong Kong, University of Southern California, and International Public Policy Association. Co-authored with Le Vinh Trien and Nhung Nguyen. (June 2016)
“Urbanization and smart cities development in Vietnam.” HKU-USC-IPPA Conference on Public Policy, co-sponsored by the University of Hong Kong, Sol Price School of Public Policy of University of Southern California, and International Public Policy Association. Co-authored with Vu Minh Khuong. (June 2016)
“Beyond efficiency: smart city partnerships for social welfare.” Leveraging ICT Potential to Boost Vietnam’s Economic Growth and Development (Hanoi), sponsored by Microsoft Corporation. (Dec. 2015)
“Aid effectiveness and donor intervention: concept, commitment and competence in recipient governance.” 9th Annual Congress of the Asian Political and International Studies Association (APISA 9), organized by the Department of International Studies, Royal University of Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Co-authored with Vu Minh Khuong. (Sept. 2015)
“New Asian Statism: understanding urban governance in the post-developmental era.” KAPA International Conference (Sangmyung University, Cheonan, South Korea), organized by the Korean Association for Public Administration. (July 2015)
“Civic Enterprise as Enabler of Cultural Policy: An Institutional Framework for Art Districts in Seoul.” Second International Conference on Public Policy – ICPP (Catholic University of Sacro Cuore, Milan, Italy), organized by Éupolis Lombardia. (July 2015)
“Agenda Flow and the Multiple Streams of Anti-Fracking Movements.” Second International Conference on Public Policy – ICPP (Catholic University of Sacro Cuore, Milan, Italy), organized by Éupolis Lombardia. (July 2015)
“Nine Dragons Stirring up the River: Conceptualizing the One Resource Two Systems Phenomenon in Transboundary Environmental Management.” Second International Conference on Public Policy – ICPP (Catholic University of Sacro Cuore, Milan, Italy), organized by Éupolis Lombardia. (July 2015)
“Flexible Economic Opportunism: Reinterpreting Western Urbanization in an Asian Context.” 2nd International Conference on Changing Cities II (Porto Heli, Greece), organized by the Department of Planning and Regional Development, University of Thessaly, under the aegis of the Greek Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change. (June 2015)
“A Fixed Effects Analysis of Governance Innovation and Economic Growth in Vietnam’s Provinces.” Social Innovation Research Conference (Fudan University, Shanghai, China), sponsored by the American Society for Public Administration. (May 2015)
“Power and Politics in Urban Governance: An Institutional Rational Choice Model for Conflicting Growth Strategies in Auckland.” New Zealand Political Studies Association Annual Conference, University of Auckland. (Dec. 2014)
“The RICE Framework: Operationalizing Civic Enterprise in Urban Cultural Districts.” Conference on Resilience of Vernacular Heritage in Asian Cities (Singapore), organized by the Asia Research Institute, National University of Singapore. (Dec. 2014)
“The Role of Governance Innovation in Fostering Regional Competitiveness: Linking Market Reforms with Economic Outcomes in Vietnam’s Provinces.” International Political Science Association 23rd World Congress, Montreal, Canada. (July 2014)
“Urban Growth under Ideological Contention: Balancing Politics and Pragmatism in New Zealand.” European Consortium for Political Research Graduate Student Conference, University of Innsbruck, Austria. (July 2014)
“Agenda Setting in Polycentric Systems: A Theoretical Synthesis to Analyze Environmental Management.” Public Management Research Conference (Seoul National University, South Korea), organized by the Public Management Research Association. (June 2014)
“Local Administration and Economic Development: Perspectives from Theory and Practice on the Management of Industrial Estates in Thailand.” World Conference for Public Administration (Daegu, South Korea), organized by the Korean Association for Public Administration. (June 2014)
“An Institutional Rational Choice Model for Water Sector Governance Reform in Hong Kong.” 7th Sino-US International Conference for Public Administration (Beijing), organized by the School of Public Administration and Policy, Renmin University of China and the School of Public Affairs and Administration, Rutgers University. (June 2014)
“Local Policies for Global Sustainability: Addressing the Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing in Shale Gas Extraction.” Public Policy in Asia Conference (Singapore), organized by the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore. (May 2014)
“Measuring Policy Capacity: A Survey of Indices and Methods.” Policy Capacity Conference (Hangzhou, China), organized by Zhejiang University and the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore. Co-authored with Jingru Zhang. (May 2014)
“Governance Reform and Innovation in the Asian Developmental State: Reading Industrial Policy through Public Administration Theory.” Asian Association for Public Administration Annual Conference, Cebu, Philippines. (Feb. 2014)
“National Measures of ICT Readiness in ASEAN Countries.” Competitiveness, Technology, Secondary Cities, and ASEAN’s Future (Singapore), organized by Microsoft Corporation. (Sept. 2013)
“Polycentric Governance for a New Environmental Regime: Theoretical Frontiers in Policy Reform and Public Administration.” First International Conference on Public Policy – ICPP (Sciences Po, Grenoble). Co-authored with Eduardo Araral. (June 2013)
* virtual