Laureate Asia Tour 2025: Shanghai, Shenzhen, Hong Kong, Singapore

ARC Laureate Fellow Distinguished Professor Xuemei Bai recently concluded a lecture tour of Shanghai, Shenzhen, Hong Kong, and Singapore, engaging in four public lectures and conference keynotes, interacting with city government officials, visiting cutting-edge businesses, and addressing an Australian University alumni event in Shanghai.

Cady Liang (left) and Xuemei Bai (right). Photo credit the Australian Consulate-General in Shanghai

The tour began with an Australian University alumni event in Shanghai, "In Conversation with Professor Xuemei Bai: Climate Change, Urbanisation, and the Future of our Cities." This was hosted in conversation with Cady Liang (current UNSW faculty member teaching sustainability, and until recently the APAC Regional Director of Sustainability at Compass Group). The event was focused on a discussion of urban growth, environmental protection and climate resilience with Professor Bai, an expert on urban sustainability science and policy from the Australian National University. It was hosted by young Australian business builder in sustainability Cady Liang and attracted nearly 100 Australian alumni. "Great to meet several ANU alumni, and in particular our own Fenner graduates!" says Professor Bai. The event was hosted by the Australian Consulate-General in Shanghai on June 19th. During Professor Bai's trip in Shanghai, she also visited Government departments, business, and research institutes in the field of climate science and urban development.

Photo credit CUHK.

Professor Bai was keynote speaker at the “Distinguished Lecture on Sustainable Development 2025” hosted by The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) on June 27th. Professor Bai's talk, titled “Cities as Transformative Agents for Global Sustainability”, explored the nexus between cities and climate change, with an emphasis on the evolving role of cities in addressing global environmental challenges. She proposed a reconceptualisation of cities as dynamic systems capable of driving transformative change. The event was the first-ever collaboration between the Hong Kong Chapter of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN Hong Kong) and the Australian Consulate-General in Hong Kong.

Press release by Chinese University of Hong Kong

Professor Bai capped off her formal lectures as the keynote speaker at the 12th International Conference on Industrial Ecology (ISIE2025) on July 1st, hosted at the National University of Singapore. Her talk titled “Translating planetary and earth system boundaries for cities and businesses” explored how to translate Planetary Boundaries and Safe and Just Earth System Boundaries for actors across different scales. Professor Bai mentions that ISIE is "one of my intellectual homes" and that it was inspiring to meet its talented and energetic early career researchers and PhD scholars, as well as reconnect with old friends and meeting new colleagues.

In addition to the formal lectures, Professor Bai visited prominent universities like Fudan University, Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech), Chinese University in Hong Kong, and Hong Kong University, for engaging in public lectures, research seminars, and fruitful discussions. 

Professor Bai had the opportunity for engagement outside the academy, meeting with city officials in Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong, learning about their innovative approaches to climate change, urban planning, and sustainable development. "These these cities are frontrunners in sustainable urban development and carbon mitigation in China, and some of their measures and achievements are world leading," says Professor Bai.

Professor Bai was also able to explore the work of leading companies specialising in AI-driven electric grid optimisation, smart transportation, and electric vehicle production. She reflects that this was an "eye opening experience witnessing their high-tech operations, very young leadership and staff, and exponential growth trajectories."

Professor Bai’s tour has been supported by the Australian Consulate-Generals in Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Guangzhou, the Hong Kong SDSN, Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), and the International Society of Industrial Ecology (ISIE), and the ARC Laureate Fellowship.

(Updated with photos and additional text July 23rd 2025)