EY x HKUST IEMS Emerging Market Insights Series: "Data Governance in Smart Cities in the Greater Bay Area: Opportunities and Challenges"

Masaru Yarime is Faculty Associate at the HKUST Institute for Emerging Market Studies. He is currently Associate Professor at the Division of Public Policy and Co-Director of the AI Ethics and Governance Lab at HKUST. He has appointments as Visiting Associate Professor at the Graduate School of Public Policy at the University of Tokyo and Honorary Associate Professor at the Department of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Public Policy at University College London.

He is exploring data-driven innovation such as AI, IoT, blockchain, and smart cities for sustainability and implications for public policy and governance. He serves on the editorial board of international journals, including Sustainability Science, Environmental Science and Policy, Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions, Frontiers in Sustainable Cities - Innovation and Governance, and Data & Policy.

He received a B.Eng. and M.S. in Chemical Engineering at the University of Tokyo and California Institute of Technology, respectively, and a Ph.D. in Economics and Policy Studies of Innovation and Technological Change at Maastricht University.

Adam Au is the General Counsel and Head of Internal Audit at a multinational corporation. He is a certified data privacy expert with a focus on data protection and privacy. Adam holds an economics degree from Brown University, a law degree from Oxford University, and an MBA from MIT Sloan. He is also a lecturer in data protection and AI at the University of Hong Kong.

Nelson has over 25 years of experience in privacy compliance, cyber campaigns, information security management systems, data security management, IT risk management, security operations and incident response. With over 15 years of experience in the PRC market and 10 years in the HK market, he possesses in-depth experience in assisting enterprises across various industries with privacy and cyber compliance.

Vincent is an EY Partner based in Hong Kong, and he has led a team of professionals in providing business and technology consulting services to clients, covering areas such as enterprise governance, finance, business and digital transformations, and cybersecurity & data privacy over the past two decades.

Vincent has over thirty years' experience in technology consulting, serving clients from a variety of industry sectors and advising them on addressing technology risks and business issues.  He has been involved in the development of international best practices, and a keen advocate in promoting the recognition of cross-jurisdiction data governance.  In his GBA role, Vincent coordinates with the leaders of all services teams within EY to provide a one-stop service platform for clients to seize the opportunities from the GBA development.

Vincent is currently also the Vice-Chair of the Institute of Big Data Governance (IBDG), Cross-boundary Data Collaboration Sub-group Member of HKSAR Government’s Digital Economy Development Committee (DEDC), Council Member of Hong Kong Institute of Directors (HKIoD), Assessment Panel Member of Innovation & Technology Commission’s various funding programs, Member of Hospital Authority’s Public Complaints Committee, and Convenor of the Hong Kong Institute of CPA's IT Interests Group.

Vincent is Certified Practicing Accountant (HKICPA), a Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), as well as Certified in Governance of Enterprise Information Technology (CGEIT), and he was awarded “Medal of Honor” (M.H.) by the Hong Kong SAR Government’s Chief Executive in 2017 for his contributions in information security.

Ir Allen Yeung has extensive experience in areas including smart cities, big data, cybersecurity, telecommunication, semiconductor industry, angel investing, venture/private equity investment, business development, management in science and technology park as well as government affairs. He has contributed significantly in promoting and developing the innovation and technology industry in Hong Kong and the region. He has served many councils and advisory committees in the ICT industry associations, business angel networks, engineer professional bodies, as well as educational institutions. He is a leading figure in the technology sector in Hong Kong.

From 2015 to 2018, Ir Yeung was appointed by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government as the former Government Chief Information Officer, head of the department and Justice of the Peace. In the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (which has been merged and currently named as Digital Policy Office), his responsibilities included formulating ICT policies and strategies; leading the E-government programmes; promoting and developing ICT industry as key business and economy driver; and bridging the digital divide.

Ir Yeung started his career in 1987 in the Silicon Valley, working for many hi-tech companies. In 1995, he relocated to Hong Kong to further his career development and served in several senior management positions for Hong Kong listed companies and multinational enterprises in the States, China, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, India, Australia and New Zealand. He holds BSEE from the University of Texas at Austin, MSEE from Purdue University and Executive MBA from HKUST-Kellogg Northwestern University.