SpaceBiz Dialogues
Beyond the Sandbox: Scaling Hong Kong’s LAE Frontiers
突破沙盒:開拓香港低空經濟新產業

Our Speakers
Ir. Dr. Angus Cheung
CEO, Aerovision Technology Ltd
Ir Dr Angus Cheung is an aerospace executive and multidisciplinary engineer with over 30 years of experience in aviation, aircraft engineering, and artificial intelligence. A Chartered Mechanical, Electrical, and Industrial Engineer, he is a Fellow of leading professional bodies including the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) and the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE).
As former CEO of China Aircraft Services Limited (CASL), Angus led the company’s transformation from a startup into a 1,300-strong enterprise, earning industry recognition for safety, innovation, and operational excellence. He also served as Director of Shanghai Eastern Aircraft Maintenance Limited, a joint venture with China Eastern Airlines.
Currently, Angus is CEO of Aerovision Technology Limited, where he focuses on integrating AI and advanced engineering into aerospace systems. He holds an Engineering Doctorate from Warwick University and a Postdoctoral qualification in Artificial Intelligence from Oxford University, alongside degrees from PolyU, HKU, and CUHK.
Angus plays a pivotal role in shaping Hong Kong’s aviation and innovation landscape. He is President of the Hong Kong Aviation Industry Association, Advisor to Our Hong Kong Foundation, and a member of the HKSAR Government’s Aviation Development and Three Runways System Advisory Committee.
With a deep commitment to advancing aerospace technologies and smart mobility, Ir Dr Angus Cheung brings strategic insight and technical expertise to the future of space-enabled industries.

Dr. Victor Chen
Deputy Dean, Lower Air Space Economy Research (LASER) Institute, International Digital Economy Academy (IDEA)
Dr. Chen is Deputy Dean of the Low-Altitude Economy Division at the International Digital Economy Academy (IDEA). He is the chief architect and co-founder of OpenSILAS, China’s first open low-altitude operating system. His work focuses on the design and implementation of intelligent infrastructure for the low-altitude economy, supporting urban-scale drone operations and airspace management. With a Ph.D. in Computer Science in NTS. He brings over ten years of R&D experience spanning the telecom, media, and smart city sectors, with a strong focus on innovation and emerging technologies. Dr. Chen earned his undergraduate degree from Arizona State University and a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Technology Sydney.

Mr. Ryan Ip
VP and Executive Director of Public Policy Institute at Our Hong Kong Foundation
Ryan is the Vice President and Executive Director of Public Policy Institute at Our Hong Kong Foundation (團結香港基金). He leads the think tank to advise the government and private sector organisations on public policy and strategic development. Before joining OHKF, he was an economist at JLL and Hong Kong Monetary Authority. He holds a M.S. degree in Economics from the London School of Economics and is a Chartered Surveyor. He is also an INED at China Merchants Land Limited.
Ryan is active in public service and is a member of the HKSAR Government’s Advisory Committee on the Northern Metropolis, and Land and Development Advisory Committee, the Town Planning Board, the Estate Agents Authority, and the Hong Kong Maritime and Port Board. He is also a VP of the China Real Estate Chamber of Commerce (HK and International Chapter) and a board member of the Hong Kong Proptech Association.

Mr. Frank Erb
Director, Global Market Development, Digital & UTM, Airspace Mobility Solutions, Thales Group
Frank’s aviation career spans over 30 years, characterized by a strong business sense, deep industry knowledge, and a proven ability to collaborate with government officials, industry leaders, and key stakeholders at the global level.
He began his journey with Thales, spending 17 years in various technical and management roles within the Air Traffic Management (ATM) sector in Singapore and in Melbourne, Australia, before leading business development across the Asia Pacific region.
His early work laid a foundation for understanding both the operational and strategic dimensions of airspace management, fueling a career-long passion for transforming air mobility.
Frank later joined the International Air Transport Association (IATA) in Singapore, where he led the transformation and growth of the global ATM consulting business, advising governments, airlines, and air navigation service providers on modernization initiatives.
In 2011, he founded JSI Aviation Consulting, a boutique firm that provided strategic guidance and business support to airports, airlines, air navigation service providers, and aviation-related multinationals across the Asia Pacific region, strengthening his reputation as a trusted advisor and industry innovator.
In 2012, Frank took on a leadership role in Dubai, overseeing the expansion of Serco’s Aviation Business Line across the Middle East and ASPAC regions.
Under his leadership, the business diversified and expanded its portfolio of critical air navigation and airport operations services.
He returned to Thales in 2017, where he was tasked with developing — out of Melbourne, Australia — the Digital Aviation portfolio for Asia Pacific and Australia, focusing particularly on the Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM) ecosystem.
Frank pioneered new business models and innovative approaches to enable safe, efficient, and scalable drone operations, helping lay the foundation for what is now widely referred to as the Low-Altitude Drone Economy.
His work introduced customer-centric digital aviation solutions that supported the integration of drones, urban air mobility (UAM) vehicles, and emerging autonomous systems into controlled airspace.
After more than 30 years abroad, Frank returned to Europe, where he now leads efforts to transform airspace and integrate drones and autonomous aircraft into civil aviation systems.
From Paris, he spearheads the global development of Thales' drone ecosystem, working to enable the growth of the Low-Altitude Economy by advancing regulatory frameworks, digital airspace management platforms, and public-private partnerships worldwide.
He is widely recognized as a pioneer and influential leader in shaping the future of unmanned aviation and the commercial drone industry.
In addition to his role at Thales, since July 2023, Frank serves as the President of the Systematic Hub Drones, a major cluster dedicated to strengthening the Paris Region’s drone industry and accelerating the development of the broader drone ecosystem across France and Europe.
Through his leadership at Systematic, he fosters innovation, collaboration, and cross-sector partnerships aimed at scaling the European drone economy and reinforcing the region’s position as a global leader in advanced air mobility.

Capt. Gurpreet Singh
HSEQ & Vetting Manager, Wah Kwong Ship Management
Gurpreet Singh is a seasoned maritime risk and assurance expert with over 16 years of experience across VLCCs, Suezmax, Aframax, and Panamax tankers. A Master Mariner and Executive MBA holder, he combines operational authority with strategic foresight to address the evolving demands of global shipping.
As HSEQ & Vetting Manager at Wah Kwong Ship Management, Gurpreet oversees safety, compliance, and inspection readiness across a diverse fleet. His work spans SIRE/CDI/RISQ planning, TMSA and DBMS implementation, and audit oversight—ensuring vessels meet the highest standards of performance and transparency.
Previously, he held senior vetting roles at Fleet Management Limited, supporting global oil major audits and driving fleet-wide improvements. With command-level sailing experience and deep regulatory fluency, Gurpreet brings grounded insight into ship-shore integration, marine assurance, and the future of vetting under ESG and digital transformation pressures.
Fluent in English, Hindi, and Punjabi, Gurpreet is known for his structured, data-informed approach and his commitment to raising safety and quality standards across the maritime sector.

Dr. Alex Ping-yau CHAN 陳秉友博士
Council Member, The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport in Hong Kong (CILTHK); Chairman, Hong Kong Transport and Logistics Association
Dr Alex Chan is a veteran maritime and logistics leader with over 40 years of experience spanning ship operations, container terminals, global freight forwarding, and supply chain strategy. He currently serves as the Council Member and Fellowship of The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport in Hong Kong (CILTHK) and the Chairman of the Hong Kong Transport and Logistics Association—his 3rd term in this role—where he promotes industry advancement and cross-sector collaboration.
Dr Chan began his career as a senior deck officer with Golden Peak Shipping Co., Ltd., (aka Parent Company of OOCL Oriental Overseas Container Lines) and has since held leadership roles across ship management, container liner operations, leasing, terminal operations, and international freight forwarding. His expertise includes seafaring, operations management, global supply chain control towers, M&A integration, and digital transformation across Hong Kong, Mainland China, the Asia-Pacific, and global markets.
He played a key role during Hong Kong’s rise as a strategic logistics hub following China’s economic opening, and has witnessed the evolution of container terminals in South and East China, as well as major shipping and freight mergers.
In recent years, Dr Chan has focused on industry development, serving in advisory roles with the Hong Kong Maritime and Port Board (HKMPB), Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC), and Logistics and Supply Chain MultiTech R&D Centre (LSCM). He is committed to mentoring future leaders and shaping public policy. Dr Chan also a book author on ESG for Logistics. He also actively acting as educator and promoter for Green Transport and Logistics through training courses and seminars.
A passionate advocate for Hong Kong’s maritime future, Dr Chan calls for renewed public-private leadership to restore the city’s role as a premier logistics gateway for the Greater Bay Area and beyond.

