SOUTHEAST ASIA CONSTRUCTION18 May 2023
Aurecon strengthens rail transit business in Asia with new appointment

Global design, engineering and advisory company Aurecon has appointed Dr Robin Wong as senior technical and commercial director, rail for Asia. He will relocate from Hong Kong to Malaysia for this regional role.

This strategic appointment is part of Aurecon’s continued investment and expansion across the region, and is a main pillar in enhancing the breadth and depth of its Asia business. Dr Wong will significantly elevate Aurecon’s service offering and value proposition, positioning the company better to secure rail and mass transit opportunities in Asia.

With urbanisation continuing to be a defining trend in Asia Pacific, the region’s transportation infrastructure construction market is estimated to expand at a rate of over 6% from 2022 to 2027 and the development of rail transit infrastructure is expected to play a major role in that growth. Aurecon recognises the market’s enormous potential and is committed to contribute to the development of key rail transit infrastructure in Asia over that period and beyond.

Jean-Marc Girard, Aurecon’s chief operations officer for Asia, said, “Having Robin on board is a game-changing addition to our growing rail transit business in Asia. Robin’s proven track record, deep technical expertise, wealth of international experience and in particular, his intimate local knowledge of the markets that we operate in, will amplify our capabilities in a highly competitive market. We look forward to leveraging his insights and experience to bring country-tailored expertise to life for our clients.”

Dr Wong is an accomplished civil engineer with over 37 years of international experience, having worked in places including the UK, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia.

Over the course of his career, Dr Wong has been instrumental in planning, designing and managing numerous urban metro and transit projects of varying scale and complexity. These include: planning, designing and advising on railway extension projects (e.g. Tseung Kwan O Extension and Disneyland Resort Link) and asset replacement activities for Hong Kong’s MTR Corporation Limited, and managing the detailed design for Hong Kong International Airport’s automated people mover system and baggage handling system tunnels (3138); overseeing the design activities for Klang Valley MRT Line 2 (SSP Line) in Malaysia; leading the architectural and engineering design for the MRT Eastern Region Line (E1003 - 5 stations) in Singapore; managing the detailed civil, structural and MEP design for Jakarta’s MRT (CP104 and CP105) in Indonesia; as well as delivering the Elizabeth Line in London, the UK.

At Aurecon, Dr Wong will be responsible for sharpening the company’s Asia rail transit business offering and strategy; advising on the delivery of strategic rail transit projects; enhancing project delivery; strengthening client connections; deepening in-house technical capabilities; and building high-performing teams to serve the clients.

Before joining Aurecon, Dr Wong was general manager – capital works technical at Hong Kong’s MTR Corporation Limited, where he was instrumental in ensuring the reliability of the MTR network, upholding technical excellence within and shaping its growth. Dr Wong has held key leadership positions earlier in his career at Mott MacDonald in the UK, Hong Kong and Singapore; Build King Construction Limited in Hong Kong; and MMC Gamuda KVMRT (T) Sdn Bhd in Malaysia. During his tenure in Singapore, he also assisted the Land Transport Authority (LTA) to oversee the architectural and engineering design services for MRT projects.

“Asia is in an exciting phase of development, with immense potential for its rail transit infrastructure to grow,” commented Dr Wong. “I am delighted to join Aurecon at this time, where its unwavering commitment to innovation and to Asia bodes well for sustainable and profitable business growth. I look forward to collaborating with my colleagues to further enhance connectivity in the region and strengthen Aurecon’s foothold in the market.”