After graduating with first class honours in BEng(Hons) in Building Services Engineering from the Hong Kong Polytechnic in 1991, Joseph commenced his career as a consulting building services engineer and subsequently obtained a MSc in Environmental Management from the University of Hong Kong.  He became a qualified engineer in 1996 and continued to manage a wide range of renowned new-builds and maintenance projects.  Joseph joined the Department of Building Services Engineering of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University in 2002, and earned his PhD in facilities management from the Cardiff University. Over the years, Joseph has been invited by a number of institutes to share his experience during technical talks and seminars. He currently focuses his research work on operation, maintenance and management of built facilities.

Academic and Professional Qualifications

• 1st class Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) in Building Services Engineering, Hong Kong Polytechnic
• Master of Science in Environmental Management, University of Hong Kong
• Doctor of Philosophy, Cardiff University, UK

• 1996           Corporate member, The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers, HK.
• 1997           Corporate member, The Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers, UK.
• 1997           Chartered Engineer, Engineering Council, UK.
• 1997           Registered Professional Engineer (Building Services), Engineers Registration Board, HK.
• 2002           EMF Engineer, The International Engineers Coordinating Committee.
• 2002           APEC Engineer, APEC Engineer Coordinating Committee.
• 2003           Corporate member, Building Services Operation and Maintenance Executives Society, HK.
• 2006           Member, American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-conditioning Engineers, Inc.
• 2007           Fellow member, Building Services Operation and Maintenance Executives Society, HK.

• Operation and maintenance in buildings
• Facilities economics and management
• Regulatory controls on building services
• Building services construction management

• Visiting lecturer, guest speaker, dissertation supervisor of institutes including The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong Productivity Council, HKU SPACE and University of Central Lancashire.

• PolyU: Maintenance management of built assets; Facilities support services management; Facility management and the workplace; Design project; Research project; Architectural science; Architecture and buildings; Operation and maintenance; Testing and commissioning; Electrical installations; Communication systems; Air-conditioning and refrigeration

• Other institutes: Facilities management; Maintenance management; Fire services, security and lift engineering

• Principal (sole) investigator of “Benchmarking of Operation and Maintenance Practices in Commercial Properties” – Project funded by Internal Competitive Research Grant (A-PF61) of PolyU. (Jul 04 – Jun 05)

• Co-investigator (Project team leader of Building Services Discipline) of “Repair, Maintenance and Sustainability of the Ageing Residential Building Stock in Hong Kong” – Project jointly funded by CII-HK and PolyU.  (Jan 05 – Jun 06)

• Co-investigator of “Best Practices in Managing Specialist Subcontracting Performance – Project funded by CII-HK.  (Apr 05 – Mar 06)

• Co-investigator of “Multi-layer Subcontracting for Building Services Installation Works in Hong Kong” – Project funded by PolyU (G-U151).  (Oct 05 – Mar 07)

• Principal (sole) investigator of “Budgeting and Control Practices for Operation and Maintenance Work for Commercial Buildings” – Project funded by Internal Competitive Research Grant of PolyU. (Aug 06 – Jan 08)

• Principal investigator of “A Study on the Need and Viability of Offering Academic Programmes on Building Operation and Maintenance” – Project funded by Learning and Teaching Fund (Z0DK) of PolyU. (May 07 – May 08)

• Co-investigator of “Research Study on Hong Kong’s Building Services Profession - with a view to enhance future roles and functions of Hong Kong’s Professional Building Services Engineers in Society” – Project funded by Building Services Division of The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers. (Sep 07 – Nov 08)

Recent Publications

• Lai, J.H.K., Yik, F.W.H. (2004), Law and building services maintenance in Hong Kong, Transactions, The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers, Vol. 11, No. 1, pp. 7-14.

• Lai, J.H.K., Yik, F.W.H. and Jones, P. (2004), Disputes arising from vaguely defined contractual responsibilities in building services maintenance contracts, Facilities, Vol. 22, No.1/2, pp. 44-52.

• Yik, F.W.H. and Lai, J.H.K. (2005), The trend of outsourcing for building services operation and maintenance in Hong Kong, Facilities, Vol. 23, No.1/2, pp. 63-72.

• Lai, J.H.K. and Yik, F.W.H. (2006), Knowledge and perception of operation and maintenance practitioners in Hong Kong about sustainable buildings, Facilities, Vol. 24, No.3/4, pp. 90-105.

• Lai, J.H.K., Hui, E. (2006), Guarding against bird flu: some helpful building O&M practices, Hong Kong Engineer, The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers, March, pp. 14-15.

• Lai, J.H.K., Yik, F.W.H. and Jones, P. (2006), Critical contractual issues of outsourced operation and maintenance service for commercial buildings, International Journal of Service Industry Management, Vol. 17, No. 4, pp. 320-343.

• Yik, F.W.H., Lai, J.H.K., Chan, K.T. and Yiu, E.C.Y. (2006), Problems with Specialist Subcontracting in the Construction Industry, Building Services Engineering Research and Technology, Vol. 27, No. 3, pp. 183-193.

• Lai, J.H.K. and Yik, F.W.H. (2007), Monitoring Building Operation and Maintenance Contracts, Facilities, Vol. 25, No. 5/6, pp. 238-251.

• Lai, J.H.K. and Yik, F.W.H. (2007), Perceived Importance of the Quality of the Indoor Environment in Commercial Buildings, Indoor and Built Environment, Vol. 16, Issue 4, pp. 311-321.

• Lai, J.H.K. and Yik, F.W.H. (2007), Is a building O&M academic programme needed?, Hong Kong Engineer, The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers, August, pp. 19-20.

• Yik, F.W.H. and Lai, J.H.K. (2008), Multilayer subcontracting of specialist works in buildings in Hong Kong, International Journal of Project Management, Vol. 26, pp. 399-407.

• Lai, J.H.K., Yik, F.W.H. and Jones, P. (2008), Expenditure on Operation and Maintenance Service and Rental Income of Commercial Buildings, Facilities, Vol. 26, No. 5/6, pp. 242-265.

• Lai, J.H.K. and Yik, F.W.H. (2008), Perception of Importance and Performance of the Indoor Environmental Quality of High-Rise Residential Buildings, Building and Environment, in press; doi:10.1016/j.buildenv.2008.03.013.

• Yik F.W.H., Chan K.T., Chau C.K., Lee W.L., Lai J.H.K. (2008). Influential factors to the recognition enjoyed by building services engineers. Hong Kong Engineers, Vol.36, No.1, p.16-18.

Conference papers

• Lai, J.H.K., Yik, F.W.H. and Jones, P. (2004), Addressing the Knowledge Gap of Practitioners in Outsourcing Operation and Maintenance Work for Sustainable Buildings, CIBSE National Conference, London UK, September 2004.

• Lai, J.H.K., Yik, F.W.H. and Jones, P. (2004), Practices and Performance of Outsourced Operation and Maintenance in Commercial Buildings, Proceedings of the CIBW70 2004 Hong Kong International Symposium: Facilities Management & Maintenance, Hong Kong SAR, December 2004, pp. 357-367.

• Lai, J.H.K. and Yik, F.W.H. (2005), Benchmarking Operation and Maintenance Cost, Performance and Value for Commercial Buildings in Hong Kong, Proceedings of Joint (HKIE/CIBSE/ASHRAE) Symposium 2005: New Challenges in Building Services, Hong Kong SAR, 15 November, pp. 139-149.

• Lai, J.H.K. and Yik, F.W.H. (2006), Developing Performance Indicators for Benchmarking Building Services Operation and Maintenance for Commercial Buildings, Proceedings of CIBW70 Trondheim International Symposium: Changing User Demands on Buildings, 12-14 June, pp. 283-294.

• Lai, J.H.K., Yik, F.W.H. and Chan, D.W.T. (2006), Ageing Building Services in Two Residential Buildings in Hong Kong, Proceedings of CII-HK Conference 2006: Ageing Building – Threats and Opportunities, 21 November, pp. 113-123.

• Lai, J.H.K. and Yik, F.W.H. (2007), A Survey of Operation and Maintenance Budgetary Practices for Commercial Buildings in Hong Kong – Preliminary Findings, CIB World Building Congress: Construction for Development, Cape Town, South Africa, May 14-17, pp. 742-754.

• Lai, J.H.K. and Yik, F.W.H. (2007), Economic Considerations in Outsourcing Operation and Maintenance Services for Commercial Buildings, Construction Management and Economics CME25 Conference Proceedings, University of Reading, UK, July 16-18.

• Yik, F.W.H. and Lai, J.H.K. (2007), Governance of Performance of Building Services Designers in Design and Build Contracts, Construction Management and Economics CME25 Conference Proceedings, University of Reading, UK, July 16-18

• Lai, J.H.K. and Yik, F.W.H. (2008), Benchmarking the Costs for Operating and Maintaining Engineering Facilities of Luxury Hotels in Hong Kong, CIB W70 International Conference in Facilities Management, Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh, UK, June 16-18. (in press)

• International Editorial Review Board Member of the International Journal of Information Systems in the Service Sector

• Reviewer of Slovak Research and Development Agency

• International Journal on Architectural Science
• International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management
• International Journal of Project Management
• Journal Facilities
• Construction Industry Institute CII-HK Conference 2006: Ageing Building - Threats and Opportunities
• Construction Management and Economics CME25 Conference: Past Present and Future
• Construction Industry Institute CII-HK Conference 2007: Never Safe Enough - A Wider Look at Construction Safety and Health

• Consultancy for Facility Management Training and Preparation of Submission Documents for Best Managed Facility Award 2004 - Residential Facility, Well Born Real Estate Management Limited. (2004)
• Consultancy Study on the State of Hong Kong’s Insfrastructures – Buildings Sub-Panel Study, The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers. (2006)

• CPD Course on “Building Services Maintenance: Statutory Requirements and Best Practice”, HKU SPACE, May 2003.

• Technical Talk on “Statutory Maintenance Requirements for Mechanical Services in Buildings, HKIE-MMNC/PolyU, Jun 2004.

• Seminar on “Financial Management for Building Operation and Maintenance Professionals”, HKIE-BSD/BSOMES/PolyU-BSE, Jan 2005.

• Seminar on “Buildings Regulations and Practices”, HKU SPACE, Feb 2006.

• Presentation on “Benchmarking Operation and Maintenance Work for Hotels”, Hong Kong Hotel Association, Jul 2006.

• Talk on “Benchmarking Operation and Maintenance Work for Hotels: Feedback from a Pilot Run”, Hong Kong Hotel Association, Nov 2006.

• Technical Seminar on “Indoor Temperature at 25.5⁰C?”, ASHRAE-HKC, BSOMES, CIBSE-HKB, HKIE-BSD and HKIE-EnvD, Feb 2007.

• Presentation (First) on “Benchmarking Operation and Maintenance Work for Hotels: Preliminary Findings” to Hotel Engineers Committee, Hong Kong Hotel Association, Mar 2007.

• Presentation (Second) on “Benchmarking Operation and Maintenance Work for Hotels: Preliminary Findings” to Hotel Engineers of Hong Kong Hotel Association, Apr 2007.

• CPD Seminar on “Sustainable Architecture Series: The Repair, Maintenance and Sustainability of Ageing Residential Building Stock in Hong Kong”, The Hong Kong Institute of Architects, May 2007.

• CPD Lecture for Comprehensive Certificate Course on “Air Conditioning and Mechanical Ventilation System in Buildings”, HKIE-BSD, ASHRAE-HKC, CIBSE-HKB, BSOMES, ACRA and IVE, Apr 2008.

• CPD Talk on “Mentorship Programme”, Department of Building Services Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, May 2008.

• Presentation on “Operation and Maintenance Benchmarking: Findings from 10 Hotels” to Hotel Engineers of Hong Kong Hotel Association, May 2008.

• Technical Seminar on “Uplifting Construction Quality in Building Services Sector”, The Hong Kong Federation of Electrical and Mechanical Contractors Limited, May 2008.

• Leader of Technical Working Group (HVACR Operation and Maintenance) of ASHRAE (Hong Kong Chapter). (2005 - )
• Chair of Reception Committee of ASHRAE (Hong Kong Chapter). (2006-2007)

•  Member of Academic Committee of BSOMES. (2004-06)
• Organizer and assessor of BSOMES Research Prize 2006. (2006)
• Vice President of BSOMES. (2006-08)
• Executive Committee Member of BSOMES. (2006-08)
• Chair of Academic Committee of BSOMES. (2006-08)
• Organizer of BSOMES Research Prize 2007. (2007)
• Organizer and facilitator of “Forum on Consultation Paper on the Implementation of Third Party Fire Safety Certification by Introducing a Registered Fire Engineers Scheme in Hong Kong”, BSOMES, 22 November 2007.
• Organizer and facilitator of “Forum on Consultation Paper on Mandatory Implementation of the Building Energy Codes”, BSOMES, 29 January 2008.

• Member of Technical Review Panel of Hong Kong Building Environmental Assessment Method. (2003)
• Executive Committee Member of HK-BEAM Society. (2007 - )

• Panel member of Paper 4 “Building Services and Environmental Controls” of HKIA Professional Assessment. (2006)