Consultant of the Year APAC 2025, Henry Chan from Arup talks to Naila Nadeem about his thoughts on consultancy, technology, and the future of AV.
The Consultant of the Year APAC Award is unique. It recognises the achievements and impact of an individual and in doing so the accolade uplifts the organisation as well. These sentiments were exactly what Henry Chan from Arup felt when he was crowned the Consultant of the Year APAC for 2025. He said: “It is a great honour and when I won this Award someone asked ‘Is this for Henry or Arup?’. I answered it is an Award for Henry of Arup, because I could not have won this Award on my own. It is a recognition of my company, myself, and my team who have supported me all this time.”
Henry Chan was selected as the Consultant of the Year APAC on the basis of his excellent entry which highlighted how he has championed the cause of consultancy and AV in the region, delivered value for clients, and pushed the cause of AV forward. A particularly impressive component of his entry was his stellar work on the Kai Tak Stadium installation in Hong Kong, a project that won the Leisure & Entertainment Award in its own capacity.
Chan offers a fresh perspective on his work, noting that while Arup is widely known for its involvement in large-scale projects such as tall buildings, airports, stadiums, and major civil works, the role of AV technology within these projects is often overlooked. Many people typically associate AV with loudspeakers, immersive technology, video projection, or LED displays, but the truth is, AV technology encompasses much more than that.
He says: “I have been fortunate enough to work on a few instantly recognisable projects, such as the Hong Kong Airport, M+ Museum, and now Kai Tak Stadium. But I have also worked on hundreds of other projects. My approach to all of these projects is the same. Everything needs to work well together for the project to be successful and the experience to be great.”
What qualifies as a successful project? For Chan, it’s one where both the visible and invisible elements are carefully considered and work together to achieve the desired outcomes. He explains: “Regardless of the industry, discipline, project type, or application, I always emphasise to clients that audio and acoustics are crucial. Sound often gets overlooked simply because it’s not visible. Yet, at the end of a successful project, people often say, ‘This project looks amazing’, giving credit to the architects and designers for its appearance. What often goes unnoticed, however, are the invisible elements like sound and acoustics, which play an equally vital role in shaping the overall experience.”
Chan believes that championing the impact AV technology makes is sorely needed: “We need to promote AV and acoustics industries so that more and more people understand how important it is and respect the work being done by AV professionals. We spend a lot of time designing audio systems, tuning them, and deploying them. When the audience truly appreciates high-quality audio and AV, exceptional sound doesn’t just get noticed - it elevates the entire experience and leaves a lasting impression. It is great that the Inavate APAC Awards highlight and recognise the work we do as AV professionals.”
In the meantime, Chan believes that consultants should do what consultants do best and that is to guide clients to good decisions. He details a particular conversation that is cropping up more and more: “New technology can help improve efficiency. Maybe in the past, we needed 100 big speakers to generate enough sound pressure and sound power. Nowadays, maybe we can use fewer speakers, smaller speakers and achieve sound quality and levels. Technology helps in that regard.
“But for us, as a consultant, the most important thing is to identify and recommend the right system to our clients, which is not necessarily the newest technology. We do not always have to choose the most updated model or the latest tech. Our job is to advise the client on which product is the best fit for their space and needs.”
Chan’s dedication to neutrality, client service, and unlocking the full potential of AV technology is reflected in his work. He explains: “Whether in arenas or theatres, acoustics and audio must harmonise within the space to achieve optimal sound performance. This involves placing loudspeakers in ideal positions, selecting the speakers with suitable sound dispersion angles, applying the right amount of sound-absorbing materials, and angling walls appropriately to minimise unwanted reflections. With thoughtful design and careful coordination, these elements come together to deliver exceptional results and a deeply satisfying experience.”
Looking toward the future, Chan believes that consultancy in its current guise might become a dying art unless the right steps are taken. He concludes: “We see a lot of graduates coming out of university with a degree and they have the skills to perhaps go into IT, engineering, or business. These skills are applicable to the AV industry, especially if they are already studying in a tech related field. But what about core audio and visual skills such as designing, testing, and commissioning? These are learned on the job.”
He concludes: “I believe we need to incubate the next generation of AV consultants. That’s where Inavate’s work becomes important because independent platforms like Inavate and the Inavate APAC Awards help promote consultants, integrators, and AV professionals. Through this more people will begin to understand what we do and recognise that AV and tech offer fulfilling careers.”