Inavate APAC Awards 2024: Consultant of the Year APAC

• Features

• 24/01/2025

The Inavate APAC Awards 2024 saw another highly competitive race for the Consultant of the Year APAC Award, and Sand Leung from Nova Range emerged victorious. This recognition is a well-earned tribute to Leung’s contributions and leadership in the AV industry across the Asia Pacific region in the role of a consultant as she aims to change how technology delivers value to users.

To understand how Leung became the esteemed consultant she is today, she takes us back to her roots where her passion for AV began: her love for music and live entertainment.

Leung begins: “I first started my education in the creative and multimedia field in college, with a focus on the content and creative side of things. However, being a big fan of music and live shows, I realised I needed a more solid understanding of the technical aspects of audio.”

This epiphany led to Leung’s enrolment in the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, where she formally earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in sound design and music recording. She details her experience: “I chose to specialise and focus on theatre sound systems, sound effects, and studio engineering. After I graduated, I realised that most graduates typically go into government performance venues as sound operators. Personally, I didn’t enjoy operating roles, so I sought something different. I was eventually referred to a job that required knowledge of both video and audio software, which turned out to be a systems integrator role for a construction project at Hong Kong Disneyland!”

Leung’s early career saw her working on high-profile construction projects such as Hong Kong Disneyland and the cable car theme village to the Big Buddha in Hong Kong. She says: “Truthfully, I knew nothing about construction or about system programming, but it was a fun and valuable start. I learned a lot from the professionals who flew in from the US for the Disneyland project, which spanned two years. Under my first company, we worked on a bunch of fun projects for casinos and hotels.”

Venturing into Macau’s AV scene, Leung decided to embark on projects in the region, starting with The Venetian. As an AV systems integrator, she was responsible for overseeing the installation of background music and audio visual systems. She notes: “Through this role, I began to learn more about control systems from manufacturers such as Crestron, and background music systems using BSS CobraNet. It was challenging but rewarding to meet the tight deadlines of construction projects.”

Transitioning to consultancy

In 2012, Leung decided to transition to the consultancy field as her career took a significant turn. She elaborates: “After eight years as a systems integrator, I felt it was time to change fields. In the construction hierarchy, the systems integrator is often the one who absorbs the final responsibility to complete the job. Sometimes the design may not be detailed or clear enough, but the systems integrator is still expected to manage all these changes and imperfections. At times, it felt a bit unfair and beyond my control to be able to deliver the perfect outcome. Therefore, I believed that moving to a consultant role would allow me to have more control and communicate more effectively with the client to understand and fulfil their needs.”

Reflecting on this turning point, she says: “I started my stint in consultancy at JBA Consulting Engineers, now known as NV5. At JBA, I learned a lot from my colleagues in various fields like electrical and mechanical engineering, which made it a supportive environment for learning.”

She continues: “In 2015, I joined Coherent Technology Consulting — now rebranded as Nova Range — and took on the role of project manager for the Wynn Palace in Cotai, Macau. This role involved helping the client review and fill gaps in the design, coordinating with different parties, and delivering the project over a timeframe of two years. Later, I worked on delivering solutions to MGM’s theatre, which had complex moving LED walls and seats.”

By 2020, Leung had become one of the owners of Nova Range, taking on greater responsibilities in the company’s operations and strategic direction. She remarks: “Since our rebrand in 2019, I have overseen operations, working on various local projects, including collaborations with local system integrators. Over the past few years, we’ve focused on performance areas, hospitality projects, and fun projects in Macau, the Philippines, and Taiwan.”

What makes a smart consultant

Building her foundation in systems integration meant that Leung was able to understand the importance of delivering what a client truly wants. However, some of her experiences left her feeling unfulfilled when intended outcomes were not achieved. She notes: “It’s frustrating for everyone when the design of a project doesn’t meet the client’s expectations despite the hard work and investment. As such, I pivoted over to being a consultant so that I could ensure clear communication with end-users. This way, I can better understand their needs and avoid regrets later.”

Being at Nova Range has also allowed Leung to tap into her potential and grow the company’s presence in the region. She explains how Nova Range distinguishes itself from other consultancies in the field: “We focus on creating detailed drawings that contractors can easily implement and aim to minimise design changes later on, which helps control costs. We also focus a lot more on project management during the design process, which I believe is very important. Many people may not consider project management crucial, but throughout the design and construction processes, if the project management is not well coordinated, it becomes a significant issue. Project management is not just about handling the technical side; it’s also about communication and collaboration with people.”

Moreover, the AV industry is always changing. Trends come and go, and a smart consultant has to constantly be on their feet to adapt to evolving demands. How does Leung navigate the speed at which the tech industry grows? She answers: “A smart consultant needs to stay updated with the latest technology, and that includes AI. We have to find ways to improve productivity and meet client demands in a swift manner while also ensuring that we deliver accurate feedback and outcomes. It’s crucial to keep learning so we can adapt to new trends. To do this, I actively learn and test new technologies, like AI, to understand how they can help improve our work. Engaging with industry events and discussions also helps me to gain insights from others’ experiences and keeps me informed about the latest trends.”

Looking towards the future, Leung muses on what the next phase of AV consultancy might look like: “The future will likely involve integrating more elements beyond traditional AV systems, such as enhancing consumer experiences through multimedia and interactive elements. I believe that keeping a curious mind is essential for continuous learning and growth in the consultancy field. At Nova Range, we’re working on some exciting performance venues in Macau, and we’re seeing more investments in advanced AV systems to enhance the overall technology and experience.”