Arup, a global sustainable development consultancy renowned for shaping some of Malaysia’s early landmarks, has appointed Lau Ching Luan as Southeast Asia Leader in a newly created Asia Pacific (APAC) region. Lau previously led Arup’s operations in Malaysia.
At the same time, the firm announced its expansion into Johor, the southern state of Peninsular Malaysia, positioning itself to support the region’s growing role as a key economic corridor due to its proximity to Singapore.
These developments form part of Arup’s broader expansion strategy in the APAC region, which accounts for 39% of global GDP and is projected to experience sustained growth over the next two decades. Lau’s new role supports a refreshed leadership structure aimed at enhancing the firm’s ability to contribute to sustainable development across the region.
“I’m eager to continue the work of diversifying Arup’s business offering, leveraging the exciting opportunities emerging across Southeast Asia,” Lau said. “The rapid acceleration of urbanisation across Southeast Asian developing countries, coupled with increasing interest in sustainability services and decarbonisation, makes us perfectly placed to partner with clients and industry. Having developed innovative sustainable solutions in the Asia Pacific for more than six decades, our renewed focus in Southeast Asia will allow us to more seamlessly access the skills and expertise of our members, leading to better outcomes for our clients.”
He added that the new Johor office signals the firm’s commitment to long-term growth in the region.
“Recognised for development potential, the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone and Forest City Special Financial Zone offer significant opportunities in infrastructure, data centres, industrial parks and real estate. Having our people on the ground in Johor enables us to gain a deeper understanding of local market dynamics and deliver tailored solutions for our clients,” Lau said.
Arup, which recently marked its 60th year in Malaysia, remains committed to creating a resilient and sustainable future through its multidisciplinary expertise. Recent projects in Johor include the Smart City Masterplan for Ibrahim Technopolis (IBTEC), the Public Transport Action Plan for Majlis Bandaraya Iskandar Puteri (MBIP), and acting as owner’s engineer for a 500MWac solar PV power plant.
