Asia & Pacific

Joseph Kwan is an Architect and Consultant in Universal Accessibility who received his architectural training in Australia, and later in Environmental Psychology from the United Kingdom. He is awarded the degree of Doctor of the University by the Queensland University of Technology Council in 2020.   He has more than 40 years of experience in international architectural practice having worked in Australia, United Kingdom, France and now over 30 years in Hong Kong. Joseph has been the Director of a Hong Kong NGO for 18 years that focused on making Hong Kong more accessible for the elderly and people with disabilities, to the built environment and public transportation. He is the Founding Director of UDA Consultants Ltd. (Universal Design and Accessibility Consultants) in Hong Kong since 2005. Joseph was a Consultant to the UN-ESCAP, on the preparation of a Technical Guideline on the “Promotion of Non-Handicapping Environments for Disabled and Elderly Persons in the Asia – Pacific Region”, and also a Resource Person for the UN-ESCAP on “The Regional Training of Trainers Course on the Promotion of Non-Handicapping Environments for People with Disabilities”. He is their current Expert/Consultant on the promotion of Barrier-Free Tourism in Asia and the Pacific. He was a Consultant to the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on the preparation of a Technical Guideline on “Universal Access to ADB Transport Projects”, in addition to advising on accessibility to the proposed MRT Systems in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Joseph was a Member of the ISO (International Standards Organization) Working Group on the drafting of the Standard entitled: “Accessibility and Usability of the Built Environment” 2011, and is currently serving in the Working Group on the Review of this Standard. He is a Member of the Hong Kong Government Rehabilitation Advisory Committee (RAC), a Member of the Working Group on Hong Kong Rehabilitation Programme Plan (RPP) 2020-30 Review, a Convenor of the RPP Task Force on Accessibility and the Chairman of RAC Sub-committee on Access. Since 1987, Joseph Kwan has prepared over 300 Personal Injury legal reports, for people who sustained personal injuries, for the Legal Aid Department, private Solicitors and Lawyers in Hong Kong, the United Kingdom and Canada. He has extensive lecture experiences in the field of access and universal design at the local, regional and international level having lectured in 33 countries.

Ms. Maria de Fátima Salvador dos Santos Ferreira is currently the president of the Fuhong Society of Macau since 2003 and has been the Director of the Social Welfare Bureau in Macau. With enthusiasm and the intention to keep providing services for society, she started the Fuhong Society of Macau and hoped to deliver a variety of opportunities for people with disabilities to develop their personal capabilities, actively integrate into the communities, and live a wonderful life.

After graduating, she began working in Macau Public Service as the first social worker which sparked the development of social service in Macau. She was first allocated as a social worker at the Social Welfare Bureau and aimed to improve people’s lives by helping with social and interpersonal difficulties and promoting human rights and wellbeing. In February 1976, she was then shifted to the Social Recovery Centre (CRS) in temporary diligence due to a manifest and urgent need for the service. In July 1989, she was transferred to the Macau Health Services, having been placed at the Conde de S. Januário Hospital Centre as the head of the Social Service sector, being critical in defining problems to effectively accomplish its goal. By achieving professional qualifications and extensive experiences throughout her career path, Fátima was greatly honored to serve as the Director of the Social Welfare Bureau in August 1991. After retirement, Fátima also resolved to continue her participation in social service and expect to pass on the good experience and spirit. She has taken part in the board of management in many organizations, such as serving as the president of the Rotary Club of Macau in 2004 and the president of the Montepio Geral de Macau. In her execution capabilities as president, Fátima led the organization with the ongoing commitment and strong purposes for both local services and international projects, making contributions to the betterment of Macau.

In 2003, together with two friends, she founded the Fuhong Society of Macau, aiming to provide vocational training, techniques of independent living, and support in the search for work for the intellectually disabled and the former mentally ill, having contributed to the creation of the first laundry service social enterprise in 2012, offering job opportunity for people with disabilities. For affirmation and commendation, Fátima was awarded the “Medal of Merit in Altruistic” by the Macau SAR Government in 2008 for her personal achievements in the field of social service over the half-century. With her steadfast belief and excellent leadership skills, the organization became one of the members of Rehabilitation International (RI) in 2017 and received the opportunity to host the Rehabilitation International Asia and Pacific Regional Conference in June 2019. It was a splendid event and accomplishment, both in terms of intellectual quality and social gratification. The Conference was held alongside the exhibition of Assistive Devices and the Art with the Disabled Exhibition simultaneously with approximately 1,500 attendees from 32 countries, gathered international experts, practitioners, academics and researchers from all over the world. Throughout the conference days, together with various sectors, we signed the “Memorandum of Collaboration of Partnership of Parents Networks” and adopted the “Macau Statement 2019” which called Governments and peoples of the region to support inclusive policies and measures and proactively expedite the procedure.

Under her administration, the organization was awarded the “Medal of Merit in Altruistic” by the Government in 2018 for proving its 15-year efforts and selfless dedication to people with disabilities. Her dedication has marked an important milestone in the development of social work. She will remain in committed to enhancing the entire social work profession and rehabilitation service by exploring its difficult issues, new challenges, and current successes in Macau