Special Sessions

To enrich the conference experience and foster focused discussions, we are pleased to introduce two
special sessions designed for distinct academic audiences:
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1. Emerging Scholars' Forum: Navigating Asia-Pacific Housing Futures

This dedicated forum provides PhD students and early-career researchers with a unique opportunity to
present their ongoing work, discuss methodological approaches, and explore cutting-edge research questions
pertaining to the “polycrisis” affecting Asia-Pacific housing futures. Submissions are encouraged across all
conference tracks, with a particular emphasis on interdisciplinary studies addressing the complex interplay of
financialization, digital transformation, innovative governance, and climate action in shaping urban housing
landscapes

Why participate?

Peer Feedback: Receive constructive feedback on your research from established scholars and peers.
Networking: Connect with a diverse group of emerging and senior academics working on similar
themes.
Future Research Agendas: Contribute to and identify future research directions in critical areas such as
housing inequality, affordability, the impacts of market dynamics and public policy, and the vulnerability
of informal settlements to climate change (Finger et al., 2022; Galster & Lee, 2020; Hussainzad & Gou,
2024; Nasrabadi et al., 2024).
Academic Development: Gain valuable experience in presenting in an international conference setting.
This forum aims to nurture the next generation of housing scholars, equipping them with the insights and
networks necessary to tackle the multifaceted challenges of Asia-Pacific housing

2. Housing Scholars' Dialogue: Critical Topics & Future Trajectories in Asia-Pacific Housing

This exclusive session invites established housing scholars to engage in a high-level, interactive dialogue
on pressing “special topics” and emerging issues that define the contemporary housing situation and future
trajectories in the Asia-Pacific. The session will foster critical academic debate on key challenges and
opportunities, delving into recent developments and their implications for policy and practice.

Potential discussion themes include:

Responding to the “Polycrisis”: In-depth analysis of how the interconnected crises (financial,
technological, environmental, and social) are reshaping housing markets and policy responses across the
region (Rahman et al., 2024).
Recent Housing Market Dynamics: Critical examination of fast price rises, housing cycles, and policy
innovations for market stability and affordability in diverse Asia-Pacific contexts (Finger et al., 2022).
Innovative Policy and Governance: Exploring the efficacy of new policy instruments and adaptive
governance models in promoting sustainable urban recovery and addressing housing inequality
(Nasrabadi et al., 2024; Pacific, 2023).
Climate Adaptation and Social Equity: Delving into the complex challenges of climate change impacts
on vulnerable populations and informal settlements, and exploring equitable adaptation strategies
(Hussainzad & Gou, 2024; Kemarau & Nor, 2025).
Interdisciplinary Approaches: Discussing how interdisciplinary perspectives can best inform future
housing research and policy development (Housing Policy, Wellbeing and Social Development in Asia,
2018; Liu et al., 2023; Murray et al., 2015).

This dialogue aims to synthesize current knowledge, identify critical research gaps, and collectively chart
future academic agendas to address the evolving housing landscape in the Asia-Pacific.