About

Shaping Cities Through Systems 

Alva To is Vice President and Head of Consulting for Greater China at Cushman & Wakefield. He leads a team of more than 130 consulting professionals across 17 cities, supporting complex urban development and real estate strategies across the region.  

Alva’s work has been closely linked to the rapid urbanisation of China. As cities expanded at unprecedented speed, he recognised that real estate development alone could not deliver sustainable outcomes. Early growth often focused on supply without a clear understanding of quality of demand, leading to underused assets and fragmented urban environments.  

In response, Alva helped shift the focus from individual projects to broader systems. His approach brings together industry strategy, transport planning, economic drivers and policy direction to support more coordinated and sustainable urban development. He works closely with government and private sector stakeholders to understand how cities function within wider regional and industry networks. 

A key part of his work is helping clients respond to changing economic drivers. As China’s economy has evolved toward technology, innovation and advanced manufacturing, Alva has guided organisations in adapting real estate strategies to support new patterns of demand, including the role of offices, business parks and industrial ecosystems.  

Through industry initiatives and sector-focused platforms, Alva has also helped strengthen connections between cities, industries and investors, supporting more informed and aligned decision-making across the region. 

Where Alva Brings Smart Advice 

Alva supports clients on large-scale challenges where urban systems, economic drivers and development outcomes must align, including: 

• National and regional urbanisation strategy 
• City cluster development and spatial planning 
• Industry and economic development strategy 
• Transport-oriented and infrastructure-led development 
• Tourism and large-scale destination planning 
• Real estate transformation and long-term asset strategy 

How Alva Works 

He focuses on systems, not just assets. 
Alva looks beyond individual developments to understand how cities function across infrastructure, industry and policy. 

He connects real estate to economic drivers. 
His work ensures that real estate development reflects how economies evolve, from traditional sectors to innovation-led growth. 

He defines the role each place plays. 
Alva helps clients understand how cities and developments fit within broader supply chains and regional networks.