He obtained his PhD from Cornell University, USA and his academic training was in horticulture science and plant physiology. His research, teaching, and professional activities focus on the science, policies, and practices of urban greening and ecology of the built environment. He combines his background in the sciences, experience in urban governance from the public sector, and interactions with practitioners to apply knowledge for urban greening to improve environmental quality and societal well-being. He is active in international collaborations and grant reviews, and serves as an editorial board member for a number of international journals. He also advises on landscape design and planning projects in the region as a means of transferring knowledge from the academia to practice.