Dr Kalithasan attained his PhD from the National University of Malaysia in 2001 and joined the Global Environment Centre in 2002. Dr. Kalithasan has over 20 years of working experience in river ecosystem management, particularly in stakeholder engagement and environmental education. Dr. Kalithasan is a pioneer of Civic Science and Community Participation in River Management in Malaysia and is recognized as a key expert in water resource and ecosystem management especially community engagement and has been continuously appointed as an advisor, trainer or panel in a wide variety of initiatives, committees and activities by varies government department, local authorities, private sectors and civil society. He has developed several key projects related to river basins, water, wetlands and solid waste management through innovative, especially nature-based, approaches. Additionally, he has also developed guidelines, and modules, such as RIVER Ranger, SMART Ranger, Flood Ranger and DRH2O, handbooks and published more than 50 technical reports and scientific papers.