[2] He graduated from the University of Malaya with an honours degree in civil engineering in 1964.
Following his graduation from the university, he worked briefly as a consulting engineer and later as a lecturer at the Singapore Polytechnic.
In the same year, he became a Senior Lecturer and then an Associate Professor of Mechanical and Production Engineering.
From 1997 to 1998, he served as the vice chairman of the Board of Directors of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra.
On 4 January 2001, he was appointed a member of the Board of Trustees of United Overseas Bank Limited.
In the following year, he was appointed Distinguished University Professor and began serving as the chairman of the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts Management Committee.
In 2006, he was awarded the Royal Academy of Engineering Inaugural International Medal.
From January 2009 to 2010, he served as the deputy chairman of the Board of Governors of Raffles Institution.
[5][6] He and Tan Gee Paw received the Distinguished Professional Engineer Award on 17 November 2018.