Ravi holds a Bachelor of Social Science Degree (Hons.) in Political Science and Race Relations from the Science University of Malaysia (USM), Penang in 1979. Prior to university, he was a journalist with the Malaysian National News Agency (BERNAMA). After graduation, he worked as a journalist with the STAR newspaper before joining the Federal Government in 1980. Subsequently, he graduated from the National Institute of Public Administration (INTAN), Kuala Lumpur, with a Diploma in Public Management in 1981 and a Diploma in Management Science in 1984. In 1992, he obtained a Masters Degree in Public Policy Analysis from the Graduate Research Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS), Tokyo, Japan.
Ravi began his career as an Administrative & Diplomatic Officer (PTD) in the Federal Government and served from 1981 to 2006 mostly in the Economic Planning Unit, Prime Minister's Department and later the Ministry of Finance. After having served the Federal Government for 26 years, he joined Syarikat Prasarana Negara Bhd. (Prasarana - National Infrastructure Company Ltd.) in 2006 as Senior General Manager for Strategic Planning and Business Development. Subsequently, he was promoted to Group Director for Transport Planning and Commercial Development.
While in Prasarana, he also served on the Board of Directors of KL Monorail Sdn. Bhd. and Panorama Langkawi Sdn. Bhd., the operator of the cable car system on Langkawi Island, Kedah.
