M.R. Karliansyah completed his undergraduate studies in Biology at the University of Indonesia in 1985, returning to earn a Masters degree in Environmental Science at the same university in 1989. He has been actively involved in environmental issues his whole academic and professional career. Karliansyah has dedicated his professional career to the government since 1992 when he joined the Ministry of Environment. In 2010, he was made Deputy Minister for Environmental Pollution Control. In 2014, he was also appointed as acting Secretary Minister for the Environment. When the Ministry of Environment joined with the Ministry of Forestry to become the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) in 2015, he was appointed Director General for Environmental Pollution and Degradation Control. From July 1st to November 28th, 2017, he also served as acting Director General for Domestic Waste, Material and Hazardous Waste Management.