Bhg Dato’ Syed Danial Syed Ariffin graduated in 1981 with a BSc (Hons) Degree in Civil Engineering from University of Aston in Birmingham, United Kingdom. He is a civil engineer by profession and has been with the PNHB Group since December 1995. He began his career with PNSB as a Manager of Operation and was subsequently promoted to Senior Manager, Assistant General Manager and General Manager of Operation. Prior to his appointments to the Boards of PNSB and PNHB on 1 March 2004, he was the Acting Executive Director of the Operation Division from July 2003 to February 2004 and subsequently re-designated as Executive Director, Operation I Division on 1 April 2005. On 16 November 2007, YBhg Dato’ Syed Danial was appointed as the Chief Operating Officer. He is also a Director of SYABAS since 3 September 2007.

YBhg Dato’ Syed Danial previously worked with the Pahang Public Works Department for 10 years, holding positions from Project Engineer (1981-1983) to District Engineer for JKR Cameron Highlands (1983-1991) and the Selangor Water Works Department between 1991 to 1995, whereby he was the Senior Project Engineer overseeing the construction of the Sungai Selangor Phase 1 Water Supply Project. YBhg Dato’ Syed Danial is a member of Institute of Marketing Malaysia, Malaysian Water Association, a Registered Engineer with the Board of Engineers Malaysia, a member of Universiti Teknologi Mara's Board of Academics, Faculty of Civil Engineering (October 2009 - September 2011 term), Advisor to the Institute For Infrastructure Engineering & Sustainable Management and also sits on the Board of several private companies. He is also a member of the Water Association of Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya (SWAn), a non-profit organisation which represents the common interest of all water supply and wastewater industries within the State of Selangor, and the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya with the aim of promoting interaction with the general public and enhancing their understanding of water resources.