Aulia Aruan has previously received New Zealand and Indonesian scholarships. He obtained his doctorate in management degree (1996) and economics master degree (1990) from the School of Forestry - Canterbury University, New Zealand. His bachelor of forestry was gained from IPB, Indonesia (1978). He has been engaging with various local, national, regional, and international organizations and universities including non-governmental organizations. Now, he is an associate for several consulting firms in climate change, forestry, and environmental issues. He likes playing chess, travelling, and gardening. His motto is “purpose fuels passion”.