Dato’ Ikmal began his career in the Administrative and Diplomatic Service of the Government of Malaysia in 1976.  In late 1991, he left the government service and joined United Engineers (M) Berhad as General Manager of the Malaysia Singapore Second Crossing project.

In 1993, he became the Chief Operating Officer of Project Lebuhraya Utara-Selatan Berhad (PLUS) and in 1995, he was promoted to the Company’s Managing Director.

In 1999, he was appointed as the Managing Director of Prolink Development Sdn Bhd (Prolink) and concurrently assumed the position of the President for the Property Division of the Group.  He was subsequently appointed as Managing Director of Renong Berhad from 2002 until 2003.

In November 2003, Dato’ Ikmal was seconded to Pos Malaysia Berhad as the Chief Executive Officer/Managing Director as well as the Group Managing Director of Pos Malaysia and Services Holdings Berhad.  In November 2007, he was appointed as Chief Executive of the Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA) until February 2009.  He then became the Chairman of Faber Group Berhad from 1 March 2009 until June 2014. During that period, he was also appointed as an Independent Non-Executive Director of UEM Land Berhad.

He was also the Chairman of MB World Group Berhad from 2016 to 2020.  A director of Nadayu Properties Berhad from 2009 to 2020 and a Director of EP Manufacturing Bhd. from 2009 to 2021.  His other previous directorship includes Risda Holdings Sdn. Bhd., a wholly-owned by Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority (RISDA) from 2011 to 2025 and Scomi Engineering Bhd. From 2013 to 2018.

He was the Chairman and a Non-Independent Non-Executive Director of Prolintas Managers Sdn Bhd (“PMSB”), and was appointed to the board of PMSB on 2 June 2022 to 30 March 2026.  PMSB is the trustee-manager of Prolintas Infra Business Trust, an Islamic business trust which was listed on the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad on 25 March 2024.

He now sits on the board of Kumpulan Perangsang Selangor Berhad.