Ponnapa is a landscape architect with more than 10 years of research and design experience focusing on landscape urban design in Asia. With her interests in fine arts and anthropology, Ponnapa explores the role of landscape architect through the eyes of an artist and social activist.

She believes a well-designed landscape is not only functional but also intellectual by being aesthetically pleasing and socially engaging in a meaningful way. Ponnapa is a visiting critic and guest lecturer at Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) where she is known for landscape representation and community building strategy in developing countries. Prior to joining Sasaki, Ponnapa was a landscape architect at AECOM in Hong Kong, where she worked on various types of landscape urban design projects throughout China.