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He was born in Bandar Baharu, Kedah on 29 July, 1950. He began his education at the Public (Boys) School Bandar Baharu from 1957 to 1962. A year later, he continued with his secondary education at the Sultan Badlishah Secondary National School, Kulim. Dato' Ismail transferred to Kulim Secondary National School in 1966 and completed his form 5 in 1967. He was also offered a place at the Sultan Abdul Halim Secondary School, Jitra. After obtaining good results, he furthered his studies at the University of Malaya and graduated with a degree in economics. He also obtained his Master in Science (Economics) from the University of Wales, United Kingdom.

Career:

• Assistant District Officer, Bandar Baharu
• Assistant Collector of Land Revenue Officer, Jitra
• Assistant Director, Kedah Economy Planning Unit,
• Principal Assistant Secretary of State (Housing)
• Principal Assistant Secretary of State (Services Branch)
• District Officer, Langkawi
• District Officer, Kubang Pasu

Dato' Ismail also produced a thesis entitled "Implementation of A Regional Policy-Special Reference to the State of Kedah 1983/84". He was the Committee Secretary for the Qariah Sultanah Bahiyah mosque and a member of the Sultan Abdul Halim Secondary School, School Board.

He was bestowed several honorary medals and titles for his contributions to the State of Kedah. They are, the Pingat Jubli Perak HRH the Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah in 1983, the Bintang Cemerlang Kedah(B,C.K.) 2 years later, the Darjah Setia Diraja Kedah (D.S.D.K) which carries the title Dato' and Darjah Kebesaran Gemilang Seri Mahkota Kedah Yang Amat Dihormati (D.G.M.K.) in 2006.