Shivanand is an economist and urban and regional planner with deep experience in transport systems, integrated landuse-transport planning and development management. He has been teaching at CEPT University since 1986 and has served as a policy and systems advisor to National, State and Local Governments on public transport and planning initiatives across the country. He has been instrumental in spearheading the planning and operationalization of Janmarg, Ahmedabad, the first dedicated Bus Rapid Transit System (BRT) in India. He has also supported the planning and development of BRT systems in Surat, Bhubaneswar, Hubbali–Dharwad and Vadodara. Shivanand is an advisor to the MoUD, Government of India on evolving planning and design guidelines for BRTS and scaling up of bus-based services in Indian cities. He is currently involved in facilitating technology adoption, operations, financing and capacity building for transitioning to electric public mobility in India.

Shivanand is an active member of the Developing Countries Committee of the Transport Research Board and an Advisor to Land Transport Academy, Singapore.