Ali is a social entrepreneur who founded Circle, the largest healthcare partnership in Europe, in 2003. His personal belief that employees should own the companies they work for has pioneered a new model of delivery in both public and private UK healthcare provision. Prior to Circle, Ali was an Executive Director of Goldman Sachs' European Technology Investment banking team. He also worked at Merrill Lynch and Credit Suisse First Boston. Ali was the founder of Victoria and Gilan, a media company, and a recipient of the Royal Award for UK Young Entrepreneur of the Year.

He has a PhD in Engineering Physics from the University of London. Ali won the award for Entrepreneurial Achievement in the 2010 Independent Healthcare Awards, and was named in the 100 most influential people in UK healthcare in the Health Service Journal's annual survey. He has been shortlisted for "outstanding contribution by an individual" in the 2011 Health Investor Awards.'