Ali is a BACP accredited counsellor, and a registered social worker. She has been engaged in therapeutic work since 2002, with her practice focusing on engagement with marginalised and disadvantaged communities. In addition to her work in Belfast, Ali has several years’ experience of group facilitation in Boston and San Francisco. She holds an LLB (Hons), MSc in Counselling, and Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work. Her PhD research is concerned with strengthening the relationship between social justice and counselling, drawing on feminist and critical perspectives. Ali has been a lecturer in Higher Education since 2017 and is an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.