Ali is a filmmaker, writer and development producer. She has directed and produced both series and singles for Channel 4, Channel 5 and worked on productions for BBC, Discovery and other international broadcasters. Ali has worked primarily in art history programming, directing and producing ​The Impressionists, Great Artists, High Five, Venice Biennale ​and J​ udgement Day. Frida Kahlo​ is Ali’s debut feature film.

Ali also has a successful career in non-fiction writing, specialising in food and travel. She is a magazine columnist and has travel articles published in ​The Guardian​ and ​The Sunday Telegraph​ and other print and online magazines. She has written three food books. Ali also presents online food content and at events. She has also appeared on food programming and been interviewed on Radio 4 Women’s Hour and various local BBC radio stations regarding her work.