Hali is a policy scholar with over a decade of experience in public service. His research adopts a critical and interpretive approach to public policy, with particular attention to the roles of ideas and institutions in shaping policymaking in the Asia-Pacific region.

Beyond his PhD research on higher education governance in Indonesia, Hali has contributed to several research projects on comparative higher education, nudge and behavioural insights, and digital transformation, primarily in the Asia-Pacific context. He recently spent a year as a Visiting Research Fellow at the Centre for Deliberative Democracy, University of Canberra, during which he published two journal articles and a book chapter.

Hali regularly presents his work at academic conferences and has been invited to deliver talks and public lectures to both academic and non-academic audiences. His engagements focus mainly on higher education policy and governance, research policy and governance, and interpretive approaches to policy research.

Hali has an emerging track record in research and publishing. His work has appeared in Critical Policy Analysis and Policy Studies, as well as the Edward Elgar Handbook of Public Policy in Asia.