Asad Ali, PhD
About Asad Ali, PhD
Asad Ali, PhD, serves as the Principal Technologist for Digital Identity at Ofcom, where he leads a technical research team focused on enhancing online trust and safety through Identity and Access Management. He has extensive experience in academia and industry, with a background in computer science and a strong record of peer-reviewed publications in authorization and access control.
Work at Ofcom
Asad Ali has been serving as Principal Technologist - Digital Identity at Ofcom since 2022. In this role, he leads the technical research team, focusing on enhancing trust and safety online through Identity and Access Management. Prior to this position, he worked as a Senior Associate Technologist at Ofcom from 2021 to 2022, where he contributed to various projects related to digital identity and security.
Education and Expertise
Asad Ali holds a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Computer Science from King's College London, which he completed from 2007 to 2010. He furthered his education at the same institution, earning a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Computer Science from 2010 to 2016. His academic background is complemented by extensive experience in software engineering and security, particularly in authorization and access control.
Professional Background
Asad Ali has held various positions in the field of technology and security. He worked as a Research Associate and Lead Software & Security Engineer at King's College London from 2015 to 2016. He also served as a Teaching Fellow in Software & Security Engineering at the same institution from 2016 to 2018. His industry experience includes roles at G-Research as an Identity and Access Management Developer and at Identity Methods Limited as a Consultancy and R&D Manager.
Research and Publications
Asad Ali has contributed to the academic community through peer-reviewed publications in the fields of authorization and access control. He is actively involved in several industry working groups, including IETF OAuth and the Decentralised Identity Foundation. His research interests align with his role at Ofcom, focusing on digital identity and security.
Industry Involvement
Asad Ali is a member of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Digital Identity and participates in various initiatives aimed at enhancing digital security. He is involved with the SPRITE+ Hub, an EPSRC-funded network that addresses Security, Privacy, Identity, and Trust in the Digital Economy. Additionally, he is part of the peer review college for the REPHRAIN National Research Centre and the UKRI Future Leader Fellowships.