Tan Sri Abdul Halim Ali, born in Kedah in 1943, had his earlyeducation at the Sultan Abdul Hamid College, Alor Star and the Royal Military College, Sg Besi. After graduating from the University of Malaya in 1966, he joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and served in the Malaysian Diplomatic Service until 1996. During this period, he served in several diplomatic missions overseas, including ambassadorial appointments in Vietnam and Austria. He was appointed the Chief Secretary to the Government of Malaysia in 1996, a post he held until 2001 when he was made Chairman of the Employees Provident Fund (EPF). He completed his term as Chairman of EPF in January 2007.

Currently, Tan Sri Abdul Halim is the Chairman of Malaysia Building Society Bhd and Malakoff Corporation Bhd as well as the Chairman of the Multimedia Development Corporation Sdn Bhd, Minority Shareholders Watchdog Group and University Technology Malaysia. He also sits on the Board of ESSO Malaysia Bhd, LCL Corporation Bhd and IJM Bhd.

He is married to Puan Sri Teh Zahariah bt Jahidin and has 3daughters.