Ambassador Serbini Ali was born on 10 April 1955 in Brunei Darussalam. His professional career is as follows:

• 1980–1982: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Brunei Darussalam
• 1982–1984: Second Secretary, Brunei High Commission, Singapore
• 1984–1985: First Secretary, Brunei Embassy, Bangkok
• 1985–1986: Assistant Director, Protocol & Consular Affairs Department, Brunei Darussalam
• 1986–1989: Deputy Director, Protocol & Consular Affairs Department, Brunei Darussalam
• 1989–1992: First Secretary, Brunei Embassy, Tokyo
• 1992–1996: Deputy Director, Economic Affairs Department, Brunei Darussalam
• 1996–1997: Director of Politics (Asia & Pacific Affairs) Brunei Darussalam
• 1997–1998: Director of Multilateral Economics Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Brunei Darussalam
• 1999: Deputy Executive Director Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Secretariat
• 2000: Executive Director Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Secretariat