Waleed Aly is a lecturer in politics at Monash University, and works within that university's Global Terrorism Research Centre. Previously, he worked as a commercial lawyer, and he also has experience in human rights and family law.

He is the author of People Like Us: How arrogance is dividing Islam and the West (Picador, 2007), which has been shortlisted for several awards including the Queensland Premier's Literary Awards and for Best Newcomer at the 2008 Australian Book Industry Awards. Waleed writes regularly for the mainstream press and his work has appeared in The Guardian, The Australian, The Australian Financial Review, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age among other publications. He has been commended at both the Walkley Awards and the Quill Awards for his commentary, and was shortlisted for the Alfred Deakin Essay Prize in the 2006 Victorian Premier's Literary Awards. His essay "It's just a jump to the Left" from The Sydney Morning Herald was included in Melbourne University Press' collection of Australia's Best Political Writing 2009.

Waleed is a regular co-host of The Conversation Hour on ABC radio in Melbourne, and presents a fortnightly politics and society segment on ABC Melbourne's Drive program. He also appears regularly as a commentator on ABC 2's News Breakfast program and is a writer and host of SBS's Salam Café. He regularly appears elsewhere in broadcast media, including feature appearances on Q&A, Enough Rope with Andrew Denton, Compass, Meet the Press, The 7.30 Report and Lateline.

In 2005, he was made a White Ribbon Day Ambassador for the United Nations; International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and was named one of The Bulletin magazine's "Smart 100" in 2007. He was also an invited participant to the Prime Minister's 2020 Summit in 2008.

Waleed is married with two children.