Celebrating Excellence: Ali Parry’s Contributions to the WTO-WCP Programme

Ali Parry has been an integral member of the NWU WTO-WCP team since its inception, contributing significantly to every pillar of the Chair’s work — research, capacity building, and outreach. Her academic achievements and professional leadership continue to influence the evolving conversation around Africa’s digital transformation and inclusive development.
Ali completed her Master’s degree in International Trade at the North-West University in 2022. Her dissertation, Determining the Links Between Digital Developments and Inclusive Growth: An African Perspective, explored one of Africa’s most urgent policy questions: how digital technologies influence employment, productivity, and inclusive growth across diverse economic contexts. Her research was supervised by former WCP Chair, Prof. Wilma Viviers, along with Dr. Adelia Jansen van Rensburg and Dr. Emmanuel Orkoh.
In 2024, Ali turned her research into a published scholarly book, co-authored with leading experts in the field:
Digital Developments and Employment: Understanding Trends in Africa
Authors: Ali Parry, Prof. Wilma Viviers, Dr. Emmanuel Orkoh, and Dr. Adelia Jansen van Rensburg
Published: 2024
Book link: https://books.aosis.co.za/index.php/ob/catalog/book/471
This important publication provides a nuanced understanding of how digitalisation affects employment trends across the continent. Using both qualitative and quantitative methods, the book analyses the opportunities presented by digital technologies — particularly for job creation — while also addressing concerns about automation and labour displacement. It fills a critical empirical gap by recognising Africa’s highly varied developmental contexts, offering insights that are essential for shaping evidence-based policies in the digital era.
Alongside her academic contributions, Ali has also distinguished herself professionally. She is the director of Trade Matters (Pty) Ltd, a company providing research, consulting and writing/editing services, with a special focus on economic development and international trade. Trade Matters have supported numerous WTO-WCP outputs and collaborative projects focused on trade policy, regional integration, and evidence-based decision-making. Over the past two decades, Trade Matters have played a vital role in strengthening the Chair’s mandate and increasing the reach and impact of its work.
Ali’s combination of analytical depth, policy insight, and exceptional communication skills continues to enrich the Chair’s activities and the broader trade policy community.