TYT Tun Seri Setia (Dr) Haji Mohd Ali Rustam posseses an expansive experience and knowledge in the public affairs and services. He started his career as a Senior Clerk with Tenaga Nasional (TNB) where he served from 1969-1979. Soon after, he joined the Social Welfare Department (KEMAS) and was appointed as the Deputy Director of KEMAS Kedah from 1979-1980. His commitment and dedication in the organization was duly acknowledged with his appoinment as the Director of KEMAS for the State of Perlis in 1980. Between 1981-1982, he assumed the post of Director of KEMAS for the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur and from 1982-1983 he became the Director of KEMAS for the Melaka State.

TYT Tun Seri Setia (Dr) Haji Mohd Ali Rustam’s career continued to thrive with his appointment as the Special Secretary to the Chief Minister of Melaka from 1984-1986. He was then appointed as the Executive Council (Exco) member of the Melaka State - overseeing the Housing, Local Government and Environment Portfolio. He was also the State Assembly Representative for the Ayer Molek Constituency. From 1990 – 1995, he secured the Constituency of Sungai Udang and held the post of Exco of Science and Technology Portfolio. Soon after, from 1995 – 1998, he was appointed as the Deputy Minister of Transport, Malaysia and concurrently, a Member of Parliamant (MP) for Batu Berendam. On 2nd December 1999, TYT Tun Seri Setia (Dr) Haji Mohd Ali Rustam was appointed as the 9th Chief Minister of Melaka.

During his tenure as the Chief Minster of Melaka, he had envisioned Melaka to be a developed state by 2010. This vision was then embedded in the Visi Melaka Maju 2010 blueprint initiated by TYT Tun Seri Setia (Dr) Haji Mohd Ali Rustam himself.

A practical idealist, assertive, bold, resilient, confident and with a tenacious self-assurance, TYT Tun Seri Setia (Dr) Haji Mohd Ali Rustam reckons on the principle that with the right mindset and unstinting effort, and if Allah s.w.t wills it, one can achieve anything in life. This becomes a testimony of TYT Tun Seri Setia (Dr) Haji Mohd Ali Rustam’s admirable success in steering Melaka as a vibrant city state in Malaysia. With such wisdom and charisma, it is apparent that the vision and mission of UTeM to emerge as a renowned, creative and innovative university in the world will sustain under the tutelage of TYT Tun Seri Setia (Dr) Haji Mohd Ali Rustam.