Alison graduated from Strathclyde University in 1993 with a BSc in Pharmacy and undertook her pre-registration training at the Western Infirmary in Glasgow. She has worked at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Dr Grays in Elgin before joining NHS Highland in 1999. She has worked as a clinical pharmacist since 1997, specialising first in paediatrics and then in surgery and critical care until her appointment in 2008 to her current post.
Alison is professional secretary for NHS Highland AMT and represents the AMT on the Area Drug and Therapeutics Committee and the Control of Infection Committee. She is a past chair of the Association of Scottish Antimicrobial Pharmacists and a current member of Scottish Antimicrobial Prescribing Group, representing NHS Highland.