Alison first qualified as a general nurse in 1988 and following several years as a nurse in gynaecology and care of the elderly, moved into Midwifery. Alison worked in fetal medicine, day assessment, coordination of delivery suite and also managed a postnatal and antenatal ward. This led her to complete of a degree in Health Sciences and take up post as a lecturer at Birmingham City University, then the University of Central England. After completing teacher training and a Masters degree, she took up the post of senior lecturer and achieved her Phd in Midwifery.