After a successful first career in the food industry as cook, teacher and restaurateur, Alison returned to full time education in 1991. She gained an honours degree in Product Management Studies from Surrey University in 1994. Since then she has spent time at Scottish and Newcastle as an office manager and as a researcher at the National Consumer Council.

At Montanaro, Alison supervises the smooth running of the office and performs the specialist role of Information Manager.  This entails collecting information from a variety of sources, including national and local press and trade publications, making extensive use of the internet and accessing a number of on-line information sources.

Alison joined Montanaro in July 1998.