Allison is the Director of Mineral Resources Advice and Promotion at Geoscience Australia, Australia’s national geoscience organisation.
Allison graduated from the Australian National University in 1994 after completing her thesis on the regolith and geochemistry of a copper prospect near Mount Isa. She began her professional career with CSIRO Exploration & Mining working on gold geochemistry in the Yilgarn as part of the Cooperative Research Centre for Landscape Evolution and Mineral Exploration. This was followed by six years overseas working as a share trader, scientific English editor and contract geologist. Allison returned to Australia in 2008, initially working with the uranium group at Geoscience Australia before moving into mineral resources and advice, specialising in the annual inventory of Australia's mineral resources. More recently, Allison has focused on critical minerals and attracting international minerals investment into Australia. She is currently Geoscience Australia’s Director for Mineral Resources Advice and Promotion.