Alison is a naturalist, artist, writer and poet. Recently her beautifully painted and exquisitely written book, The Last Island, won a national award for creative nonfiction. Other nonfiction has appeared in Canadian Wildlife and her poems have been published in national journals. Alison trained as a biologist at Simon Fraser University and the University of British Columbia and has worked as a coastal seabird researcher, naturalist and tour leader. Each year, Alison serves as a volunteer warden at Mitlenatch Island Nature Provincial Park.

Alison's genuine interest in people and their stories, combined with her dedication to teaching natural history ("here, I'll get you some sea urchin gonads to taste") make her popular with guests and crew alike.