Allan has been chair of SCIE since March 2006. A qualified Social Worker, Allan began his career in social work in Scotland in 1972. He has held various posts north and south of the border; he was director of social work in Fife for 11 years and strategic director for health and social care in Brighton & Hove for six years. Latterly, Allan has been head of programmes for the Neighbourhood Renewal Unit at the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. There he had responsibility for a range of regeneration initiatives including the New Deal for Communities. Specialising in child protection and home care, he has spoken extensively on these subjects internationally and provided advice and consultancy on a range of community care and health issues in Europe and Canada.