Alison Broad has deep family roots into the Southland community, where she is based. Alison's involvements include consultancy for community projects across the fields of social services, health initiatives, education, conservation and disability issues. She is also involved in violence prevention education through her role with the Women's Self Defence Network Wāhine Toa and Girls' Self Defence Project.

Alison is a trustee of a community based trust focused on biodiversity issues and eradication of wilding pines, a trustee of a local arts foundation, and on the executive of a community education group. She has several years of involvement with community philanthropy, including four years chairing the Community Trust of Southland. Alison is interested the dynamics of locally-driven community-based initiatives, and their interface with global issues of sustainability, human rights and social justice.