Alan is Emeritus Professor at the University of Southampton. He was recently Adjunct Professor in the School of Clinical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Australia, and Adjunct Professor in the Faculty of Health, Southern Cross University, Australia. Alan is an Emeritus Editor of the Journal of Foot and Ankle Research, having been its Editor in Chief (UK) (2015-2018) and Deputy Editor (2008-2015) (IF: 3.05). He was formerly Chairman of the Medicines and Medical Devices Committee of the Royal College of Podiatry (2008-2021), its Research and Development Committee (2007-2012) and its Conference Committee (2016 - 2017); he served 11 years on its Council and four as a Vice President. He was formerly a member of the Faculty Executive Board of the Faculty of Podiatric Medicine of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow (2011-13). In 2016 Alan was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the Queen's Birthday Honours List, and was granted a Meritorious Award of the Royal College of Podiatry in 2008. Alan was made an honorary life member of the Canadian Federation of Podiatric Medicine in 2012, and received a citation of the Royal College of Podiatry in 2014. He was also made an honorary life member and honorary Doctor of Podiatry of the Prince Edward Island Podiatry Association, Canada in 2007. Alan was the representative of the Allied Health Professions Federation on the Department of Health Allied Health Professions Medicines and Prescribing Project Board (2010-2013) leading to the granting of independent prescribing for physiotherapists and podiatrists in August 2013 (and the 2008-9 AHP Medicines Scoping Project). He was also one of the representatives of the Royal College of Podiatry on the recent Chief Professions' Officer Medicines Project Controlled Drugs Working Group, working alongside NHS England. To date Alan has published more than 120 academic and professional peer reviewed papers alongside invited editorials and 10 book chapters. He has co-authored a recent textbook with Professor Susan Nancarrow (2021) on the sociology of the allied health professions. He became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in July 2021. Thanks are due to Steve Gleeson at SCU, Australia, for permission to use his photo of the 'rainbow' kukaburra.