Alison Hayden worked with the Commonwealth Bank for 23 years. While working, she studied a Bachelor of Business (Accounting) and completed a Graduate Diploma in Education. She then worked in schools in country WA and in Perth teaching Accounting and Finance and taught in China for a year teaching English. Alison worked for 8 years as a finance administrator for a charitable organisation in Broome, WA. Whilst working in Broome in 2001, Barbara Hale visited from Perth and gave a talk about Graduate Women WA. On her return to Perth, Alison became a committee member and later Treasurer of GWWA. She is committed to being part of an organisation dedicated to assisting women achieve their potential through education.