Alan has been president of the European Network on Religion and Belief (ENORB), since 2011. He has been active in anti-discrimination and inter-faith work since the 1960s, and was the initial chair of All Faiths and None (AFAN), which, like ENORB, has included representatives of atheist/humanist organisations, as well as faith communities, to engage in dialogue, and action against discrimination.  

A former teacher, university lecturer, civil servant (UK Department of Education) and programme manager for the European Commission (focusing on Russia and Eastern Europe), he finished his career as an adviser on educational issues to the Archbishop of Canterbury, before retiring in 2009.