Robert Allison is an Otolaryngologist / Head & Neck surgeon based in Christchurch, working in Christchurch Public Hospital. He obtained his medical degree through the University of Otago Medical school. After obtaining his FRACS (specialist surgical qualification), he completed two Fellowships in Head & Neck Surgery in Amsterdam, Netherlands and Liverpool, United Kingdom. His main area of interest is the surgical treatment of patients with head and neck cancer. He also has an interest in salivary gland disorders, thyroid surgery as well as speech and swallowing.

He has previously had an appointment as an Adjunct Professor with the Department of Speech and Language Therapy, University of Canterbury. He is a Clinical Lecturer with the Christchurch School of Medicine. He is a past Examiner for the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons and a past President of the New Zealand Society of Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery. He is currently working as a surgeon in Christchurch Hospital and also at the Canterbury Charity Hospital.

An important role of the Foundation is education of both the general public, as well as health practitioners, of the presenting features of head and neck cancer. This would hopefully mean that patients are seen when cancer are relatively small, and the treatment is less extensive. This would also result in improved cure rates. The Foundation also has an important role in educating the public about the risk factors for head and neck cancer and promoting HPV vaccination to prevent oropharyngeal cancer.