Alison Alter works at the intersection of AI and community institutions as an AI and Social Impact Advisor. A Harvard-trained economist, former professor of public policy, and small business owner, Dr. Alter brings decades of experience in civic leadership and community building. Alter served as an elected member of the Austin City Council from 2017 to 2025 where she built many programs that are recognized nationally as creative and effective approaches to the challenges cities face. These include investments in childcare, innovative EMS initiatives, business and workforce development, violence prevention, sexual assault response, climate resilience, and wildfire prevention. As Chair of the Audit and Finance Committee, Alter shepherded Austin’s cybersecurity and AI governance efforts. She currently serves on the advisory board for AI for Business (an initiative of the Greater Austin Asian Chamber of Commerce), HBCU AI Con, the UT-City Climate CoLab, and the Raising Travis County Community Advisory Council.