A former paratrooper,[1][2] Allen has also served as Security Manager for the international aid agency CARE in Timor Leste;[2][3] with the Australian Protective Service;[2] and for the Government of New South Wales as Head of Security for the Sydney Opera House[2][4] and as Sheriff of NSW.

Following retirement from the army Allen led security operations for an international aid agency in East Timor in 1999.

[13] In recent years Allen undertook a number of Australian Government and New South Wales Government senior executive appointments, including as a Director and Assistant Secretary of Australian Classification, Chief Operating Officer of Venues NSW,[14] and as a Director with the NSW Department of Planning and Environment.

[17] The Australian Army Newspaper wrote concerning Hunter that "Allen knows his weapons and aircraft particularly well, and his immense attention to detail shows he has obviously walked the streets of the cities where his character's actions take place.

"[18] Allen is divorced and lives with sons Morgan and Rhett on the NSW South Coast, Australia.