Born in Kenya, Alba started her career as an A-Level teacher in Economics at Kenya High School. After completing her Master's in Education at the Institute of Education, she worked for the Kenya Government in the Ministry of Education as Deputy Head of the Planning and Development Department for 14 years.

Alba also did an Advanced Planning Degree at UNESCO's International Institute of Educational Planning in Paris. On completing her PhD in the Economics of Education at Stanford University's School of Education, Alba came to live in London with her husband and worked as a consultant in education.

From 2006-2011, Alba's work at the UK National Commission for UNESCO involved implementing UNESCO's priorities in education in the UK and the organisation of various international and national seminars/conferences/colloquia to bring bringing international subject experts to critically discuss policy processes and good practice on topical issues in education and training, so as to lobby HMG and multi-lateral aid agencies.

She was also responsible for facilitating and initiating the work for six education committees of the UK National Commission for UNESCO.