Nick graduated with first class honours in History from Kings College London in 1991; and in 1996 gained a PhD in 13th century medieval state finance and fiscal history from the same institution. After a period at the Public Record Office (now The National Archives) he became a specialist researcher for the BBC. He is founder,  chief executive and research director of Sticks Research Agency. He has a wide variety of media activities related to genealogy, including involvement in TV, radio and magazine articles, as well as a number of academic publications. He is editor in chief for a monthly genealogy magazine, Your Family History, published by Sticks Research Agency. He is President of the Federation of Family History Societies; nominated Vice President, AGRA; Executive Director, FreeBMD; and a member of the education committees for the Federation of Family History Societies, the British Association for Local History, and the Society of Genealogists; and  the Public History Committee for the Historical Association.

More information is provided on his website.