Nigel was born in Cleckheaton in West Yorkshire. He graduated in mathematics with a BSc and PhD from the University of Southampton. After 7 years in industry he returned to academia when he joined the Department of Civil Engineering at Swansea University in 1987. There he taught and researched in engineering with close links to the aerospace industry, specifically aerodynamics and electromagnetics. He held senior management positions at Swansea and was Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research) for 6 years before moving to Birmingham University in 2008 as Pro-Vice-Chancellor. In 2011 he became Vice-Chancellor at Liverpool John Moores University - a position he held for 7 years. During this time he promoted the concept of a modern civic university.
He has held other positions around the world, including Adjunct Professor at the US National Science Foundation Engineering Research Centre, Mississippi State University and Scientist-in-Resident to the Singapore Government Science, Technology and Research Agency, A*STAR. He has had national responsibilities, including Executive Director of the National Higher Education STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Programme for England and Wales.
He has previously held numerous non-executive roles including Chair of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Chair of Crimestoppers (Merseyside), Chair of Liverpool Royal Court Theatre, Chair of the Regional Advisory Board of the Canal and River Trust, Trustee of Maggie's (Cancer Charity - Clatterbridge), Board member Arts Council of England (North). Nigel was Honorary Colonel of the Liverpool University Officer Training Corps from 2013 to 2018. Presently he is a Trustee of ENTUK (Professional body representing Ear, Nose and Throat surgery), Trustee of AET (Academy Enterprise Trust which covers 60 schools) and is an Honorary Bencher and Vice-Chair of the Education and Training Committee at The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple.
Nigel is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, Fellow of the Institute of Mathematics and Its Applications and Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society. He is a Chartered Mathematician, Chartered Engineer and Chartered Scientist. He is also a Deputy Lieutenant of Merseyside.
In his spare time, he enjoys reading, the arts and fly fishing, where he considers his formal recognition as a 'Trout Master' to be one of his proudest achievements! He remains a proud Yorkshireman who currently lives in Richmond Upon Thames.