He was captain of the ice patrol ship Endurance from 2005-2007, deploying for two deeply rewarding seasons in Antarctica, after which he commanded Task Force 158 in the North Arabian Gulf, tasked with the protection of Iraq’s economically vital offshore oil infrastructure. Thereafter he was Deputy Flag Officer Sea Training from 2008 to 2009 before assuming the role of Assistant Chief of Staff Operations and Capability Integration in November 2009 in the Navy Command Headquarters. Promoted to Rear Admiral, he became the UK National Hydrographer in 2010, a post he held until the end of 2012.

As master mariner and a committed proponent of the maritime users’ perspective, he continues to advise on a wide range of maritime issues. These include the growing potential of the blue economy concept, the importance of spatial data infrastructures and hydrography for maritime economies, the evolution of eNavigation and GNSS vulnerability, near or real time situational awareness (especially that derived from space based assets and applications), maritime connectivity and cyber security, human factors, and training and education in the maritime sector. He has a particular interest in the Polar Regions and is also engaged in a variety of situational awareness, fisheries management, marine autonomous systems and vessel efficiency projects.

Nick has also been Chairman of the Friends of the Scott Polar Research Institute since 2010 so his Polar credentials are impeccable!