Nick grew up in Sydney. After school he worked in a variety of jobs in the Outback, including on the Moomba to Sydney gas pipeline and on a cattle station in the Kimberleys. Eventually he completed a degree at the University of Sydney, the basis of a lifelong interest in Asian history.

For a decade Nick worked in the public service as a diplomat, analyst and policy advisor. Joining the Department of Foreign Affairs, he had postings in Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Later, he worked in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Nick then worked as a political staffer in Parliament House in Canberra before switching to journalism, spending sixteen years with the Australian Financial Review, including as a senior writer.

He now lives on the South Coast of New South Wales, reading a lot, writing a lot, and paddling a kayak around Burrewarra Point.