Nik is Professor of Population Geography at the University of Leeds, with research interests in demographic change, migration, population projections and health.

He leads the synthetic data workstrand of the Policy Modelling for Health consortium and is a co-investigator within the People pillar of the National Alternative Protein Innovation Centre.

Nik has many years of experience working at the interface between academia and business in his role as the co-Director of the Consumer Data Research Centre, which has provided unique insight into a diverse range of societal and economic challenges.

As a member of the Home Office Science Advisory Council, Nik is a strong advocate for the use of robust evidence in the development of government policy.

He is an expert in demographic methods, providing assurance and guidance on the methodology underpinning ONS statistical production and research via the Methodological Assurance Advisory Panel.

He represents a global community of geographers as the chair of the Applied Geography Commission of the International Geographical Union.