Nicola is Head of Doctoral Training, Deputy Chair of the Research Degrees Committee, and the institutional lead for professional doctorates at Sheffield Hallam University. Nicola teaches at the University of York and is an active doctoral research supervisor and examiner. She is an internationally recognised tourism academic who has made intellectual contributions to tourism governance. Her academic research draws on political economy and ecology to generate new knowledge on ways in which social status, legitimacy, and power play a key role in the dynamics of sustainable community-based tourism development by stimulating local economies, conserving the environment, developing people’s livelihoods, and changing lives.  She has project managed consultancy for the EU, government offices, regional development agencies (RDAs), and destination marketing organisations (DMOs). She sits on the EFMD Doctoral Steering Group and is Chair of the Board of Trustees for The Steel Man project, a Curatorial Volunteer at the National Coal Mining Museum for England (NCMME) and a Writing Mentor at Grimm & Co. D children’s literacy charity.