Nigel graduated from UWA with honours in 1991. Following general surgical training, he was awarded FRACS in 1999. His fellowship years were at the Royal Infirmary in Edinburgh and Melbourne, both as part of the CSSANZ post fellowship training programme.

He returned to Perth in 2003 as a colorectal surgeon at Fremantle Hospital and relocated to Fiona Stanley in 2014. He was involved with the introduction of laparoscopic colorectal surgery to WA.

His private practice is based at St John of God Murdoch Hospital, where he is currently Head of Department of General Surgery. His practice is almost exclusively colorectal.

Major interests include laparoscopic colorectal surgery, colorectal cancer and interventional colonoscopy. He has a major interest in training, and is currently supervisor of surgical training at FSH, and is a past Chairman of the Board in General Surgery in WA.