Nicola graduated from Cambridge University in 1997. She spent nearly 3 years in first opinion equine practice in Essex before coming to the Royal Veterinary College in 2000 to undertake a 3 year Senior Clinical Training Scholarship (residency) in equine medicine. She then went on to complete her PhD in equine laminitis at RVC between 2003 and 2004. In January 2005 she gained became a Diplomate of the European College of Equine Internal Medicine and took up the position of Lecturer in Equine Medicine at RVC. Nicola was promoted to Senior Lecturer in 2011, Reader in 2017 and Professor in 2021. She is a European and RCVS specialist in equine internal medicine and her research continues to focus on equine endocrinopathic laminitis.