Born and educated in Sri Lanka, he is a double Cambridge graduate and former Pro-Vice-Chancellor at the University of Bristol. Nishan has been appointed to a number of national roles including being a member of the UUK advisory group to tackle racial harassment in higher education and serves as a Commissioner for the Midlands Innovation Policy TALENT Policy Commission. He is also a Trustee of IntoUniversity, an Educational Charity and a Board member of The Conversation
Nishan has served on a number of national and international panels on research funding, governance, and postgraduate education.
He has also chaired the University Executive Committee for the National Composites Centre, was a Non-Executive Director for North Bristol Trust, and served on the HEFCE STEM Review Advisory Board.