Nicholas Aston

Nick had a varied career in defence and security. Educated at school in Chelmsford and at Cambridge University, he served in the Royal Navy and then the Ministry of Defence for 32 years. Following five years working for an investment bank as its global head of security, in 2012 Nick was elected as the first Police and Crime Commissioner for Essex.

In addition to his role as the Essex PCC, Nick chaired the Board of the Police ICT Company which sought to rationalise the provision of IT and communications technology to UK police forces and he also chaired the Board of the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners.

In 2016, Nick joined ARU to help establish the Policing Institute for the Eastern Region (now the International Policing and Public Protection Research Institute), a role he held until June 2020. He continued to chair its Advisory Board until 2022. From 2016 to 2020 he also served as a non-executive Director on the Board of the National Crime Agency.

Nick has an interest in healthcare and from 2011 to 2019 served as a non-executive Director and latterly Chair of the Mid-Essex Hospitals NHS Trust, helping steer the merger, achieved in 2020, of the three mid and south Essex hospitals at Chelmsford, Basildon and Southend.

Nick was appointed CBE in 1996, and in 2017 a Deputy Lieutenant for the County of Essex. Nick served as High Sheriff of Essex for 2022-23.

Details of Trusteeships:

• Trustee and Chair of Essex Community Foundation
• Trustee and Chair of Open Road