Dr Nick Gent was a consultant in health protection and the team leader for the Cumbria and Lancashire Health Protection Unit, before moving to take up his current position as Head of Training for the Emergency Response Division, part of the Health Protection Agency in April 2003.

Dr Gent also worked for many years as a director of public health. He has worked overseas, mainly in Balkan countries, for the WHO, the World Bank and the UK Department of International Development in areas including developing public health systems and restoring and developing health care services. He has also undertaken work for the International Atomic Energy Agency on developing advice for public health services when responding to nuclear and radiological accidents.

Dr Gent holds graduate and post-graduate qualifications in medicine, public health, epidemiology and environmental law.