Robin Nicholson is a Fellow of the cooperative architecture practice, Cullinan Studio, which he joined in 1979. He is Convenor of the multi-disciplinary built and natural environment think-tank, The Edge; he chairs the Cambridgeshire Quality Panel and is an Hon. Prof. at the University of Nottingham.

Previously he was a Vice-President of the RIBA (1992-94), Chairman of the Construction Industry Council (1998-2000), a founder member of the Movement for Innovation Board (1998-2001), a CABE Commissioner (2002-10) and a Non-Executive Director of the NHBC (2007-14)