Nick obtained his Bachelor of Science and then his PhD at the University of Queensland and since then has worked at the Queensland Institute of Medical Research (QIMR), in sunny Australia. It is therefore appropriate that he has worked extensively on melanoma, given that the incidence rates for melanoma in the Antipodes remain the highest on the world. Although he has been physically based at QIMR, for many years, he is very much an internationalist. He has long-lasting productive collaborations with groups across Europe and the USA and is absolutely at the core of world melanoma research. At QIMR, he has capitalized on the presence of key allied research groups working on the epidemiology of melanoma (Adele Green and David Whiteman), pigmentation (Richard Sturm (University of Queensland)), and twin research (Nick Martin), making QIMR such an effective research institute in this field. Nick was one of the pioneers of molecular genetics in cancer in Australia and has provided generous leadership and collegial support throughout his career. Nick has successfully pursued an interest in understanding the genetics of susceptibility to melanoma, within the melanoma genetics consortium, GenoMEL, with other Australian colleagues: Graham Mann and others at the Melanoma Institute of Australia (with whom he holds a prestigious NH&MRC Program Grant), and with other groups internationally, particularly with Jeff Trent at TGen in the USA and with Kevin Brown, previously at TGen and now at the NCI. In addition, he has contributed to a number of seminal findings in melanoma and nevus genomics, including the discovery of common BRAF mutations in benign nevi. No academic session in GenoMEL is the same if Nick with his insight is absent, particularly when exploring new technologies. As the GenoMEL chair, I might find it easier to lead the group to a decision in his absence but that decision would be much less valuable without him! His work has lead to the identification of novel medium penetrance susceptibility genes published in a series of papers in Nature and Nature Genetics. He has significantly furthered knowledge on somatic genetics for melanoma, finding time to work also on MEN1 and gene profiling in cancers in general. Nick has much respected expertise in mouse genetics, in vitro models, somatic genetics, classical genetics, and the exploration of new genetics technologies. He does I think more than his share of reviewing grants and papers for many journals. His contribution to SMR has been tireless since its formation, and he convened the highly successful 2011 International Melanoma Congress in Sydney, helping to maintain this as the premier international research meeting in the science of melanoma. Nick likes to surf. His local break (for surfing) is Noosa Heads, north of Brisbane, where he hopes to retire one day, hopefully many years in the future! On visits to England, he has politely declined invitations to try the local surf spots, perhaps put off by the 9°C North Sea water temperature. He loves to travel and to have a beer with friends. He is a wine connoisseur. He is strong of mind and personality, and the melanoma world is enriched very much by him.