Dr Nicole Townsend is a Lecturer in War Studies at UNSW Canberra, where she has taught at both the undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

Her research focuses broadly on Australian military and diplomatic history, with a particular focus on Australian relations with and strategic interests in the Middle East. She has particular expertise in Australia's involvement in the Second World War. She has also previously worked on the Official History of Australian Operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, and is the David Scott Mitchell Fellow 2026 at the State Library of New South Wales.

Nicole is currently a Director of the Second World War Research Group, Asia Pacific.