Born in Melbourne in 1965, David Nichols is a historian of urban and/or popular culture focusing primarily on 20th century Australia. In the 1980s and 90s he edited and wrote for glossy magazines in Sydney. He obtained his PhD from Deakin University in 2002 with a thesis exploring the origins and promotion of town planning in Australia in the early 20th century. Since 2007 he has taught history and theory in the urban planning program at the University of Melbourne’s Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning. Additionally, he has had a long association with public radio and is a regular commentator on urban and social issues. He lives with two cats and has a reasonable and well-managed obsession with Finland, its culture and its history.