Dr Crisp is a medical doctor and public health specialist who has worked as a health management consultant across the African continent. He has an MBChB from University of Cape Town, a MMed (Community Health) from Wits and a Diploma in Occupational Health, also from Wits.

Nicholas 1983 did his internship at 2 Military Hospital and Letaba Hospital in the former homeland of Gazankulu. He remained at Letaba as a Medical Officer for a further three years, then moved to Shiluvana Hospital as the only full-time doctor for a further year.

He worked as Regional Director of the Department of National Health and Population Development for Northern and Eastern Transvaal (Limpopo and Mpumalanga) from 1989 to 1993. He was appointed as Superintendent General (Head of Department) of the Department of Health and Welfare, Northern Province (Limpopo) where he served from 1995 until April 1999.

Nicholas was then self-employed and started Benguela Health which he ran until October 2014. As a consultant he worked on projects in several African countries including South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Lesotho, Botswana, Namibia and Tanzania.

In South Africa he led the establishment of the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS), the transfer of the mortuaries from SAPS to health departments, the reform of the Medicines Control Council (MCC) and Medicines Regulatory Authority (MRA) into SAHPRA. He also worked on human resources, infrastructure (including the planning of the new Limpopo Central Hospital) and tertiary services plans for the NDOH. In 2009 he served as Special Adviser to Minister Barbara Hogan.

In Nigeria he played a major role in the establishment of the National AIDS Control Agency (NACA).

Nicholas led the COVID-19 vaccination programme and is now working as Deputy Director General of the National Health Insurance Branch at NDoH.