A lawyer and former Canberra insider who worked for state MPs and federal cabinet ministers including Greg Combet has disappeared in Sydney’s Chinatown while on a work trip to Sydney.

Nicholas Mowbray, described by family who hold grave fears for his safety as witty, church-going and much-loved, failed to turn up for the second day of a professional event he was attending and has not contacted family, friends or colleagues since.

A policy adviser with extensive experience in politics, government, and parliamentary and legislative processes, Mowbray spent 15 years in Canberra advising Mr Combet and former defence minister Pat Conroy.

Mowbray was last seen in Chinatown, in the inner suburb of Haymarket, on Wednesday, May 20.

He is described as 175cm tall (5’9″) and of medium build, with brown eyes, short grey hair, and is unshaven. 

He had travelled down from his home in Cardiff, in the Hunter Valley, to attend the work event and did not turn up on the second day.

The 43-year-old, now employed as a policy officer in the mayor’s office at Muswellbrook Shire Council, vanished after he was last seen near Chinatown at about 9pm.

Chinatown and Haymarket are considered among Sydney’s most vibrant neighbourhoods, with multiple late-night food outlets that attract throngs of visitors. 

Nicholas Mowbray (left, with his cousin) failed to turn up for the second day of a work trip he was attending in Sydney. He is described by family as witty, church-going and much-loved

The 43-year-old was last seen about 9pm near Sydney’s Chinatown on Wednesday, May 20, and didn’t show up for the next day at his designated work event

Mowbray, an experienced Canberra and political insider, has not contacted family, friends or colleagues since vanishing from Chinatown, and did not return home from the trip

NSW Police are still investigating the disappearance of Nicholas Mowbray

Mowbray did not appear as expected last Thursday, and friends reported that ‘nobody has heard from him or been able to reach him since’.

‘People who know him are worried,’ a friend said.

‘NSW Police are already investigating and have put out a public appeal, but so far there has been no sign of him.’

Police confirmed to the Daily Mail that they still have no news of Mowbray’s whereabouts and that investigations are continuing.

They said he is known to frequent Lake Macquarie, the Hunter Valley and Newcastle.

Anyone who sees him is urged to contact Lake Macquarie Police District or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.