Nancy Parkinson joined the British Council in 1939.  The chairman, Lord Lloyd, had asked her to set up the new Resident Foreigners Division, which was responsible for organising educational and cultural facilities for refugees and Allied forces based in Britain during the Second World War.  This led to the setting up of a network of Allied Centres and regional offices throughout the United Kingdom.

After the War, she expanded the work of the Division - renamed Home Division - to cater for the increasing numbers of overseas visitors and students coming to the UK.

In 1965 she was created Dame Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George - the first women to receive this honour.

She retired from the British Council in 1968, and died in 1974.