Vale Nancy Millis AC, Australia’s “first lady” of biotechnology

The Australian life sciences community is mourning the loss of Emeritus Professor Nancy Millis AC, who passed away this weekend at the age of 90.

Professor Millis had an illustrious career, which commenced with the pioneering study of biotechnology in Australia and culminated in her appointment as the Chancellor of La Trobe University from 1992, a position she held until her retirement in 2006.

Professor Millis’ areas of interest lay in biotechnology, specifically in fermentation, wastewater and environmental biotechnology.

As she conducted her high school studies part time, she was refused entry into a bachelor of science at the University of Melbourne, so she undertook a degree in agricultural science instead.

In 1945 she graduated with a BAgSc, and went on to complete a master's degree studying the soil organism, Pseudomonas in 1946.

Professor Millis then worked in Papua New Guinea with the Department of External Affairs teaching women agricultural methods, but her posting was cut short by serious illness that almost claimed her life and she was airlifted to hospital in Brisbane.

After recovering she applied for a Boots Research Scholarship at the University of Bristol, where she spent three years at Bristol working on the fermentation of cider and microoganisms.

When she completed her PhD at the University of Bristol in 1951, Professor Millis returned to Australia; she had hoped to work for Carlton United Brewery, but at that time they did not employ women in their laboratories.

She joined the Department of Microbiology at the University of Melbourne in 1952 she worked as a demonstrator and then as a lecturer, setting up the Applied Microbiology course at the university until 1982.

In 1954 Millis was awarded a Fulbright Travel Grant, she went to Hopkins Marine Station at Stanford and worked with C B Van Neil, and then to the Institute of Applied Microbiology at the University of Tokyo.

In 1982, she was made a Professor of Microbiology, making her the fourth woman to be appointed as a Professor at the University of Melbourne, a position that she held until 1987. In 1988 she was made Emeritus Professor of the University of Melbourne an in 1993, the university awarded her an honorary Doctorate of Science.

During her career she was appointed MBE – Member of The Order of the British Empire (Civil) – in 1976 for her work in biological sciences and education and appointed AC – Companion of the Order of Australia – in 1990.

She was a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, an Honorary Life Member of the Australian Society for Microbiology, and an honorary life member of AusBiotech.

With growing public concern over the safety of genetically modified organisms, the Genetic Manipulation Advisory Committee was founded in the early ‘80s. Nancy was ideally placed to head up the regulatory body and from 1981-2001 she chaired the Commonwealth government's agency for the surveillance of genetic engineering.

CEO of Bio21 Cluster at the University of Melbourne, Dr Jan Tennent, said Professor Millis was the “undisputed First Lady of biotechnology and an inspiration to women in science.”

Dr Anna Lavelle, CEO of AusBiotech said: “Emeritus Professor Nancy Millis made a vast contribution to biotechnology as one of the pioneers of fermentation technology study in Australia, she created the first applied microbiology course taught in an Australian university. The Millis Oration held at the annual AusBiotech conference is named in honour of Nancy’s contribution to the industry.”

She passed on September 29 at the age of 90.

You can read an extensive interview with Professor Millis at the Australian Academy of Science website.