Nancy Millis has rendered conspicuous service to the cause of science with an outstanding career in microbiology and in science education and administration. She played a critical role in ensuring public confidence in the regulation of Australian research using recombinant DNA techniques, as Chairman of the Commonwealth Government Recombinant DNA Monitoring Committee from 1981. This committee was replaced in 1987 by the Genetic Manipulation Advisory Committee (GMAC) which she chaired until June 2001. It is no exaggeration to state that the Australian community's confidence that appropriate checks and balances are in place to regulate scientific research is in large part due to the contributions of Nancy Millis.