Frances Separovic
Distinguished Professor Emeritus & Deputy Director of Bio21 Institute, University of Melbourne
Croatian, Australia
Frances is a biophysical chemist who studies antibiotics and toxins in membranes. After the birth of her son, Frances did a BA in maths & physics and a PhD in physics while working full-time at CSIRO. Following a fellowship at NIH, she joined the University of Melbourne where she became the first female Professor of Chemistry and Head of School. Frances holds senior roles in several professional societies and has organised over 45 scientific conferences, where she actively promotes the visibility of women. In 2012 she became the first female chemist elected to the Australian Academy of Science and was inducted into the Victorian Honour Roll of Women in 2018. In 2019 Frances was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for her service to biophysical chemistry and women in science.
