Vale Dr Mike Nunn

The AVA pays our respects to Dr Mike Nunn, who sadly passed away on Friday 19 May 2023. Mike was an important part of the veterinary public health community in Australia and PNG, and will be missed by his many colleagues, friends and all of us at the AVA – especially the AVPH SIG.

Mike had a fascinating and diverse career in epidemiology and animal health. After graduating from the University of Melbourne with a BVSc, Mike moved to Papua New Guinea in 1978 as a new graduate. He worked for the Department of Primary Industries before being appointed the Director (Agricultural Protection), Department of Agriculture and Livestock. In 1990 he returned to Australia to work at the Animal Health Epidemiology Section of the Bureau of Resource Sciences in Canberra where he notably published ‘Exotic Diseases of Australia – a Field Guide for Australian Veterinarians’ (the so-called ‘Geering, Forman, Nunn’ book or ‘blue book’) which became the go-to reference on emergency animal diseases for veterinarians in Australia and beyond.

From 1998 until 2005, Mike led the development of a wide range of national animal health policies and programs in the Office of the Chief Veterinary Officer. He then moved to Biosecurity Australia in 2006, becoming the Principal Scientist for Animal Biosecurity. From 2012 to 2017, Mike worked for the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) before semi-retiring in 2018 and working in consultancy. In amongst his very full work life, Mike also became a Member of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Sciences (ANZCVS) in pathobiology and gained a Master of Tropical Veterinary Science from James Cook University.

Mike was a champion of strategic foresight, One Health and climate action. He contributed an incredible amount of work to the Australian Veterinarians in Public Health Special Interest Group, ANZCVS and Vets for Climate Action, and was particularly focussed on education, mentorship and advocacy. He was known for being a thoughtful and supportive mentor to several generations of veterinarians and animal health professionals worldwide.

A celebration of Mike’s life will be held on Friday 2 June at 11:30am. Service will be held at Our Lady Help of Christians - 2 Henry St, Eltham, VIC.

Mike’s family have communicated that they would like to encourage donations on Mike’s behalf to Cancer Council, or any of the many charities or endeavours Mike participated in or supported. 

A tribute website has also been set up to share memories, stories and photos of Mike.

Mike will be sorely missed. He leaves a huge legacy in the veterinary and animal health community that will continue to live on. Our condolences go out to all his friends, colleagues and especially his family.