Professor Tony Bacic is Director of the Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute. Appointed in October 2009 to December 2014, Professor Bacic previously held the position of Interim Director since January 2008.

Professor Bacic holds a Personal Chair in the School of Botany at the University of Melbourne and is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Sciences (FAA). 

Internationally recognized as an Australian leader in plant biotechnology, he continues to be research active. His research is focused on the structure, function and biosynthesis of plant cell walls and their biotechnological application as well as the application of functional genomics tools to abiotic stress and productivity in cereals. 

He leads the Australian Centre for Plant Functional Genomics team at the University of Melbourne and is a member of the Executive Management Group of that Centre. He is Director of the Plant Cell Biology Research Centre at the School of Botany, is Platform Convenor of the NCRIS-funded, Metabolomics Australia, and he is on Management Committees of Bioplatforms Australia Ltd, the Australian Proteomics Computational Facility, and the Integrative Neuroscience Facility Platform. 

Professor Tony Bacic graduated his BSc Hons from James Cook University of Nth Queensland in 1975.  He moved to Melbourne to attend LaTrobe University where he was awarded his PhD in 1980.  In 1996 he was awarded a University of Melbourne Personal Chair in the School of Botany. 

Most recently Professor Bacic was recognized as a James Cook University Outstanding Alumnus - awarded to graduates of James Cook University and the University College of Townsville who have made an outstanding contribution in their field of endeavour.