Gina Miller: “Education Anchored Me” – Activist Battles Cancer to Become Cambridge’s First Female Chancellor

Gina Miller, renowned businesswoman and activist known for her legal challenge against Brexit, is once again stepping into the spotlight — this time as a candidate for Chancellor of the University of Cambridge.

Currently undergoing chemotherapy for aggressive breast cancer, Miller has spoken candidly about her health struggles, her personal history of trauma, and her motivation to lead one of the world’s oldest universities into a new era.

“Education has always been the anchor that has helped me to survive,” Miller says, recalling her upbringing in Guyana and her parents’ unwavering belief in the power of learning.

Now, as she pursues the chancellorship, Miller cites both her gratitude to Cambridge scientists involved in her cancer treatment and her determination to address longstanding issues within the university, including support for students and staff facing discrimination, mental health challenges, and austerity measures.

For the first time, Miller publicly described a violent attack she endured as a law student in 1987, which, she says, “shattered my dreams.” Despite the lasting impact of that trauma, Miller rebuilt her life and career, advocating for social causes and maintaining a steadfast belief in the transformative power of education.

Speaking about her vision for Cambridge, Miller emphasizes the need for active leadership: “Cambridge really needs leadership. Its ranking has slipped, and there is a sense of complacency that must be addressed.”

She calls for expanded mental health and wellbeing support for all members of the university, drawing on her own experiences and those of her family.

Despite ongoing public scrutiny and the physical toll of cancer treatment, Miller remains undeterred. “I’ve considered this role really carefully. I think I have the bandwidth to do it,” she asserts, signaling a new chapter in her ongoing fight for change.