Milne completed a Bachelor of Education in Environmental Studies in 1978, with a double major in Biology and Geography.
She then taught biology, science and geography for eleven years at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Secondary College, in Bentleigh, Melbourne.
[1] In April 1997, Milne took up a short-term position at the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria databasing moss specimens.
Milne has been instrumental in managing, promoting and gaining funding for the digitisation of the large non-Australia component of the National Herbarium of Victoria.
She hopes to return to the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria as an Honorary Associate to continue her research in bryology.