20/11/2025
Dr Jim Newcombe, CEO of Douglass Hanly Moir Pathology (DHM), has been appointed as the next Managing Director and CEO of Sonic Healthcare, effective 20 November 2025.
This transition follows the retirement of Dr Colin Goldschmidt, Sonic Healthcare’s CEO for 32 years, at the 2025 Annual General Meeting. Dr Goldschmidt has led Sonic’s transformation from a single Sydney laboratory into the third largest pathology provider in the world, embedding the culture of Medical Leadership that defines us today. Reflecting on his time at DHM, Dr Newcombe states:
“It has been the greatest privilege of my life to work at Douglass Hanly Moir Pathology, serving our referring doctors and communities. Our Medical Leadership Culture creates a powerful shared purpose: to look after millions of patients per year, one by one, with the dedication, quality and care we would provide to our own family members.”
We are also delighted to announce that Dr Melanie Galea has been appointed as the new CEO of DHM. Dr Galea is a Genetic Pathologist and highly accomplished medical leader. She joined DHM as a Pathologist in 2018 and was appointed Director of Genetics in 2020. During this time, she has led a multidisciplinary team of pathologists, scientists and operations experts to position DHM at the forefront of genetic diagnosis and screening in Australia. Her work has helped shape a modern, collaborative model of diagnostic medicine that continues to strengthen DHM’s reputation for excellence and innovation.
Dr Galea is a longstanding member of the RCPA Genetics Advisory Committee, an RCPA Examiner in Genetic Pathology and has previously been a member of both the Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC) and Evaluation Sub-Committee of MSAC; roles that highlight her commitment to quality, education and the advancement of pathology.
This new appointment marks an exciting new chapter for DHM. Dr Galea states;
In this new role, I look forward to working closely with our referring clinicians, together with the senior management team, pathologists, expert leaders and talented staff across our practice. Together, we will continue to build on our proud history while shaping a dynamic and successful future, caring for the community that we serve with highest-quality diagnostic medicine.
