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NSW Health Pathology’s former Operations Director Criminalistics, Sharon Neville, has been recognised for her outstanding public service in this year’s Australia Day Honours list.
Sharon Neville has been awarded the Public Service Medal (PSM) for her contribution over many decades to the NSW Health and Justice systems.
Her work heading up the Criminalistics laboratories at the Forensic & Analytical Science Service (FASS) at Lidcombe has made NSW a safer place by providing the highest quality forensic science to disrupt crime, minimise the impact of illicit drugs in the community, support the apprehension of perpetrators and provide answers for grieving families and victims of crime.
Her expertise has been relied on by authorities in NSW and sought after by other jurisdictions around Australia and New Zealand.

Ms Neville oversaw testing in forensic biology and DNA, illicit drug analysis and chemical criminalistics, supporting criminal and coronial investigations including sexual assaults, homicides and identification of unknown human remains, and health initiatives that alert the community to drug harms.
She was at the forefront of new technology and managed the delivery of projects including the implementation of a complete end-to-end automated robotic DNA sample processing, and the introduction of innovative approaches such as an automated sperm finder utilising artificial intelligence (a first for Australia).
These projects and others have transformed the Forensic Biology and DNA Analysis lab into a world-leader.
Sharon also introduced new DNA typing methods to support sexual assault investigations, to identify compromised human remains and technology to predict physical traits such as ethnicity, hair and eye colour. Onboarding this technology has made FASS amongst the most advanced forensic biology and DNA services in the world.
She was instrumental in the response to the tragic Hunter Valley bus crash providing expert DNA analysis required to identify all victims to ensure return to their families in the shortest possible timeframe. She was also part of a team of Australian forensic biologists seconded with the Australian Federal Police to identify victims of the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami in Thailand.
Sharon has stamped an indelible imprint upon the forensic science landscape in Australia and beyond.
Congratulations from all of us here at NSW Health Pathology on this incredible honour!