PolyNovo Appoints CSL Veteran as Chief Scientific Officer to Drive R&D Growth
PolyNovo appoints former CSL executive to lead R&D strategy
PolyNovo (ASX: PNV) has appointed Dr Marthe D’Ombrain as Chief Scientific Officer, effective 1 June 2026. Dr D’Ombrain joins from CSL, where she most recently served as Executive Director & Head, Global Research Innovation. She brings over 20 years’ experience spanning R&D strategy, portfolio development, external innovation, global licensing and commercialisation. During her tenure at CSL, she founded and scaled the company’s global Research External Innovation division, delivering multiple programs into CSL’s Research portfolio. This appointment signals PolyNovo’s intent to accelerate pipeline development and external partnerships as it scales the NovoSorb platform globally.
Dr D’Ombrain’s track record includes establishing a global external innovation strategy aligned to enterprise therapeutic priorities, building and diversifying CSL’s R&D portfolio. She has authored 13 peer-reviewed publications and holds a PhD in Immunology and Microbiology from the Walter & Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI) and The University of Melbourne.
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What does a Chief Scientific Officer do?
A Chief Scientific Officer oversees a company’s research and development strategy, directing scientific priorities and identifying opportunities to expand the product pipeline. In medtech companies like PolyNovo, the CSO role is responsible for translating scientific innovation into commercial outcomes, managing relationships with academic institutions and research partners, and ensuring the R&D portfolio aligns with long-term growth objectives.
For companies at PolyNovo’s stage—profitable, scaling internationally, and expanding clinical applications—appointing a senior scientific leader with global licensing and partnership experience reflects a shift from early commercialisation to sustained innovation. This structural investment suggests management is preparing infrastructure for expanded R&D activity and potential external collaborations as the NovoSorb platform matures.
Investors unfamiliar with biotech structures should recognise this as more than a routine executive change. It represents a capability build that positions the company to accelerate pipeline velocity and explore partnership opportunities beyond its current wound care applications.
Dr D’Ombrain’s credentials and track record
Dr D’Ombrain contributed to enterprise-level scientific direction and long-term R&D portfolio strategy at CSL, one of Australia’s largest biotechnology companies. Her external innovation strategy delivered multiple programs into CSL’s Research portfolio, demonstrating her ability to source, evaluate and integrate external scientific opportunities into commercial pipelines.
Beyond her scientific expertise, Dr D’Ombrain brings deep governance and stakeholder engagement capability, including experience operating within publicly listed company governance frameworks and investor-facing environments. She is currently a non-executive director of AusBiotech and is a former non-executive director of Jumar BioIncubator. She is also a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Key credentials:
- PhD (Immunology and Microbiology) — WEHI / University of Melbourne
- 13 peer-reviewed publications
- Executive Director & Head, Global Research Innovation — CSL
- Non-Executive Director — AusBiotech (current)
- Graduate — Australian Institute of Company Directors
Her listed company governance experience and global licensing background position her to support PolyNovo’s international growth. Her extensive global network of academic organisations, biotech companies and venture capital partners provides access to partnership opportunities and funding channels that could accelerate pipeline development.
CEO outlines strategic rationale
Bruce Peatey, CEO
“Marthe’s appointment reinforces our focus on building a leadership team capable of driving sustainable innovation and long-term growth at PolyNovo. She brings strategic R&D leadership, strong external partnership capability and a track record of translating scientific innovation into pipeline growth outcomes.”
The CEO’s emphasis on “advancing and scaling the NovoSorb® platform as PolyNovo enters its next phase of development” suggests the company is preparing for expanded applications of its proprietary polymer technology beyond current wound care products NovoSorb BTM and MTX.
Dr D’Ombrain’s focus areas
Dr D’Ombrain has stated her priorities include to “accelerate the velocity of the pipeline and support continued global growth,” highlighting scientific innovation, research translation and external partnerships as key focus areas. Her language around “pipeline velocity” suggests PolyNovo may be targeting faster development timelines or new product applications.
Dr D’Ombrain’s experience negotiating complex global licensing agreements and milestone-based research collaborations across public and private sectors could prove valuable if PolyNovo pursues partnerships to expand NovoSorb applications into new therapeutic areas or geographies. Her background in both discovery science and translation positions her to identify opportunities where the NovoSorb polymer platform could address unmet needs beyond complex wound care.
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What this means for PolyNovo’s growth trajectory
PolyNovo is currently profitable and scaling internationally, with NovoSorb BTM and MTX driving adoption across burns, trauma and reconstructive surgery applications. The company reported continued revenue growth and has achieved market leadership in several geographies, providing a foundation for expanded R&D investment.
Dr D’Ombrain’s appointment represents a capability build for potential partnership or platform expansion opportunities. Her experience establishing external innovation strategies at CSL suggests PolyNovo may be preparing to evaluate licensing opportunities, collaborative research programmes or strategic partnerships that could accelerate pipeline development without proportionally increasing capital requirements.
Strategic implications of the appointment:
- Enhanced external innovation and licensing capability
- Strengthened R&D portfolio strategy
- Global partnership network access
- Listed company governance experience
For investors, the key consideration is whether this appointment signals near-term pipeline expansion or represents longer-term infrastructure investment. PolyNovo’s NovoSorb polymer can be produced in multiple formats including film, fibre, foam and coatings, suggesting potential applications beyond current products. Dr D’Ombrain’s track record in translating scientific innovation into commercial outcomes positions her to identify which opportunities offer the most attractive risk-adjusted returns.
The appointment also suggests management is preparing infrastructure for sustained innovation as the company scales. Investors should monitor whether PolyNovo announces new R&D initiatives, partnership agreements or pipeline updates following Dr D’Ombrain’s commencement on 1 June 2026. Her extensive global network and experience in milestone-based research collaborations could accelerate development timelines if deployed strategically.
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