Frank Richard Howarth, (born 24 October 1951) is an Australian public servant who served as the director of the Australian Museum from February 2004 to February 2014. He has been the national president and chair of the Council of Museums Galleries Australia since 2013. Howarth has been Chair of the NSW Heritage Council since 2019.

Early life and education

Howarth was born in

Sydney Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about towards the Blue Mountain ...

and educated at Newington College (1963-1969), commencing as a preparatory school student in Wyvern House. As his family lived on the lower North Shore of Sydney, on the northern side of the Parramatta River, Howarth eschewed traditional

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sport and chose to sail instead. He gained a geology degree from

Macquarie University Macquarie University ( ) is a public research university based in Sydney, Australia, in the suburb of Macquarie Park. Founded in 1964 by the New South Wales Government, it was the third university to be established in the metropolitan area of S ...

and a Master of Science and Society from the University of New South Wales.

Public service career

In 1981 Howarth joined the New South Wales public service. He has had a long career in the public sector. In 1996 he became Director and Chief Executive of the Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust, before taking up the role of Director of the Australian Museum in 2004. He stepped down as Director in April 2014. He was Chair of the International Council of Museums (Australia) from 2010 to 2013; a member of the Council of Australasian Museum Directors from 2004 to 2014; and was National President of Museums Galleries Australia from 2013 to 2017. He was awarded the Public Service Medal in 2012. He is currently a director of several not for profit organisations including the Australian Design Centre, Jervis Bay Maritime Museum, and the tourism promotion organisation Destination Sydney Surrounds South. He is a member of the Reference Group for the National Aboriginal Art Gallery proposed for Alice Springs. Since leaving the Australian Museum, he had developed his interests in strengthening cultural leadership and innovation. His consulting work is focussed on strategy, governance, tourism and philanthropy. He became an adjunct professor in the

University of Technology, Sydney The University of Technology Sydney (UTS) is a public research university located in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Although its origins are said to trace back to the 1830s, the university was founded in its current form in 1988. As of 2021 ...

Business School in 2017 in order to pursue his interest in how arts and culture can foster business innovation.

Private life

On 24 June 1978, Howarth attended the protest that led to the

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and was shocked when '' The Sydney Morning Herald'' published in full the names of those arrested, leading to many people being outed to their friends and places of employment. Howarth and his long-term partner, Peter, live in an inner-city eastern

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of Sydney.

Honours

* Public Service Medal – 2012

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list for outstanding public service to the Australian Museum in SydneyIt's an honour
Retrieved 10 October 2013. * Member of the Order of Australia –

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, for significant service to the visual arts through the museums and galleries sector.

References

External links

Frank Howarth Consulting
{{DEFAULTSORT:Howarth, Frank 1951 births Australian chief executives 21st-century Australian social scientists Australian gay men Living people Macquarie University alumni People educated at Newington College University of New South Wales alumni Members of the Order of Australia Recipients of the Public Service Medal (Australia)