Frank Howarth (public servant) explained

Frank Howarth
Nationality:Australian
Order:16th Director of the Australian Museum
Term Start:February 2004
Term End:February 2014
Predecessor:Mike Archer
Successor:Kim McKay
Nominator:Government of New South Wales
Birth Date:1951 10, df=yes
Birth Place:Sydney, Australia
Education:Newington College
Alma Mater:Macquarie University (BA (Hons))
University of New South Wales (MScSoc)
Spouse:Peter
Profession:Public servant

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.[1] Howarth has been Chair of the NSW Heritage Council since 2019.[2]

Early life and education

Howarth was born in Sydney and educated at Newington College (1963-1969), commencing as a preparatory school student in Wyvern House.[3] As his family lived on the lower North Shore of Sydney, on the northern side of the Parramatta River, Howarth eschewed traditional GPS sport and chose to sail instead. He gained a geology degree from Macquarie University and a Master of Science and Society from the University of New South Wales.[4]

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.[5] 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 Business School in 2017 in order to pursue his interest in how arts and culture can foster business innovation.[6]

Private life

On 24 June 1978, Howarth attended the protest that led to the Sydney Mardi Gras[7] 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.[8] Howarth and his long-term partner, Peter, live in an inner-city eastern suburb of Sydney.[9]

Honours

External links

Notes and References

  1. https://www.museumsaustralia.org.au/news/message-from-frank-howarth-national-president-museums-galleries-australia Message from Frank Howarth, National President, Museums Galleries Australia
  2. https://www.heritage.nsw.gov.au/what-we-do/heritage-council-of-nsw/members-of-the-heritage-council/ NSW Heritage Council Chair
  3. Newington College Register of Past Students 1863-1998 (Syd, 1999) pp93
  4. https://www.unsw.edu.au/news/2020/06/unsw-arts---social-sciences-business-leader-tops-unsw-queens-bir UNSW honourees
  5. http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2013/09/22/3853911.htm Sunday Brunch – Frank Howarth
  6. https://www.heritage.nsw.gov.au/what-we-do/heritage-council-of-nsw/members-of-the-heritage-council/ Chair Heritage Council
  7. News: Mardi Gras . https://web.archive.org/web/20160220152107/http://www.abc.net.au/gnt/history/Transcripts/s1056355.htm . dead . 20 February 2016 . George Negus Tonight . transcript . 1 March 2004 . Australian Broadcasting Corporation . 7 July 2008.
  8. Web site: New South Wales Year Book, 1998 . 25 January 2001 . Australian Bureau of Statistics. 18 June 2013.
  9. http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2013/09/22/3853911.htm Sunday Brunch – Frank Howarth
  10. https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1146383 It's an honour
  11. Web site: Mr Frank Richard HOWARTH PSM . It's an Honour . Australian Government . 7 June 2020.