Director, Australian Museum
Frank Howarth is passionate about the Museum's scientific and anthropological collections, and their potential to inspire us to conserve and explore the natural and cultural world.
A geologist by training, Frank also has a Masters Degree from the University of NSW focusing on science and biotechnology policy. While generally interested in policy, Frank has a particular interest and expertise in science policy and the management of science based programs, organizational culture change, communication and team building. Appropriate conservation and management of the built landscape, and its interface with more natural landscapes, is a strong personal interest.
Frank is the former Director and Chief Executive of the Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust. He has also held positions with the Department of Industrial Development and Decentralisatio
Since becoming Director Frank has pursued a number of projects including a major capital works program on the College Street site, the creation of the Australian Museum Foundation to raise funds for the organization, and a commitment to databasing the Museum's collections and sharing that information with the public. He is keen to ensure that the Museum continues to be influential in biodiversity conservation science and policy, particularly through international collaboration. Resolving options for the continued physical development of Museum, the development of new Pacific and Indigenous exhibitions, and finding new ways to engage with Pacific and Aboriginal communities are other priorities.