Howard Partners is managed by Dr John Howard. John has undertaken, or led, most of the projects undertaken through the firm over the last 18 years. His particular expertise is in the areas of public policy, management strategy and knowledge transfer.

Dr John Howard

 John is a highly experienced policy analyst and management consultant with a track record of achievement in the areas of:

•   Management strategy, including corporate and business planning, organisation design, and performance improvement.

•   Science, technology and innovation policy and management.

•   Public sector reform and adoption and implementation of new approaches to public management.

•   Regional development and regional innovation systems.

John has a highly developed capability in business analysis, strategy development, organisation design, program evaluation, and performance review. He has advised boards, CEOs and senior management teams on organisation change and innovation in the context of contemporary management thinking and public sector reform initiatives. Of particular interest is the impact of digital transformation on government and business organisations, reflected in his  work on Digital Post,  Digital Steel and Digital Factories.

John has also been active in the area of science, technology and innovation policy where he has advised governments on policy development and implementation, and participated in innovation forums and discussions over many years. Reports and papers are on the public record.

John has a particular interest in the interaction between art, design, technology, and ingenuity in business performance and in broader innovation systems. He has written about the impact of digital transformation in business and government and the potential for product, process and business model innovation. He has prepared a number of research reports for government and industry in these areas, including a aper on the relationship between 'hard' and 'soft' innovation.

Between 2008 and 2011 John performed the role of Pro Vice-Chancellor, Innovation and Engagement, and the University of Canberra.

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Anne Howard

Anne is a Director of Howard Partners and specialist in organisational communication, social business and digital technologies.  Part of Anne’s expertise includes integrating social media and Web 2.0 technologies into an organisation’s current corporate strategy.  Anne joined Howard Partners in 1999 bringing skills, knowledge and expertise in early stage venture capital investment and strategies for growth in innovative businesses.

Anne specialises in working with clients to manage communication and information resources in the areas of stakeholder engagement, public communication, internal collaboration, stimulating innovation, and achieving measurable returns and results. A central feature of this work is the strategic use of social media in achieving business and program objectives and outcomes.

Prior to joining Howard Partners, Anne was a Business Development Manager at CSIRO and was involved in a number of successful commercialisation projects, including the BARLEYmax(R) discovery.  Anne was the inaugural CEO of the Australian Venture Capital Association (AVCAL) and subsequently Executive Director of Knowledge Commercialization Australasia. During this time Anne was a member of the NSW Innovation Council.

Anne holds academic qualifications in strategic communications, information management and Internet communications.  She is a Member of the Public Relations Institute of Australia, and a Global Affiliate of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations, London.

Anne is currently Chief Executive officer of the Public Relations Institute of Australia.

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Todd Williams

Todd’s experience and expertise has been earned in financial services, business services, education, health, leisure and recreation. He has lead large dispersed organisations and successfully effected organisational change, which has resulted in significant business growth and cultural transformation.

Todd works strategically and successfully with supervisory and executive boards, and has a reputation for being clear-minded and developing practical solutions. He has been invited to present internationally on a range of topics including economic development, innovation, infrastructure and high speed rail.

Todd is currently a Board Director of the NSW TAFE Commission, a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (FAICD), a Trustee Committee Member, Economic Development Australia (CEDA), a Board Member, ORICA Community Investment Program, and an Adjunct Fellow, European Union (EU) Centre RMIT.

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Don Scott-Kemmis

Don's professional experience covers participation in research projects on technology transfer in Australia and internationally over 20 years. He has held the posts of

Technology Advisor to the Commonwealth Minister for Industry, Science and Resources, and Manager, Strategy Development, Biotechnology Australia where he was involved in negotiations with diverse interests in strategy development.

He has

also held appointments as Research Fellow, Science Policy Research Unit, University of Sussex, UK and Associate Professor, National Graduate School of Management, Australian National University.

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Collaborators and advisers

The firm collaborates with experienced and capable consultants and academics to meet the requirements of specific briefs. Collaborators have included Professor Roy Green Dean of the UTS Business School, Dr Mark Matthews and Professor Ron Johnston, Director of the Australian Centre for Innovation at The University of Sydney.