John Howard is Pro Vice-Chancellor (Development) at the University of Canberra, Australia. He is responsible for University Advancement (Alumni and Fundraising), Engagement and External Relations, Regional Projects, and Innovation and Knowledge Transfer. Prior to joining the university, he managed a public policy research and management consulting business, specialising in science, technology and innovation policy.  He has been a major contributor to the analysis and development of innovation policy in Australia and Australian Regions, and in particular, Canberra and the capital region in New South Wales. He has a particular interest in commercialisation, engagement and knowledge transfer between universities, government, business and the broader community. He has written extensively about institutions for engagement and the role of intermediaries in knowledge transfer. He is a member of the Board of the Australian Centre for Excellence in Local Government, the Board of the Canberra Business Council, and the Board of Epicorp Limited (a Canberra business incubator). He chairs the Canberra Convention Bureau Research and Learning Institutes Group (RALIG), which aims to attract academic conferences to Canberra.  He holds a PhD from the University of Sydney, a masters of Arts from the University of Canberra and a bachelors degree in Economics (Honours) from the University of Tasmania.