Professor Dickon Howell
​Director

​​T 07919 616 716
E dickon@howellmarine.co.uk

​Director and founder of Howell Marine Consulting and visiting Professor of Practice at Newcastle University School of Natural and Environmental Science, Dickon has global experience of leading the development and delivery of all aspects of the Blue Economy, marine policy, governance and regulation within national and international institutions. He has made a professional career in bringing together policy makers, regulators, scientists, advisors and users of the sea to find solutions that deliver the Blue Economy and marine sustainable development within a proportionate regulatory framework.
He has led the delivery of marine policy and management solutions and institutional change for national and regional governmental bodies in the UK and overseas across all areas of the Blue Economy such as marine biodiversity conservation and Marine Protected Areas, offshore wind, maritime transport, oil and gas, marine minerals, fisheries, marine spatial planning and marine infrastructure licensing. This has included advising government ministers and senior officials in the UK and overseas and being requested to appear in front of parliamentary select committees.

A key member of the leadership team that set up the Marine Management Organisation in England Dickon held positions as Chief Scientific Advisor, Director of Marine Development and Head of Marine Licensing. He was responsible for providing marine science advice to UK government as well as delivering the practical legislative interpretation underpinning marine spatial planning and marine infrastructure licensing in England, including offshore wind.

He has directed the development and delivery of national ocean policy and marine spatial planning to support the Blue Economy and the institutional change required to deliver in many Small Island States and continues to advise governments and public bodies across the world on the Blue Economy, marine policy, management, marine science and the institutional barriers to delivery in a complex policy environment.
Key positions
  • Visiting Professor of Practice, Newcastle University 2016-
  • MMO Chief Scientific Advisor 2014-2016
  • MMO Director of Marine Development 2014
  • MMO Head of Marine Licensing 2011-2014
  • MMO Head of Strategic Development 2009-2011
  • Senior Environmental Consultant Royal Haskoning 2007-2009
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  • Science Advisory Committee Member for UK Research and Innovation / Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council Energy Theme 2019 -
  • Science Advisory Group Member for Natural Environment Research Council programme on Sustainable Management of UK Marine Resources 2019 -
  • Advisory Network Member for UK Natural Environment Research Council 2019 -
  • Strategic Programme Advisory Group Member for the UK Natural Environment Research Council responsible for providing advice on budget allocation for their portfolio of strategic research worth £20m per annum with a particular focus on how this budget could deliver UK marine policy outcomes and the Blue Economy. 2016 - 2019
  • Invited expert advisor to Welsh Government on the development of the Welsh National Marine Plan 2018
  • Member of the Institute of Marine Science and Technology Ocean Governance Group 2017 -
  • Specialist Pool of Consultants for the Commonwealth Oceans & Natural Resources Advisory Division 2016 -
  • Member of Newcastle University School of Natural and Environmental Sciences Industry Advisory Board 2017 -
  • Executive Member of Marine Management Organisation Board 2014-2016  
  • Member of Defra Evidence Executive Committee 2015-2016 

  • Invited expert advisor to the House of Lords EU Committee on regional marine cooperation 2015 

  • Member of the UK Marine Science Coordination Committee 2009-2011, 2014-2016 

  • UK Offshore Renewable Energy Licensing Group Chair 2011 to 2014