 Howarth was born in Sydney and educated at Newington College (1963-1969), commencing as a preparatory school student in Wyvern House.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.