Mr David Howell is a Melbourne based author, Kokoda tour guide and historian specialising in the history of wartime New Guinea.

David started his Kokoda career at the Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway in Concord, NSW. Here he took thousands of visitors around the memorial educating them on the significance Kokoda. David continued as a guide at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, before taking up a full-time appointment. He created and was the editor of the Shrine's magazine Remembrance and designed and ran the Friends of the Shrine program. In 2015, he returned full-time to trekking Kokoda with his company Kokoda Historical. He is currently the history chair and a Life Member of the 39th Battalion Association and the Secretary of the Mornington RSL.

David served for 15 years as an infantry soldier in the Australian Army Reserve. In 2008, he deployed on peacekeeping operations in the Solomon Islands. David is well published on Australian military history and a regular guest on many radio and television history programs including the award winning SBS series Who Do You Think You Are. David is married with two children and resides on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria.