John Howkins

John Howkins first published his ideas on creativity and innovation in ‘The Creative Economy’ in 2001, revised 2007. His following book, 'Creative Ecologies: Where Thinking is a Proper Job' was published in 2010.

He is Chairman of BOP Consulting and has advised global corporations, international organisations, governments, and individuals. He has worked in over 30 countries including Australia, Canada, China, France, Greece, India, Italy, Japan, Poland, Singapore, UK and USA.

One of his major interests is the use of intellectual property laws to support the creative economy. He was the Director of the Adelphi Charter on Creativity, Innovation and Intellectual Property. He devised the London Intellectual Property Advisory Service now called Own It. He organised special forums in London and Shanghai in 2010 to mark the 300th anniversary of the world's first copyright law.

His business career has been spent in TV, film, digital media and publishing.  He was associated with HBO and Time Warner from 1982 to 1996 with responsibilities for TV and broadcast businesses in Europe.

He is Deputy Chairman of the British Screen Advisory Council (BSAC). He is a Member of the United Nations UNDP Advisory Committee on the Creative Economy and a Council Member of the UK Arts and Humanties research Council (AHRC).  He is a former Chairman of the London Film School and is a former Executive Director of the International Institute of Communications (IIC).

He is Visiting Professor, City University, London, England, and Vice Dean and Visiting Professor, the Shanghai School of Creativity, Shanghai Theatre Academy, China.

His books include
‘Understanding Television’
‘Communications in China’
‘New Technologies, New Policies’
‘Four Global Scenarios for Information’
‘CODE’
‘The Creative Economy’

He has a BA in International Relations (Keele University) and a AA (Dip) in Urban Design (Architectural Association).