John Howkins first published his ideas on creativity and innovation in ‘The Creative Economy’ in 2001.

He is Chairman of ITR Consultants and John Howkins & Co, 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 is the Director of the Adelphi Charter on Creativity, Innovation and Intellectual Property. He devised the London Intellectual Property Advisory Service now called Own It.

His business career has been spent in TV, film, digital media and publishing. He is a Director of HandMade plc, a films and rights owner listed on London’s AIM market, and Hotbed Media Ltd. 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. 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, Lincoln University, 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).