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).

Reviews include

"A valuable introduction to its brave new world."

The Sunday Times

"The first really practical guide for people working in the creative industries."

The Director

"John Howkins picks his way through the many facets of creativity, unearthing surprising facts."

The Economist

"As a freelance writer I was hypnotised by this book's subtitle, How People Make Money from Ideas."

The Guardian

"A point of reference for those seeking to merge creativity with business acumen."

World Intellectual Property Organisation, WIPO

"This book became a bit of a bible for me in my work in the State Government?s Innovation Centre...because Howkins is saying that there is a creative spirit in us all and we can all participate in the fastest growing sectors in the economy globally."

David Bartlett, MP, Australia

"A seminal book."

Boston's Creative Economy, City of Boston

"Ideas, creativity, imagination and innovation make up the universe of the Creative Economy, a term fathered by media businessman John Howkins.

Adolfo Menezes Melito, Director, Instituto da Economia Criativa, Sao Paolo

"Gives a panoramic view of the "copyright-industrial complex."

Caslon, Canberra

"This book aroused interest across the media sector. Jargon-free and full of new insights."

Innovaro, Amsterdam

"Mr Howkins is the guru of the creative economy."

Chamber of Commerce, Seoul

"A really good read."

New Media Knowledge (NMK), London

"Shows how the creative economy will be the dominant economic form for the 21st century."

Marubeni Research Institute, Tokyo