Biography

John Howkins is a leading strategist on creativity and innovation.  He first published his ideas in The Creative Economy in 2001 which became the standard book (revised in 2013). He developed his ideas in Creative Ecologies: Where Thinking is a Proper Job (2006). His book Invisible Work (2020) shows how private personal work is the key to the future including our relationship with AI.

His ideas are based on his business career in publishing, TV, film, digital media and streaming.  He was associated with HBO and Time Warner from 1982 to 1996 with responsibilities for TV and broadcast businesses in Europe. He is a former Chairman of CREATEC, Tornado and BOP Consulting, and a board member of Equator Films, HandMade plc, HotBed Media, Screen East, First Person Films and other companies.

He is a Member of the United Nations Advisory Committee on the Creative Economy. He has been Chairman of the London Film School, Deputy Chairman of the British Screen Advisory Council (BSAC) and Council Member of the UK Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC). He was Executive Director of the International Institute of Communications (IIC).

He was Executive in Residence at the Drucker School of Management, Claremont, Los Angeles, Visiting Professor, City University, London, and Vice Dean and Visiting Professor, Shanghai School of Creativity, Shanghai Theatre Academy, China.

He founded and directed the RSA Adelphi Charter on Creativity, Innovation and Intellectual Property. 

He worked as a journalist for many years on Time Out, The Sunday Times, Harpers & Queen and The Economist.  He was editor of InterMedia, Vision and The National Electronics Review.  

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