John Howkins

John Howkins is a leading figure in the global understanding of creativity and creative ecologies. As well as writing the pioneering books, "The Creative Economy" (2001) and "Creative Ecologies" (2009) he has a successful business career in film, TV and digital media, including many years with Time Warner and HBO and chairing several digital start-ups. John is noted for his global perspective. He was born in London, England, and after brief spells with Unilever, the Architectural Association (gaining an AA Diploma in Urban Design), 'Frendz and 'Time Out', he discovered television. Since then, he has worked in over 40 countries and now visits China every few months. He is passionate about how people express their individual creativity. He is an activist on copyright, which he calls the "currency of the creative economy" and the need for copyright reform. He the Founder and Director of the Adelphi Charter on Creativity, Innovation and Intellectual Property (2006) and chairs the British Council copyright forums in London and Shanghai in 2010. He is a Member of the United Nations Advisory Committee on the Creative Economy and a Council Member of the UK government's Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC). He is a former Chairman of the London Film School. His books include "Communications in China", "Four Global Scenarios for Information", "The Creative Economy", "CODE", "Dutty's Dare" (with Zhao Li) and "Creative Ecologies". He can be contacted at: info@creativeeconomy.com.