Bentley technology precinct

He currently writes a regular column for USA Today and was the cofounder and former editor of Fast Company magazine.

Alan understands the important characteristics of a ‘fast company’: the ongoing competition for the best people, for great ideas, and for the right way to think about leadership.

John’s website opens with a comment which sums up his unique thinking and approach to life and work: In my past life as the Chief Scientist of Xerox Corporation and the Director of its Palo Alto Research Center (PARC), ‘I was deeply involved in the management of radical innovation and in the formation of corporate strategy and strategic positioning of Xerox as The Document Company. Today, I’m Chief of Confusion, helping people ask the right questions, trying to make a difference through my work- speaking, writing, and teaching. I’ve also received a few honorary degrees along the way (4), and in 2004 I was inducted into the Industry Hall of Fame.

John Howkins has been writing about the creative economy for many years. and has recently been advising the Chinese Government about China’s knowledge and creative economy. John’s impact on China is evidenced by the establishment of the John Howkins Center for the Creative Economy in Shanghai.

Chairman of Tornado Productions Ltd, a London-based web casting company and director of Equator Group plc, Television Investments Ltd, EveryIdea Ltd and World Learning Network Ltd, John is also author of several books, including Understanding Television (1974); Communications in China (1982); New Technologies, New Policies, (1983); Four Global Scenarios on Information (1997), translated into French (1997) and Spanish (1998); and The Creative Economy (2001).