Jo has a strong track record of developing, managing and evaluating creative people, places, businesses, organisations, programmes and policies, including: place-making infrastructure projects; finance, enterprise and talent development initiatives; and trade, investment, research and innovation partnerships. He specialises in producing reports, impact assessments, business cases, funding bids and strategic, operational and capital plans for charities, cultural organisations, social enterprises, commercial businesses and public bodies.
His UK clients include British Council, Creative Fuse North East, Creative UK, Culture Warrington, Edge Hill University, High House Production Park, Islington Mill Arts Club, Make Liverpool, National Museum Wales, Teesside University, Visit County Durham, Warp Films and the local authorities for Bolton, Calderdale, Devon, Durham, Knowsley, Hertsmere, Lancaster, Manchester, Middlesbrough, Neath Port Talbot, Newcastle, Oldham, Redcar & Cleveland, Rochdale, Rother, Sunderland, Thanet, Thurrock and Wirral. He has successfully delivered international projects in Ireland, China, Western Europe, Wider Europe and the Middle East.
Former roles include Executive Director, Foundation for Art and Creative Technology (FACT); Senior Strategy Manager and Head of Creative Industries, Welsh Government; Digital & Creative Sector Development Manager, Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA); Enterprise Development Director, Merseyside Music Development Agency (MMDA); and Incubator Manager, Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA).
He is a former member of the Creative Industries Federation UK Council, Liverpool City Region Digital and Creative Industries Board and Liverpool Arts Regeneration Consortium (LARC). He has served on DCMS, British Council, British-Irish Council and European Commission expert groups contributing to regional, national and international policy and on the boards of a local school and community cinema.
Currently, he is the chair of Sound City Liverpool (an Arts Council England NPO) and a multi-instrumental musician, composer and producer.
Jo holds an MBA with distinction from the University of Liverpool, a BA and MA from the University of Oxford, and is an alumnus of the Common Purpose global leadership programme.