Jo has a strong track record of developing, managing and evaluating creative people, places, 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 government bodies.
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 Liverpool City Region Digital and Creative Industries Board and Liverpool Arts Regeneration Consortium (LARC). He has served on DCMS, British Council and European Commission expert groups contributing to regional, national and international policy.
Currently, Jo is a member of the Creative Industries Federation UK Council, governor of St Mary’s College, Crosby and trustee of Plaza Community Cinema. He is also chair of Sound City Liverpool 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.