Jonnie has produced and directed public service drama and documentary over the last 25 years from the West Midlands.

Following from his career as an artist in his own right his touchstone has been collaborative film, television and digital media. Acknowledged across the industry as a forward thinker, Turpie has applied new video, technology and electronic techniques to create innovative styles and approaches to award winning television and media.

Over the past 20 years he has been a Director of Maverick Television, which he founded and has grown into one of the UK’s leading Regional and National independent production companies. The company has bases in Birmingham, New York and London employing a wide range of UK talent, which he supports, mentors and advocates for. Maverick joined the UK’s largest Independent Production Company All3Media in 2007.

Throughout his career he has contributed to the development and delivery of policy across the screen industries and has always had a special focus on education and health programming alongside young and diverse people’s filmmaking.

He is director of the children’s charity First Light Movies, Director of Young People’s media charity Hi8us Midlands and is a trustee of the Birmingham Ormiston Academy.

In 2008 he chaired Learning and Skills Council Creative Industries balance sheet Review and he was chair of the West Midlands Screen agency, deputy chair of Culture WM and chair of Hello Digital, Birmingham and the Region’s Digital festival.

He is an Advantage West Midlands Ambassador and board director, a member of The Innovation Technology Council and an Honorary Fellow of Warwick and Birmingham City Universities. Jonnie was awarded and MBE for services to international trade in the Queens 2010 New Years honours List.

Jonnie will be speaking at the Russian-British Creative Economy Forum in Moscow on 30 Sept-1 October 2011.