Jonathan Goodwin - Creative strategy consultant.
- Isobel Arden
- Feb 9
- 4 min read
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Meet Jonathan Goodwin.
In this interview, Mark invited Jonthan Goodwin to create his own fantasy cultural year from the answers to some easy questions where there are no wrong answers. Enjoy his journey below.
Jonathan Goodwin is a leadership and organisational development specialist whose career spans more than three decades across education, consultancy and the creative industries. His work bridges imagination and operational rigor, helping people, organisations and systems learn, adapt and thrive.
Most recently, Jonathan served as Head of Consultancy and Learning & Development at The Professionals in Riyadh, leading transformation projects aligned with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.
There, he partnered with ministries, PIF-backed ventures, and private enterprises to design practical, people-centred solutions, creating frameworks such as the TP-PMF to align teams, governance, and delivery quality — demonstrating how creativity applied strategically can drive measurable performance.
Previously, Jonathan was Chief Operations Officer at Oakwood International, where he guided the organisation through digital transformation and operational restructuring, including turning traditional programmes into scalable online learning models across the MENA region. His earlier roles at Oakwood included Chief Learning Officer and Head of Learning & Organisational Development.
Prior to consultancy, Jonathan spent over 20 years in performing arts education, including as Vice Principal of the Brighton Institute for Contemporary Theatre Training and Director of ArtsEd Extra & ArtsEd International at ArtsEd London. These roles allowed him to shape curricula, lead international programme development, and foster staff and leadership development across the creative sector.
Jonathan holds a Master’s in Learning & Development and Organisational Change from BIMM University and a BEd (Hons) in Drama and Spoken Language from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama.
He is also a certified MetaTeam Practitioner.
Today, he leads Creative Focus, an independent consultancy delivering learning, leadership, and change solutions across education, business, and the creative sectors — connecting strategic thinking with imaginative problem-solving.
Jonathan's Fantasy Cultural Year ... with a magic wand and time machine to hand.
Mark Walmsley (Arts and Culture Network) starts by asking Jonathan about his favourite building. Jonathan chooses the National Theatre, and Mark sets the scene: it’s a warm June evening, sunny, next to the theatre’s brutalist architecture.
Jonathan is at a pop-up bar, sipping a gin and tonic (after eight months alcohol-free), with Charlie and the Chocolate Factory on the table and 1940s–50s jazz on Spotify.
They imagine Jonathan just returned from a meeting at the National Theatre with a wealthy London-based family foundation. They’ve heard about his mission to bring creativity back to classrooms before exams and want to hire him for a year.
The offer includes enormous fees, first-class travel, and a global tour to create a “league table” of creative teaching practices around the world. There will also be a film crew for a TV series, a book deal, a TED talk, and a university lecture tour.
Barcelona
Jonathan flies to Barcelona, greeted by young creatives at the airport. He stays in a loft apartment and is taken to a dance performance. He chooses Frantic Assembly for their physical theatre. Afterward, he enjoys dinner (any cuisine he likes) and is challenged by the Foundation to limit his musical listening to one genre for the year. Jonathan chooses musical theatre.
Boston
Next stop, Boston. It’s Sport Day—Jonathan experiences the spectacle of American college football with marching bands and cheerleaders, recalling his time teaching drums at the American School in London. The strategy, rhythm, and performance aspects captivate him.
Wellington, New Zealand
In Wellington, Jonathan visits a new immersive art gallery. He puts on VR headsets to step into famous artworks in 3D, walking around, seeing depth and movement, and experiencing sound—bringing the artist’s vision to life.
Back in London
Jonathan’s week in London is packed with culture:
Monday: Music concert (memories include Bob Dylan, The Who, early Alanis Morissette)
Tuesday: Theatre (“Hello Man” by Martin McDonagh)
Wednesday: West End musical (Hamilton)
Thursday: Opera (La bohème)
Friday: Film (Cleopatra)
Hero Lunch
During the journey, Jonathan attends Hero Lunch, where he can invite anyone living or not for a 2 hour leisurely lunch. Jonathan chooses Stephen Fry. Adding a twist, Mark asks who Stephen would choose, with Jonathan answering Geoffrey Hinton, "the godfather of AI".
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Mark Walmsley FRSA FCIM AGSM
Chief Culture Vulture
Arts & Culture Network
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