AN international narrative of the Highlands creative economy will welcome an acclaimed historian and a Hollywood producer later this year as it hosts its second virtual conference.
XpoNorth in Inverness had to be hurriedly re-imagined last year as the coronavirus pandemic took a grip of the country and was forced into adopting a digital format.
However, the organisers were delighted with the success of their virtual event and say this year’s, which takes place in June, will look forward to post-pandemic and post-Brexit life.
Headlining the two-day interactive event will be historian, author, broadcaster and award-winning history professor Suzannah Lipscomb.
She will take part in a panel discussion hosted by BAFTA award-winning writer, actor and TV presenter, Sir Tony Robinson.
Delegates with an interest in film will hear from executive producer Jason Lust, whose credits include films such as Peter Rabbit and the soon-to-be released Pinocchio.
The team from Buccaneer Media who are behind the Emmy-winning drama Marcella – Richard Tulk-Hart and Tony Wood – also join this year’s broadcast and screen line-up.
Iain Hamilton, head of creative industries at Highlands and Islands Enterprise, who is also a co-founder of XpoNorth, said the event would not forget Covid-19: “The past year has probably been the toughest our creative network has ever had to face and it’s why this year we’re introducing sessions on mindfulness and wellbeing as well as providing practical business support sessions covering finance and funding models.”
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