The next aimhi event takes place at the Royal Highland Hotel, Inverness (next to the train station) on September 8 2006, from 3:00-5:30pm. Five expert panelists will join the audience in discussing

- how to make it in the creative industries

- guerilla marketing and commercial distribution

- participatory media and the emergence of online content platforms

 There will be post discussion cocktails and networking, followed by a showcase of new rock bands. To book your place, email jsim@aim-hi.org. The panelists are:

TOP LITERARY AGENT Mark Stanton is one of the sharpest guys in his business. With Edinburgh based Jenny Brown Associates, Mark recently helped 59-year-old writer Paul Torday nab a £250,000 deal based on his debut novel, Salmon Fishing in the Yemen and persuaded Random House to sign up Scotsman columnist Aidan Smith to write a book about being a passionate Scotland football fan following England in the 2006 World Cup. Before joining Jenny Brown, Mark was marketing boss at Canongate, best known for winning the 2003 UK Publisher of the Year and publishing Booker Prize winning writer Yann Martel's Life of Pi.

PROMINENT COMMENTATOR Michael Russell is a writer, trendspotter and Herald columnist who lives in Argyll. A former front bench member of the Scottish Parliament and Shadow Minister for Culture; Michael has worked in the media ,politics and culture for most of his life .

RECORD LABEL CHIEF Phil Ellis has extensive music industry experience working with a range of companies and artists such as Simply Red, one of the most successful British bands of the 1980s and 1990s. He as also signed many other artists to a number of major world-wide recording and publishing companies, managed his own record label, and recorded as an artist in his own right for Polydor.

FILM PRODUCER Lachlan MacKinnon was featured in Screen International as one of Britain's "most exciting new talents". Since setting up production company Intrepido in 2002, Lachlan's wealth of work includes the BAFTA-nominated 'Heavy Metal Drummer'. He is developing a slate of feature films, including 'In The Shadow Of The Moon', one of 12  international projects selected for the prestigious Cannes Cinefondation Residence 2006. He previously worked as an independent television producer for ITV, Carlton and Talkback Thames, for which he produced over 50 episodes of ITV flagship drama series 'The Bill' and at European film financier EURIMAGES, which co-financed films including Haneke's 'Hidden', Dardenne brothers' 'The Child', and Von Triers' 'Dogville'.

COMMUNICATIONS CONSULTANT Peter Kane runs his own company providing project management, public relations, copywriting and media training. Past experiences include interviewing football coach and World Cup winner Berti Vogts, arranging BBC media training; and writing speeches for the British and American military.