- In the spirit of the 2026 International Women’s Day’s theme, Give to Gain, we sat down with Chief Operating Officer Jade Gallagher to talk about her journey from Glasgow 2014 to Glasgow 2026, the importance of being authentically yourself, nurturing your network and the legacy she hopes these Games will create for women in major events.
A Career Built on Glasgow’s Biggest Moments
"VAN" (Sports Desk - 15.03.2026) :: Jade Gallagher joined Glasgow 2026 in January 2025, right at the moment the Organising Company Executive Team was being formed. For her, it represented the culmination of everything she’d worked towards in her career.
“From the outset, I knew I wanted to be in the driver's seat of this model of Games,” she says. “Creating the most sustainable, financially viable, fit-for-purpose Games yet, just felt like the right next step.”
For Jade, major events and Glasgow have always gone hand-in-hand. She has played leading roles at some of the city’s most significant global events: UCI World Cycling Championships, COP26, London 2012 and, most recently, serving as Championship Director for the World Indoor Athletics Championships in 2024.
Her journey began at Glasgow Caledonian University, where she studied Entertainment and Events Management. A student placement in 2010 saw her working as Production Coordinator for the Flag Handover Ceremony at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, an experience that ignited her determination to be part of Glasgow 2014.
And when 2014 arrived, she threw herself in fully.
“It was the first time I’d worked with an Organising Committee,” she explains. “I was suddenly in planning meetings with 40 to 50 people, all speaking this language of major event delivery. It’s what really gave me an awareness of the bigger picture and that’s what’s so special about major events, it’s everyone working towards the same goal.”
Finding Confidence and Community
Glasgow 2014 also shaped Jade personally.
“Working in the same city for a long time, early in my career I sometimes wondered whether my skills stood up against those who’d worked all over the world,” she reflects. They did, that became my specialism and that’s where mentors became crucial.
“I’ve been very lucky to have some solid, consistent mentors throughout my career that have helped me build on that confidence and have been surrounded by highly resilient, driven females that have made their mark in the events industry.”
Now, Jade finds herself surrounded by women she admires across Glasgow 2026 and partner organisations. And she’s stepping into the mentor role for others.
Her advice?
“Be authentically yourself. Don’t feel you have to act the way others do, copy their leadership style, how they act in the office, how they dress or even how they structure their day. Being you is what got you to where you are so you should be proud of your own achievements.”
And above all, she believes in the power of networks.
“The world is small. Someone you meet today might reappear ten years down the line. Nurturing those relationships is key.”
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