Facilities, opportunities and challenges on the road to the 2026 Commonwealth Games

Join IAKS UK & Ireland for this inspiring spring event that will explore how Glasgow continues to build on its world-renowned sporting legacy. 

The event will take place on Thursday 14 May 2026 at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow, Scotland. This landmark venue, home to the Commonwealth Arena and the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, was originally built for the 2014 Commonwealth Games and will again play a central role by hosting key events in the 2026 edition. Its blend of legacy, innovation and community engagement make it an ideal setting for this gathering.

Emirates Arena_facade_(c)Glasgowlife

(c) Glasgowlife

Register now

Get to know our incredible 2026 speakers

Ian Cooney

Ian Cooney (Project Director, Holmes Miller)

Ian Cooney is a Sport + Design Lead Director at Holmes Miller Architects, specialising in the design and delivery of innovative sports and leisure environments. He leads the integration of performance-led design with user-focused thinking, working closely with clients to create sustainable, community-driven venues that support participation, wellbeing, and elite-level competition.
Jonny Curley

Jonny Curley (Director for Scotland, Alliance Leisure)

Jonny combines a background in competitive sport and coaching with over 30 years of commercial experience in the sport and leisure sector. A Director for more than 20 years, he brings expertise in strategy, culture, people development, business growth, and brand. At Alliance Leisure he delivers sustainable projects for authorities.
Shaun Dawson

Shaun Dawson (Chief Executive, Lee Valley Regional Park Authority)

Shaun has created a dynamic and award winning organisation with a host of attractions that both delivers its core remit and also works with partners to ensure that the 4,000 hectare Regional Park adds value to the bigger social and economic agendas in the communities it serves in London, Essex and Hertfordshire. He was a key player during the bid process for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and now leads the Authority’s work on its three thriving legacy venues.
Jade Gallagher

Jade Gallagher (COO, Glasgow2026)

Jade Gallagher has been Championships Director of the hugely successful World Athletics Indoor Championships held in Glasgow in 2024. She has held senior event operations roles at Glasgow Life and Glasgow City Council.
Peter Griffin

Peter Griffin (Executive Director, Trivandi)

With previous experience leading KPMG’s Global Sports practice, advising federations, governments, developers and event organisers on the strategy, delivery and operation of major venues and events worldwide. His work includes projects such as Zayed Sports City, Qiddiya, Kai Tak Sports Park, Singapore Sports Hub and FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 across the Middle East, Europe and Asia.
Peter Harber

Peter Harber (Manager, The Sports Consultancy)

Peter is a Manager at The Sports Consultancy with an MSc in International Economics and a background in economic consulting at Cebr. He is Lead Economist in the TSC Data & Impact team and specializes in bespoke socio-economic impact assessments across sporting events, built assets and community programmes, with client experience spanning the NFL, NHL, Formula E, NASCAR and UK Sport.
George Hunter

George Hunter (Director of Libraries, Sport and Physical Activity, and Communities; Glasgow Life)

George Hunter is Director of Libraries, Sport and Physical Activity, and Communities at Glasgow Life, a role he took up in February 2026. He leads a wide-ranging portfolio of services that support learning, health, wellbeing and community connection across the city, including public libraries, community facilities, and the Glasgow Club, Scotland’s largest local authority health and fitness network.
Alyson McKechin

Alyson McKechin (General Manager, Golf It! Glasgow)

Alyson has been with Golf It! and The R&A for three and a half years, initially joining to deliver the schools programme before moving into the role of Head of Golf, and now into her current position as General Manager. Alyson’s background is in the golf industry, having worked across a range of clubs and facilities, as well as playing professionally on the Ladies European Tour. She is a qualified PGA Professional and still coaches some of Scotland’s young golfers as they progress through the ranks.
Soaad Stott

Soaad Stott (Principal/ Head of Event Architecture Populous EMEA Region)

Soaad Stott leads Populous’ Events and Overlay team, specialising in Olympic venue design and complex global events. Her expertise spans venue operations, regulatory compliance and tournament overlays for FIFA, UEFA and the Olympic Games, with hands on delivery at high security events including the Super Bowl, NFL London Games and MLB London Series.

Programme

 

Agenda
TimeAgenda item
9.30Arrival
10.00Welcome Address

Shaun Dawson; Head of IAKS UK & Ireland working group
George Hunter; Director of Libraries, Sport and Physical Activity, and Communities, Glasgow Life
10.10

Glasgow 2026, story behind the games and the event hosting facilities in Glasgow from 2014-2026

Peter Griffin; Executive Director, Trivandi
Jade Gallagher; Chief Operating Officer at Glasgow 2026 

10.50Glasgow’s approach to providing and operating facilities that can operate as day-to-day community venues and flex up to major events, as needed

Kirsty Garrett; Sports and Wellbeing strategic manager, Glasgow Life
Alex Maclean; Head of Consultancy Services at Glasgow City Council, Glasgow City Council
11.30

Athlete’s Perspective 

N.N.

11.45Venue tour
1.15Buffet lunch
2.15Hosting CWG events at the SEC and the vision for the whole Campus (The Hydro, Armadillo, SEC Centre)

Dominic McKay; CEO, SEC Scottish Event Campus
2.45Impact of ‘Martyn's Law / Protect Duty’ on venues and how this is being addressed by facility operators and potential impact on design of new facilities

Soaad Stott; Head of Event Architecture Populous EMEA  Region, Populous
3.15Measuring the Social and Economic impact of facilities and events to the host economy

Peter Harber; Manager, The Sports Consultancy
3.45Panel discussion

Ian Cooney; Project Director, Holmes Miller.
Jonny Curley; Director for Scotland, Alliance Leisure.
Graham Finnie; Lead Manager - Facilities, Sport Scotland.
Alyson McKechin; Head of Golf It! & PGA Professional, R&A.
4.45Close
5.30Drinks and networking

Get-together

There will be an informal networking drinks and dinner in a restaurant in central Glasgow on the evening of Wednesday 13 May, for those people who are staying in Glasgow the evening before the event. All attendees are welcome but please indicate if you would like to join this evening, so we can advise the venue of numbers and book accordingly. Please note that attendees will be required to cover the cost of their food and drink on the night.

Who will join?

The conference on May 14 will be of interest to venue design teams, facility operators, event organizers and host cities, all of whom stand to gain valuable insights into planning, adapting and delivering major sports events.

Secure your front-row seat 

 

Attendance fee
 attendance fee
IAKS membersEUR 160 (GBP 140)
others (public sector)EUR 160 (GBP 140)
others (private sector)EUR 235 (GBP 205)
studentEUR 90 (GBP 79)

 

We offer free cancellation until 30 April 2026. After that, we charge a 50% cancellation fee. All prices are including VAT.

Thanks to our event partners

Alliance Leisure Logo
Dynamik The Sports Surfacing Specialits Logo
Eomac Logo
HolmesMiller Logo
prospec uk
SportsLabs Logo
tsc-logo-full-dark-b.jpg
Wallace Whittle Logo

55.8464908, -4.2085735

14.05.2026, 09:00 – 17:00 (BST, UTC+01:00)
Emirates Arena
London Road

G40 3HG Glasgow
United Kingdom (UK)
Event language: English
Organizer: IAKS UK & Ireland
Register Now

Contact

IAKS Team, Silke Baltzer

Silke Baltzer

Event and membership management
+49 (0) 221 168023-11
baltzer@iaks.sport