Leadership team

Leadership Team

• Chief Executive

  Susan Deighan

  Susan took over as Chief Executive of Glasgow Life in spring 2022. Previously as Deputy Chief Executive and Director of City Marketing and External Relations, Susan had strategic responsibility for a diverse portfolio within Glasgow Life, including Tourism; Museums and Collections; Arts, Music and Cultural Venues; and Marketing and Communications; as well as deputising for the Chief Executive.

  Susan is a senior leader in culture and sport with a background in outdoor and site-specific theatre performance and events. She brings extensive experience in the management of large and complex public sector organisations and also in operating Glasgow Life as a charity.
  
  Susan is well known as a strong advocate for Glasgow's tourism and visitor sector, and her work supporting the visitor economy has been well received at a national level.

   

• Director of Culture, Tourism and Events

  Billy Garrett

  As the strategic lead for Glasgow Life’s Culture, Tourism and Events portfolio, Billy is responsible for the promotion of Glasgow as a leading cultural and major events centre with an unrivalled leisure and business tourism offer;  inspiring more local, national and overseas visitors to come to Glasgow and boosting the city’s tourism economy.

  A key part of Billy’s remit includes directing Glasgow’s Major Events Strategy; working with local and national agencies, major cultural bodies, and UK and global sports federations to attract world-class events to the city. Billy has been involved in the delivery of some of Glasgow’s most high-profile events and their associated cultural programmes, including the 2014 Commonwealth Games. His involvement in major events will continue through Glasgow’s hosting of the UCI World Cycling Championship in August 2023, and the World Athletics Indoor Championships in March 2024.

  In his role, Billy leads the work of the Glasgow Convention Bureau, which coordinates the city’s bids for more than 100 prestigious conferences and business events annually. He also provides leadership across Glasgow Life’s arts, music and cultural venues, including Glasgow Royal Concert Hall and Tramway, as well as the city’s world-renowned museums and civic collections. Billy’s role underpins Glasgow Life’s commitment to improving the mental, physical and economic wellbeing of Glasgow’s communities through the power of culture and sport.

• Director of Finance and Corporate Services

  Jan Buchanan

  As Director of Finance and Corporate Services, Jan has strategic responsibility for Glasgow Life’s Finance; HR; Infrastructure; Business and Strategy; Procurement and Development and Retail teams. Her role also extends to overseeing governance and equalities. Jan is also Glasgow Life’s Company Secretary.

  Alongside the grant funding we receive from Glasgow City Council, we generate income from our cultural and sporting services which, together with our fundraising income, is re-invested in programmes and activities to support our charitable mission.

  Jan’s role helps us to continue to provide experiences and events across the city, many of which are free, to enrich and enhance Glasgow’s communities.

• Director of Libraries, Sport and Communities

  Andrew Olney

  Andrew’s role focuses on the strategic delivery of Glasgow Life’s highly-valued programmes and activities in communities across the city, as well as re-growing our income following the financial challenges imposed by the pandemic.

  He brings a wealth of experience through a career spanning more than 30 years in the cultural and sporting sectors. Andrew began working in Glasgow in 2003 in the Council’s Cultural and Leisure Services Department. He then joined Glasgow Life when the charity was established in 2007.