Founder of Scottish Women in Sport, Maureen McGonigle, publishes her top ten Power List of the women working across sport in Scotland for 2016
SWiS founder Maureen McGonigle
Charity founder Maureen McGonigle used her column in The National newspaper to release her list of the most influential women working across sport in Scotland. And she chose the start the year to note those who make a difference every day in their chosen field.
Her choices make fascinating reading and give real insight into the women pursuing their sporting dreams.
It’s diverse, from athletes to the owners of multi-million pound football empires, and it features the kind of inspirational women who every day are transforming the sporting landscape. We are delighted to continue to support and assist Scottish Women in Sport to achieve their aims and we’re looking forward to working closely with them in 2016. Here is the list, reproduced here.
Name: Louise Martin
Position: President of the Commonwealth Games Federation
Why she matters: Louise was the first women to be appointed CGF secretary and in September she was elected president. Associated with the 2014 bid to bring the Commonwealth Games to Glasgow, Louise has devoted all of her life to sport.
Name: Ann Budge
Position: Owner, Hearts FC
Why she matters: Ann Budge put her money where her mouth is and bought Hearts in 2014. A self-made businesswoman, Ann, pictured, is a straight talker who has shaken up the football world with her common-sense approach. Not afraid to challenge the establishment, Ann is a breath of fresh air in an otherwise staid environment. Described by Sir Alex Ferguson as “a guardian angel” her plans to regenerate the club are right on track.
Name: Catriona McAllister
Position: CEO, Oriam
Why she matters: Catriona was appointed CEO of Oriam, Scotland’s Sports Performance Centre which is currently under construction at Heriot-Watt University Campus Edinburgh, in April last year. With a background steeped in strategic sports development, she will oversee this new facility to deliver a state-of-the-art training hub for our elite national athletes from rugby, football, basketball, handball and squash.
Name: Shona Malcolm
Position: Secretary to Professional Golfers’ Association
Why she matters: Shona, pictured, is the first woman to be appointed to the role of PGA secretary in Scotland. She has been both chairwoman of the Scottish Golf Association and CEO of the Ladies’ Golf Union. Shona brings a bright new inclusive future to re-generate golf in Scotland.
Name: Nicola Sturgeon
Position: First Minister
Why she matters: Not normally known for her sporting prowess, but the inclusion of Scotland’s First Minister on the list is testament to her understanding of the need for more balance in the boardroom of Scotland’s sporting bodies. Supporting the commitment of The National to reserve two pages each week for coverage of women’s sport, she said: “We must inspire not just a new generation of Scottish athletes but sports leaders as well”. And she leads by example.
Name: Leann Dempster
Position: Chief Executive, Hibernian FC
Why she matters: Leann came to football as a relative unknown but wasted no time in making her mark. During her time in the game she has drawn plaudits from everyone who has dealt with her both sides, including national media. Her determination and drive are well-known and her background in advertising is being used to her advantage in football.
Name: Margot McCuaig
Position: Director, Purple TV
Why she matters: A Royal Television Society Scotland award winner for her documentary on Jock Stein, Margot ensures women are featured in her filmmaking. After commissioning Honeyballers, a programme that celebrated female pioneers in football, she then went on to provide live coverage of the Women’s Scottish Cup for the first time last year. A member of MSP Shona Robison’s Women in Sport parliamentary committee, delivering a variety of sports programmes to a Scottish audience is her passion.
Name: Shelley Kerr
Position: Manager of Stirling University FC
Why she matters: Shelley was the first woman in the UK to become manager of a men’s side. She has a full pedigree in football from international honours to managing top English club Arsenal Ladies. Shelley is one of only two women in Scotland to hold a Uefa pro-licence. Her professional knowledge of the sport has ensured her transition into the male side of the game has been treated with the respect she deserves.
Name: Judy Murray
Position: Tennis coach, Captain of British Federation Cup Team
Why she matters: Judy always speaks up for women and girls, whether it be about representation at boardroom level or how to increase grassroots participation. Judy also understands what younger girls want from sport and she delivers it with her own programme, Miss-hits. She manages to inject fun into sport for girls to learn about tennis from age five to eight all across the UK.
Name: Claire Nelson
Position: Chief Executive, Netball Scotland
Why she matters: Leaving a highly-paid and well-travelled post in 2015, Claire took over the reins at Netball Scotland in October. Having sat on the board of directors at the organisation, she was instrumental in organising the successful World Youth Netball Championships in 2013. Now championing the successful Bounce Back to Netball project, Claire is a true tour de force.
To find out more about Scottish Women in Sport and the work that they do visit www.scottishwomeninsport.co.uk