Rachael McKechnie is the Deputy Director for Cultural Futures and Major Events in the Scottish Government. She’s responsible for the Scottish Government’s major event investment strategy and working with partners to ensure the safe and successful delivery of funded events. Projects include the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships, COP 26 and the UK and Ireland hosing of the 2028 UEFA European Football Championships. 

Before joining the Scottish Government, Rachael worked for the Home Office in London where she worked on a range of policy and project areas relating to counter terrorism, policing and criminal justice. That included leading a £300 million component of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Safety and Security Programme and supporting the development of the games-time Command, Control and Coordination (C3) infrastructure.