As the CEO of the Commonwealth Games Federation, Katie Sadleir finds herself at the centre of the most critical moment in the organisation’s history.
In this episode of Leaders in Focus - in partnership with IMG - Sadleir discusses the future hosts and shape of the Commonwealth Games, following the Australian state of Victoria’s shock decision last July to withdraw as host of the 2026 edition. With no replacement yet in place, she offers a status report. Sadleir also reveals the leadership attributes she prizes the most and explains the critical importance of effective stakeholder management, as well as recalling her experiences working in sport in New Zealand and at World Rugby.
On the conversational agenda:
00:00 - Introduction
01:01 - Reviewing 2023 for the Commonwealth Games
01:53 - Dealing with the cancellation of the 2026 Commonwealth Games
06:22 - Stakeholder management in leadership
08:54 - Dealing with Royalty
10:20 - Solutions for the 2026 Games
13:12 - Balancing tradition with modernity at the Commonwealth
16:03 - Expanding the Commonwealth Games outside of Australia and the UK
20:53 - The Commonwealth movement and its impact on the future of the Games
25:48 - Reflecting on being a powerful women leader in sport
28:32 - Desirable attributes in a leader
32:27 - Mapping out the next steps for the Games