Leadership Spotlight – Nick Gallagher, CEO, The Solicitors’ Charity

Welcome to our leadership spotlight series, where we ask each leader 10 quick-fire questions so that we can give a little insight into the person behind a leadership role.

Nick Gallagher is the current CEO of The Solicitor’s Charity. Through his years in the sector, he has bought a track record of working strategically in global organisations and more recently has developed a successful interim career, delivering sustainable growth during change periods. This included leading three legal charities as Interim CEO, the Bar Pro Bono Unit, LawWorks and the Personal Support Unit, where Nick’s contract was extended from six months to over three years. Nick has experience as both Chair and Trustee of several charities and is a member and Musical Director of the Choir of St Paul’s.

What was your first job?

Clerk in a hospital ambulance desk.

What is the best piece of leadership advice you’ve been given?

Never ask anyone to do something you wouldn’t be prepared to do yourself.

What or who is your most admired purpose-led organisation or person?

WaterAid.

What do you do to help ensure good mental health?

Overall, I try to have a ‘hinterland’ of interests outside work including at least one thing that ALWAYS takes precedence over work (for me it’s choral music).

On a day to day basis, getting up and away from my computer/the office and getting some fresh air (this gets scuppered a fair bit, but I try).

What is the most impactful leadership decision you’ve made?

To commit fully to leading an international team, to move resources from the global north to global south.

If you needed some sound advice, who would you call?

One of a number of people depending on the subject, some who know me as a colleague, some who know me as a friend. Often it’s not the person, it’s having the discussion and the act of working through the problem that gets me to a solution.