Gillian Darlow

Gillian Darlow has led Civic Consulting Alliance’s Economic Growth practice since early 2006.  She specializes in strategy development; large-scale, multi-agency collaborations; assessment of new business opportunities; and program design.  In addition to her principal engagements with the City of Chicago, the State of Illinois, and various tourism, leisure, and planning agencies, Gillian also advises public education and environment clients.

Gillian was the lead on Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s transition effort – guiding the new mayor’s eight transition committees (government reinvention, transportation, education, arts, etc.), integrating the work of a dozen pro bono partner firms, and writing his transition plan (PDF).

Identifying new approaches to generate investment and economic growth in the city, Gillian has spearheaded a redevelopment plan for Navy Pier; the assessment of a second museum campus themed around conservation; and the exploration of a creative brand for Chicago, highlighting the city’s cultural assets and their role in economic growth.  Additionally, under her guidance, Mayor Daley’s 21st Century Commission released its report, targeting 64 options to transform its services, operations, and infrastructure.  In 2009, Gillian also led Governor Quinn’s Taxpayer Action Board, which produced a report identifying ways to save the State up to $4 billion annually.

Before joining Civic Consulting, Gillian held a variety of leadership positions with education, arts, and economic development organizations throughout the country.  As Redmoon Theater’s managing director, Gillian helped the company double in size and develop new, large-scale spectacle theater events, drawing up to 12,000 people in a single weekend. At the Field Museum, Gillian worked with scientific teams to establish new national parks in South America, including Peru’s Parque Nacional Cordillera Azul (the size of Connecticut).

Gillian sits on the Boards of the Friends of Ryerson Woods and Positive Coaching Alliance and has served as a review panelist for several Chicago foundations. She also speaks frequently on panels for Theatre Communications Group, Stanford University, the Arts and Business Council, and the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, among others.  Gillian has been published in a wide range of media, including Science, Conservation Ecology, the Time Out Chicago guides, and in KIPP Foundation school leader curricula.

Gillian holds an M.B.A. from Stanford Graduate School of Business, an M.A. in education from Stanford's School of Education, and a B.A. in psychology from Harvard University.