Multidisciplinary and multidimensional maverick who makes magical high-profile events and experiences with empowered and inspired teams
Heather Gallagher is an expert in transformative events and the experience economy. She is fluent in art, culture, technology and humanity. A natural and experienced leader, she inspires and empowers teams and brings embodied wisdom, aesthetic and spatial intelligence, humanistic cultural values, and a special sparkle to everything she touches. Heather currently consults and advises on a variety of experiential and immersive tech projects.
Always positioned at the innovative edge of art and culture, Heather led technology and design for Burning Man for 17 years as a key member of cross-functional event operational leadership and year-round executive teams. At the heart of what became a global phenomenon, she gained an unparalleled understanding of how a city overflowing with art and spectacle can emerge from a blank dusty canvas, and alongside it deeply transformative experiences, civic engagement, and an inspired global community. She was an entrusted community leader, strategic visionary, cultural ambassador, public speaker and visual storyteller for the organization.
As humans begin to connect and play together in innovative 3D digital dimensions, Heather left Burning Man to pioneer another blank canvas. She produced and designed groundbreaking immersive and interactive augmented reality experiences for brands and consumer entertainment and the venues to showcase them, at least until the pandemic shut down all the fun.
Heather's most recent deep dive was 2 years as part of the executive team at an innovative entertainment startup called TRANSFIX, which produced a monumental immersive art experience that opened in Las Vegas at Resorts World in April of 2023. Along with many other contributions, she helped develop the concept and recruit artists, raise funds, plan tour strategy, manage venue relations, and launch the experience onto the global stage. Sadly, after she left the project, it closed when early ticket sales could not sustain operations.
They say what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, and these days Heather's superpowers are supercharged. Feel free to reach out as she is currently considering new projects and positions.