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Richmond Football Club president Peggy O’Neal will lead the Victoria 2026 Commonwealth Games.

The Tigers pioneer has been appointed as the chairman of the 2026 Commonwealth Games Organizing Committee.

Ms O’Neal became the AFL’s first female club president in 2013 and Commonwealth Games Delivery Minister Jacinta Allan said she would bring a wealth of knowledge from the corporate and public sectors to the games

“I love sport and what it means to the communities of Victoria,” Ms O’Neal said.

“I am delighted to be part of the Victoria 2026 Commonwealth Games and to work with the board, to ensure that the diverse voices of our state are heard as we make decisions during the delivery of the games.”

Commonwealth Games Legacy Minister Shaun Leane said he looked forward to Ms O’Neal bringing her leadership to the Victoria 2026 Commonwealth Games.

“Peggy has made a significant contribution to the Victorian community through gender equality and the development of women leaders in sport,” he said.

The CEO of the Organizing Committee, Jeroen Weimar, has joined in welcoming Ms O’Neal’s appointment.

“I’m looking forward to working with Peggy and the board to deliver a fantastic Commonwealth Games for regional Victoria and we will take the next steps in the coming months to finalize the sporting programme, the village and the venues.”

The regional event will be held in Victoria, with Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat and Gippsland each having their own athlete villages and sports programs, but the opening ceremony will take place at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Several directors have also been appointed to the gaming board, including Belinda Duarte, a prominent leader in elite sport, social equity and First Nations communities, and business executive Lisa Gray.

Commonwealth Games Federation and Commonwealth Games Australia representatives Dame Louise Martin, Katie Sadleir, Ben Houston and Craig Phillips will also join the Victorian Games panel.

“Board members will bring deep experience to the Victoria 2026 Commonwealth Games and provide invaluable leadership in delivering this global event to be hosted in regional Victoria,” Allan said.

The state government has said the 2026 Commonwealth Games would bring more than $3 billion to Victoria’s economy, creating the equivalent of more than 600 full-time jobs ahead of the Games, 3,900 jobs of work during the Games and 3,000 more after the closing ceremony.