Kelly Simmons

Director of Women's Professional Game, The FA

Kelly Simmons OBE took up the role of Director of the Women’s Professional Game in September 2018 to help transform professional women’s football in England. She has developed the FA Women’s Professional Game Strategy to drive the growth of all aspects of The Barclays FA Women’s Super League and FA Women’s Championship.

She was previously The FA Director of Development, overseeing the implementation of a £200m four-year investment programme into children’s and grassroots football.

Kelly was awarded an MBE in 2002 for services to football and the OBE in 2021 for services to women’s football. She received the BT Sports Industry Award for ‘Leadership in Sport’ in 2016. In 2020 Kelly was named in the ICC All-Star Best IX for ‘doing the most to advance women’s football globally’.