Fern Whelan

Fern Whelan is a former England international footballer, broadcaster and equality leader. With her role as the PFA’s first Women’s Football Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Executive, she has built a reputation for combining elite sporting insight with practical leadership experience. Her career spans international football, elite media, healthcare and governance, giving her a rare perspective on performance, wellbeing and inclusion at the highest level. As a speaker, she brings credibility, warmth and clarity, shaped by lived experience rather than theory, and delivers messages that resonate well beyond sport.

Fern’s journey began in Merseyside, where she played football from a young age and quickly stood out for her composure and leadership. She progressed through Liverpool’s youth system before moving to Everton, where her development accelerated within a demanding professional environment. Alongside her football career, Fern committed to education, completing a BSc in Physiotherapy followed by an MSc in Sports Injury Rehabilitation at the University of Salford. Balancing study with elite sport required discipline and resilience, qualities that would define her career. She captained England at multiple youth levels, including Under 19s, gaining early exposure to leadership on the international stage. These formative years, combined with early setbacks through serious injury, shaped her understanding of pressure, recovery and long-term performance.

Throughout her playing career, Fern achieved significant success at both club and international level. She represented England across youth and senior teams and was later awarded her Lioness legacy number. Her individual honours include FA Women’s Young Player of the Year and UEFA European Under 19 Player of the Tournament, recognising her impact as a commanding central defender. At club level, she enjoyed success with Everton, Liverpool, Notts County and Brighton, winning the FA Cup and League Cup, and competing in the UEFA Women’s Champions League. After multiple knee injuries, she returned to elite football before retiring in 2020. Post retirement, Fern transitioned into broadcasting as a trusted voice on women’s football, becoming an established pundit and commentator for Sky Sports and the BBC.

Today, Fern is valued not only for her sporting achievements but for her leadership off the pitch. In her role as Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Executive for Women’s Football at the Professional Footballers’ Association, she works at the forefront of systemic change within the game. She is also a Club Ambassador for Brighton & Hove Albion and a qualified physiotherapist, grounding her insight in both governance and health. As a keynote speaker, Fern covers gender equality, leadership under pressure, injury management, mental health and building inclusive cultures. Her talks are honest, practical and relevant, offering audiences clear lessons from elite sport that translate directly into business, education and organisational life.