Isha Johansen

Isha Johansen is an internationally respected football administrator, governance reformer and keynote speaker whose work sits at the intersection of sport, integrity and social change. A powerful voice from West Africa, Isha is best known for becoming the first female President of the Sierra Leone Football Association and later the first West African woman elected to the FIFA Council, placing her among a small group of women to have shaped global football governance at the highest level. Her story is one of conviction and courage, built on using sport as a vehicle for education, inclusion and ethical leadership, often in the face of intense political and personal pressure.

Isha’s early life laid the foundations for both her love of football and her resilience. Born in Freetown into a family deeply connected to the game, she grew up attending matches and playing football alongside her brothers, with her father a co-founder of one of Sierra Leone’s most historic clubs. Her education took place in Sierra Leone and England, giving her a global perspective at a young age. The outbreak of civil war forced Isha to leave her country as a refugee, an experience that profoundly shaped her sense of responsibility to return and rebuild. When she did return, she chose football as her tool for change, founding FC Johansen in 2004 with a simple but powerful promise to vulnerable young people, education and a daily meal in exchange for commitment to school and sport. What began as a grassroots intervention quickly grew into an internationally recognised youth development model.

Her career achievements are both groundbreaking and hard-won. In 2013, Isha was elected President of the Sierra Leone Football Association, becoming one of only a handful of women worldwide to lead a national football body. During her tenure, she launched major reform initiatives and confronted entrenched corruption, match fixing and external interference, earning admiration from players and resistance from powerful interests. In 2016, she was elected the first woman to the CAF Executive Committee, later serving as Chair of the CAF Women’s Committee, where she championed structural investment in women’s football across Africa. Her leadership gained global recognition, including being named by Forbes as one of the twelve women in sport to watch. In 2021, she reached the pinnacle of football governance when elected to the FIFA Council, becoming the first Sierra Leonean and first West African woman to sit on FIFA’s top decision-making body.

As a keynote speaker, Isha is sought after for her ability to translate high-stakes leadership into practical insight. She speaks with authority on integrity and good governance, women in leadership, youth empowerment and navigating ethical challenges in complex systems. Drawing on experiences that include addressing the UK Anti-Corruption Summit and speaking at COP26, Isha combines honesty with warmth and humour. Her talks resonate with corporate leaders, policymakers and organisations seeking values-led leadership, leaving audiences with a clear understanding of how courage, discipline and purpose can drive lasting change.