Heather Rabbatts

The first woman to be on the board of the Football Association, Heather Rabbatts, has established herself as an influential woman who is not afraid to take on some of the toughest jobs in local government and in football. She became popular as the youngest local authority chief executive and went on to run the London boroughs of Lambeth, Merton and Hammersmith and Fulham. From 2006 to 2012, she was executive deputy chairwomen of Millwall Football Club, a major job that set the foundation for her to become the first female board member of the Football Association, serving on the Remuneration Committee. As a mixed-race woman, she has fought for more diversity in football. In 2013, she was head of the Inclusion Advisory Board, which aimed to widen diversity in the sport.

Rabbatts is a powerhouse, bringing success to all areas of her work. Under her time as CEO of Lambeth Council, more than 40 million pounds were saved in the budget. Her previous managerial positions at the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham and Deputy Chief Executive role has armed her with strong policy, communication and community relations skills. Her speaking topics explore leadership, transformation, change management and diversity.

Rabbatts is always up for a challenge. Time and time again she has dominated obstacles put in front of her. Whether it was breaking into the football business or leading local government to meaningful change, she has produced significant results and gained major respect from those in the business world.