Phil Smith

As the Director of Sport, Phil has responsibility for several areas of the Sport England business. He has represented Sport England as a Board Director of both the Football Foundation and UK Coaching.

Phil’s team manages long term investments of several hundred million in various sporting bodies and giving the subsequent advice to achieve results. The ultimate aims are to grow the number of people regularly engaged in a sport while maximising international and domestic sporting success and helping the sports sector to become more productive, sustainable and responsible. Within these aims, Phil leads the organisation’s work in talent development and performance, club and workforce development, volunteering and coaching, equality and diversity and improved governance.

Phil joined Sport England in 2008 from The Football Association, where his professional career started after Euro ‘96 as the General Secretary of the County FA in Manchester. His football career took him through various roles in the game before becoming The FA’s Head of Policy and Public Affairs, responsible for football industry policy in relation to Government in both the UK and international bodies.

More about Phil's session:

Phil will be opening up proceedings, welcoming attendees with his observations on current issues affecting the sector.