Born in Canada, Wilkinson has a deep-rooted links to Wales having lived in Cowbridge for 18-months as a child.
With a Welsh mother (Shan) and an English father (Keith), Wilkinson says she has a big connection to the country.
Born in Quebec, Wilkinson lived in Cowbridge in south Wales and attended Bont Faen Primary School between 1989-1991.
Finally returning to Wales as the women’s head coach in February 2024, Wilkinson admits it is a job that was on her mind for years.
“When the job came up after Jayne Ludlow stepped down, I was sorely tempted to apply,” she said.
“I thought what an amazing opportunity it would be, but I had already verbally agreed to another job, it wasn’t great timing for me.
“I was on holiday in Rome when I saw the news that (Ludlow’s successor) Gemma Grainger had left. She and her staff had done such a wonderful job with the team, and I had followed the team closely. When it came up that she departed, I couldn’t sleep that night.
“It was something that definitely interested me straight away and I thought this could be a very exciting move for me.”
Wilkinson still has plenty of family members in Wales – her grandmother lives in Cowbridge and her aunt and uncle and cousins live in Cardiff – and she speaks glowingly of family holidays spent scaling Wales’ highest peak, Yr Wyddfa.
Indeed, Wilkinson was instrumental in the decision to announce Wales’ Euro 2025 squad at Yr Wyddfa – also known as Snowdon – a destination with huge meaning for her, having been the place where her parents enjoyed their honeymoon.
Six months before she became Wales manager, it was also the place where the Wilkinson family held a ceremony for her father after his death.
It was no surprise when Wilkinson opted to walk up the mountain – all 1,085 metres of it – rather than take the train on the day of the Wales squad announcement.
Wilkinson has always been someone who has scaled great heights in women’s football, first as a player and then as a world class coach.
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