As Vice Chancellor and Principal at the University of Chester, Professor Simmons acts as the University’s Chief Executive responsible for the leadership of the institution, leading on the implementation and delivery of strategies across the staff and student bodies and the community.

Professor Simmons has a wide range of responsibilities across the University through her role as a member of the governing University Council, Chair of the Strategic Executive Team (SET) and Strategic Leadership Team (SLT), ensuring the implementation and development of the University's Citizen Student Strategy. Additionally, as Chair of Senate, Professor Simmons ensures that the University’s core academic activities, teaching, learning, research and knowledge exchange, are of the highest quality, producing excellent outcomes for students and project partners.

As part of her current priorities, Professor Simmons leads on a wide-ranging review of how the University utilises its built estate with the aim of achieving improvements to the workplace, learning facilities and environmental performance. She also plays a key role in liaising with external stakeholders to ensure the University delivers its objectives for each of its communities. This includes serving as a member of regional committees and boards for economic development, business, innovation and skills.