Women in Football Leadership Conference

The inaugural Women in Football Leadership Conference was convened by Women Onside on 23 September 2021 to coincide with the Football Queensland celebrations of the 100 year anniversary of the first public game of football played by women on 24 September 1921.

The conference was delivered in a virtual format and attended by 130 participants representing different communities within the sport.

The theme for the 2021 conference was A Focus on the Future. Over three powerful hours participants were part of an exclusive online community, hearing from football three influential leaders in the sport, Moya Dodd (former Matildas vice-captain, Partner at Gilbert + Tobin Lawyers, Chair Common Goal), Jane Fernandez (COO Australia, FIFA WWC2023) and Bev Priestman (Canadian Women’s National Team Coach) who delivered keynote addresses focussing on The Future of Women’s Football and The Great Transformation.

The theme for the 2023 conference is Level Up!, recognises the efforts being made by women’s football leaders to bring gender equity to football, while also demonstrating the enormous opportunities for new leaders and investors to get involved.

Speakers at the conference will include:

Kara Nortman – Co-founder and Board Member, Angel City FC; Managing Partner, Monarch Collective
Ebru Köksal CFA – former CEO and Board Member of Turkish Football Club Galatasaray and consultant for UEFA and FIFA; current board member of Australian Professional Leagues
Dr Johanna Wood – President of New Zealand Football and FIFA Council Member
Bex Sowden – former New Zealand Football Fern; women’s sport sponsorship and marketing consultant; founding partner of Team Heroine and ‘Correct The Internet’
Jo Fernandes – FIFA Women's World Cup Competition Manager and FIFA General Coordinator
Kate Jacewicz – FIFA Referee
Rae Dower – Football Australia Technical Director Women’s Football and Head Coach of the Junior Matildas (U17's)
Jackie Lee-Joe - Director, Football Australia; Director, Global Sisters; and Global Marketing Lead at Cash App