Football Australia Governance

Established in 2004, Football Australia Limited (Football Australia) is the governing body of football in Australia and is a member of Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the international governing body for football.  The membership of FIFA consists of Football Australia and 210 other national associations. 

Football Australia is a member of the Asian Football Confederation, the governing body of Asian football and one of the six Confederations making up FIFA as well as the ASEAN Football Federation.

Football Australia’s purpose is to ‘bring communities together through football - connecting Australia to the world’.

Football Australia's vision is to ‘be a leading football nation where everyone is inspired to live and love the game’.

Football Australia's long-term vision is for Football to be the largest and most popular sport in Australia.

Football Australia Board

Chair: Chris Nikou
Mark Bresciano
Joseph Carrozzi
Amy Duggan
Robyn FitzRoy
Heather Garriock
Stefan Kamasz
Catriona Noble
Carla Wilshire

Executive Leadership Team

Executive Leader

Focus Areas

James Johnson

Chief Executive Officer

Alex Davani

Executive Office and Strategy

Mark Falvo

Chief Operating Officer

Jane Fernandez

Chief Operating Officer, Australia - FIFA Women's World Cup Australia New Zealand 2023™

Peter Filopoulos

Marketing, Communications, Corporate Affairs 

Tim Holden

Legal, Regulatory and Integrity

Nina McDonnell

People and Culture

Robbie Middleby

Member Federation Relations and Community

Trevor Morgan

Technical Direction, Pathways & Coach Education

Tom Rischbieth

Commercial and Events

Jenny Simpson

Chief Technology Officer

Paddy Steinfort

Performance Director

Sarah Walsh

Women’s Football, Women’s World Cup Legacy, and Inclusion

Football Australia Congress

As of 23 November 2021, the congress of Football Australia consists of 100 votes exercised by the following 28 members in general meeting:

 

State Body Members

Votes

1

Football Queensland Ltd

6.1

2

Northern NSW Football Limited

6.1

3

A.C.T. Football Federation Ltd

6.1

4

Football NSW Limited

6.1

5

Football Federation Northern Territory Incorporated

6.1

6

Football Federation Victoria (FFV) Inc.

6.1

7

Football Federation Tasmania Ltd

6.1

8

Football Federation SA Incorporated

6.1

9

Football West Limited

6.1

 

A-League Club Members

 

1

Adelaide United Football Club Pty Ltd

3.5

2

Brisbane Roar Football Club Pty Limited

3.5

3

Central Coast Mariners FC Pty Ltd

3.5

4

Melbourne City FC Pty Ltd

3.5

5

Melbourne Victory Ltd

3.5

6

Okewood Pty Ltd t/a Perth Glory

3.5

7

Sydney Football Club Pty Ltd

3.5

8

Western Sydney Wanderers FC Pty Ltd

3.5

 

Players’ Member

 

1

Beau Busch and Kathryn Gill

7

 

Women’s Football Council Members

 

1

Helena Dorczak

1

2

Ally Green

1

3

Joanne Smith

1

4

John Sugunananthan

1

5

Caroline Carnegie

1

6

Erin Clout

1

7

Elise Kellond-Knight

1

8

Janette Spencer

1

9

Damaris Treasure

1

10

Leigh Russell (Chair)

1

 

Football Australia also has the following qualifying and provisional members who are on the path to becoming a full member:

 

Qualifying Members

1

Association of Australian Football Clubs Ltd

2

Newcastle Jets Football Club Pty Limited

 

Provisional Members

1

Football Coaches Australia Incorporated

2

WMG Football Club Ltd t/a Western United FC

3

MSW No.1 Pty Limited t/a Macarthur FC


Competitions

In 2005, Football Australia established Australia's first ever fully professional national football league - the A-League. Today, the A-League Men consists of the following football clubs:

  • Adelaide United
  • Brisbane Roar
  • Central Coast Mariners
  • Macarthur FC
  • Melbourne Victory
  • Melbourne City
  • Newcastle Jets
  • Perth Glory
  • Sydney FC
  • Wellington Phoenix (New Zealand)
  • Western United
  • Western Sydney Wanderers

Just three years after the commencement of the A-League in 2005, Football Australia introduced the W-League. Today there are eight teams who are affiliated with A-League clubs and one standalone club from Canberra. Today, the A-League Women includes the following clubs:

  • Adelaide United
  • Brisbane Roar
  • Canberra United
  • Melbourne Victory
  • Melbourne City
  • Newcastle Jets
  • Perth Glory
  • Sydney FC
  • Wellington Phoenix
  • Western Sydney Wanderers

In 2019, following a substantial period of research and discussion, it was agreed that Australia’s professional Leagues would be divested from Football Australia's governance and management.

On December 31 2020, the new Leagues entity was finalised, with the unbundling completed between Football Australia & the Australian Professional Leagues (APL). However, the symmetries and synergies that exist between the professional game and Football Australia’s focus on community football, pathways, the FFA Cup, and various men’s and women’s National Teams, means that there remains close collaboration between the two organisations moving forward.