Please note that due to restrictions introduced by the Victorian Government on Thursday 27 May, the 2021 Agents Conference has been postponed and will be rescheduled later this year.

Australian player agents and leading experts from the football industry will convene in Melbourne next month for the 2021 PFA Agents Conference.

The Conference, which will be held in partnership with the Australian Football Agents Association (AFAA), presents an opportunity for accredited player agents to participate in a series of workshops and presentations in areas of critical importance to professional players both on and off the pitch.

Following a turbulent period for global football in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the conference will be critical for the current and future management of talent within football. It will cover a variety of topics impacting both agents and the management of professional players, including:

  • The International Transfer Market;
  • Training compensation;
  • An overview of the Australian Professional Leagues’ vision and strategy;
  • Summary of the current W-League and A-League collective bargaining negotiations; 
  • A presentation on mental health in footballers; and 
  • A presentation on the latest research on concussion and heading in football. 

Confirmed speakers include the Managing Director of the Australian Professional Leagues and Sydney FC CEO Danny Townsend, the Mind Room’s sport and performance psychologist Michael Inglis and Australian Heading in Football expert Dr Kerry Peak.

PFA Co-Chief Executive Beau Busch said the Conference would provide the chance for several stakeholders – comprising agents, players and professional clubs – to collaborate on issues impacting the global football industry, drive further professionalism within the sport and safeguard players’ welfare and rights.

“Agents play a central role in the development of players and in helping support our talent throughout their careers,” Busch said. “It’s critical that we continue to drive a holistic development approach which considers the various regulations, conditions and strategy of the game, as well as safeguarding the careers and the welfare of our players.”

Vice President of the AFAA Boris Ivanov has encouraged all Australian football agents to attend the one-day Conference.

“AFAA view the annual PFA Agents Conference as a vital event,” Ivanov said. “We highly recommend all agents attend the workshop as it is an invaluable information and knowledge-sharing exercise which allows all attendees to be better informed as to the latest happenings in the football world.

“Whether it’s CBA negotiations, the latest news on the proposed FIFA agents’ regulations, important legal and tax regulation implications for local and international players, strategies of the APL or the best ways to support your players mental health, it really is the pre-eminent workshop that allows agents to stay at the forefront of the industry and to ensure they provide the best possible representation to their clients.”

Accredited agents can sign up to attend the conference here.