Professional Footballers Australia (PFA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Matildas Captain Kathryn Gill to the PFA Executive Committee.
PFA Chief Executive Adam Vivian made the announcement today, with Gill becoming the first female elected to the Executive Committee in the organisation’s 21-year history.
Having been a long serving member of the PFA Matildas Committee, Gill replaces former President Simon Colosimo on the Executive Committee following his retirement from professional football.
With her position on the Executive to be ratified by the players at the coming Annual General Meeting the Matildas all-time leading scorer will assume her responsibilities immediately and attend her first Executive Meeting in November.
“The PFA Executive committed itself to appointing Kathryn at the next available opportunity in May of this year,” Vivian said. “The players’ had long identified her as someone of exceptional leadership quality and are delighted that she accepted the offer.
“Kathryn brings a wealth of experience both on and off the pitch. Her achievements on it are well known where she has excelled for the Matildas for almost a decade. Off it she is equally impressive having gained a degree in both Psychology and Business.
“Football plays a huge role in the culture of Australian sport. Strong female voices at the top level in football will result in greater gender equity and see the gap between male and female elite footballers’ working conditions reduce.
“Football has the ability to open up opportunities for leadership and development. In this day in age, it is as important to have model female footballers as members of the PFA Executive as it is to have those who represent the Matildas.”
“With the game’s three key Collective Bargaining Agreements – Soceroos, Matildas and A-League – all set to expire mid 2015, Kathryn will play an invaluable role in the PFA’s pursuit of a whole of game agreement.”
Gill said she was honored to have been elected by her peers to the Executive.
“I have long been committed to pursuing the rights of the players and furthering the interests of the game,” said the Perth Glory W-League forward.
“The game as a whole, and in particular women’s football, has made great strides in this country and the players have played a huge role in this. Whilst this is hugely encouraging there remains much work to be done if football is to fulfill its full potential and I am eager to confront this challenge.
“It is important, in the fullness of time, that the make-up of decision making boards within football reflects the fact that approximately 40 per cent of the domestic game’s fans are women. There is great strength and experience within the current PFA Executive Committee and I hope to be able to supplement that with my own perspective of the game and the skills I’ve gained through playing and education.”
