It's a big responsibility and big shoes to fill, given the work that Alex Wilkinson was able to achieve while in the role across the past seven years.

Alongside Vice President Lydia Williams and the PFA Executive Committee, we have an incredible opportunity to build upon Alex's work, and the foundational achievements of the PFA over 30 years.

For Lydia and I, we've been privileged enough to be part of some special moments for the national team in the last 12 months, and we've seen how the game can unite the country, particularly when the Socceroos and the Matildas are playing on the biggest stage during the World Cup.

Our objective now is to harness that opportunity and build on the back of one of the most successful 12-month periods in the game's history. We need to enhance our national team performances on the international stage, and strengthen the domestic game to ensure every professional player has a career that is deeply enriching and rewarding.

Fortunately, that opportunity also comes at a time when the game is enjoying a period of positive growth, and major achievements accomplished by the PFA across the past 12 months have given us a springboard for ongoing success.

Two collective agreements are helping to drive the rebuild of the A-Leagues and the growth of the national teams, with the Australian game increasing its professional footprint through expansion of the A-Leagues. There's work to do to ensure the standards that the CBA guarantees are adhered to, clubs continue to invest, and that the players' voice and experience is embedded in decision-making.

Our responsibility as players also extends well beyond the action on the pitch. Through the work of the organisation and the players, we have a framework to ensure we can give back and make more impact off the pitch than ever before. New initiatives that better connect players to our communities and past players and allow players to be advocates for human rights are hopefully just the beginning of what we can achieve as a collective.

Thanks