A Collaborative Platform for Change
The Women in Football Leadership Knowledge Exchange convened in Montreal, Canada, bringing together senior representatives from Concacaf, the Football Association of Ireland and Canada Soccer, alongside the UEFA Together Programme, to explore ways of strengthening female leadership within the sport.
Christina Kenny, FAI Chief Operating Officer, opened the dialogue with a session titled “Leading Change in Football: Women, Influence and Leadership in the Modern Game,” outlining the association’s transformation agenda focused on governance, workforce engagement and financial sustainability.
Aoife Rafferty, FAI Director of People and Culture, followed with insights into the organization’s reform program, while Eadaoin Keane, Deirdre Ardagh and Lizzy Kent contributed to a panel that examined current trends and challenges facing women’s football in Ireland.
Sara McConagh from Canada Soccer discussed governance reforms, commercial development and high‑performance pathways, whereas Tashana Vincent of Concacaf led a workshop on breaking barriers, fostering inclusive cultures and mentorship to nurture the next generation of female leaders.
Delegates from across the confederations exchanged best practices, reinforcing a shared commitment to expand commercial opportunities and to embed inclusive leadership models throughout their respective federations.