Top FFA official Emma Highwood to exit in August

Following David Gallop’s departure there has been another resignation at the pointy end of Football Federation Australia.

Emma Highwood has resigned from the FFA.

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The ructions at the head of Football Federation Australia have continued with the resignation of Emma Highwood, the governing body’s Head of Community, Women’s Football and Football Development.

The announcement of Highwood’s exit, in August, comes just 16 days after the similar resignation of CEO David Gallop and means that half the senior management team at the start of this year have or will be moving on.

Though Highwood has not had a significant public profile, she has been seen as an influential figure within FFA, closely aligned with Gallop and entrusted with a wide-ranging remit from grassroots games for small children through to the strategic growth of the W-League and the Matildas.

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Emma Highwood has resigned from the FFA.

Her role is one of those to be examined by an independent review of the organisation’s management, in particular around the sacking of Matildas coach Alen Stajcic last January.

The Daily Telegraph revealed that the man behind Sydney’s bid to host the 2000 Olympics, Rod McGeoch, will be one of a three-person panel reviewing FFA’s management.

As well as the resignations of Gallop and Highwood, company secretary Jo Setright left in April to run the Coalition of Major Professional and Participation Sports lobby group, and A-League boss Greg O’Rourke is in the process of transitioning to the same role at the helm of the newly independent competition.

Highwood is unlikely to be replaced until a new CEO is appointed and maps out the appropriate management structure for a pared-down FFA no longer responsible for the A-League.

Originally published as Top FFA official Emma Highwood to exit in August