Football Australia is pleased to advise the appointment of highly regarded coach and women's football specialist, Rae Dower, to the role of Technical Director - Women's Football.
Dower, who is also Head Coach of the Australian U-17 Women's National Team - a position she will retain alongside this newly created position at Football Australia - will provide a position of leadership on women's football matters relating to pathways, competitions, national teams, coach development, and participation.
In her role as Technical Director - Women's Football, Dower will also deliver advice on technical matters across the women's game to all parts of the governing body, encompassing women's national teams (senior and youth) and programs including pathways through to Future Matildas. Additionally, Dower will provide expertise in the implementation of the women's football development elements of Football Australia's XI Principles for the future of Australian football.
Upon making the appointment, Football Australia Chief Football Officer, Ernie Merrick, said the creation of this role reflects the ambition of the governing body and its focus on the growth and development of the women's game from grassroots to the elite throughout Australia.
"We are thrilled to have someone of Rae's calibre and standing within the game appointed to this role," said Merrick.
"Not only is Rae respected locally and globally for her revered football accruement but knows first-hand both the challenges and opportunities surrounding the women's game in Australia.
"This is an important position for Football Australia and a role that was identified when developing the XI Principles for the Future of Australian Football.
"With the co-hosting of the FIFA Women's World Cup later this year, there has never been a more exciting time for Australian women's football, and the appointment of a Technical Director specifically for women's football reflects the vision of Football Australia to be a global leader of women's football," concluded Merrick.
Dower, a former CommBank Matilda herself, first joined Football Australia (formerly Football Federation Australia) in July 2017 as the Junior Matildas Head Coach and has over 25 years of coaching experience, where she sits on several FIFA and AFC women's football and coach development steering groups and committees.
Dower said, "I'm delighted to step up to this elevated role, reflecting the importance Football Australia places on women's football in recognising this stand-alone role.
"I'm especially proud to become the first female Technical Director at Football Australia and looking forward to working with stakeholders across the country to broaden player pathways, with a particular lens on strategically improving alignment across the women's game from grassroots all the way through to our established CommBank Matildas.
"With the FIFA Women's World Cup on the horizon, I'm excited to share my knowledge and experience to unearth our rich potential, both on and off the field and to influence and inspire all Australians to unite behind our game like never before, " Dower said.
Dower starts in her dual role of Football Australia Technical Director - Women's Football and Head Coach of the CommBank Junior Matildas effective immediately.
