Demaine has been invited to represent the Oceania region in a primary group of representatives from each of the Confederations, chaired by Asian Football Confederation Vice-President Moya Dodd, the first women elected to AFC’s Executive Committee, and a co-opted member of the FIFA Executive Committee.
Demaine says being included to represent the Oceania Confederation is an honour and provides an excellent opportunity for the region to continuing building the female game.
“New Zealand has continued to go from strength-to-strength at an elite level which is great to see, but this also provides a chance for some of the region’s other countries to be represented,” Demaine says.
“One of the goals we have here in the Pacific is to continue growing the game and encouraging more women and girls to get involved whether through playing, refereeing, coaching or in administration roles.
“There are still a number of social and cultural barriers that prevent women in the region from playing football and this is an opportunity to learn how these issues have been addressed or overcome in countries that have faced similar problems around the World.
“And through success stories from our region, we can contribute to the worldwide development of the game for women.”
Following the FIFA Executive Committee meetings in May and October 2013 and recognition of 25 years of women’s football, a decision was made to create the Women’s Football Taskforce with Dodd as chair.
The goal is to identify and progress priority initiatives for women’s football by undertaking a strategic assessment of where women’s football is today, where it is projected to be in 5-10-20 years and what FIFA can do to enable and accelerate these outcomes.
It is also expected that the Task Force will develop a FIFA strategy for women’s football, and investigate the potential for a FIFA Women’s Club World Cup.
The first meeting of the Task Force will be held on January 15 in Zurich with a core group of eight representatives invited to participate.

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