It’s a big week for the Women’s Football division at OFC, as two new and one familiar face are joining the team. Stephanie Spielmann, Margaret Aka and Ashleigh Cox are welcome additions, all bringing a wealth of experience in an exciting time for the women’s game.
Stephanie will be joining the team after five years as Tahiti’s Women’s Football Manager and Women’s National Team Coach. In her time at FTF, she not only managed the elite level but also played a big role in the growth in female participation. Her role will remain based in Tahiti and be focused on the OFC ALL IN strategy for women’s football participation and education pillars, supporting the development of girls and women’s football in OFC’s Member Associations.
Margaret will be joining OFC, based in Papua New Guinea, after a decade working in football holding various development, coaching and education roles, most recently as the PNGFA Women’s Football Development Officer. Her achievements with PNGFA have concluded with perhaps the greatest achievement the national women’s team has seen – winning the 2022 OFC Women’s Nations Cup and qualifying for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Play Off Tournament next year.
After a year off on maternity leave, Ashleigh will return to continue to support ALL IN’s education and visibility pillars, focusing on capacity building and leadership development. Her previous contract was during the Covid lockdown, so it will be a great occasion having her meeting and connecting with the OFC team in person at the Home Of Football in Auckland. Ashleigh was previously with New Zealand Football as the Marketing and Events Manager, before that the NZF Women’s Development Manager.
OFC Women’s Football Manager Emma Evans is “thrilled” to have the three join the women’s football team at OFC.
“Stephanie, Margaret and Ashleigh have vast experience in football across the Pacific, and they are all extremely passionate about football and making a difference in the region. While Ashleigh, Margaret and Stephanie all held the position of Women’s Football Manager in OFC member associations in their previous roles, they each bring different strengths to the team and I can’t wait to see the positive impact they will have on football in our region in the years to come”
