ABOUT THE NZ FOOTBALL FOUNDATION

The Foundation was created initially with responsibility for managing the $4 million given to New Zealand Football for qualifying for the 2010 World Cup. These FIFA qualification funds are the foundation to which New Zealand football supporters and charitable donors can add their own contributions.

The Football Foundation is managed by a group of trustees and a chief executive who are committed to growing the capital fund to a level were it can support the Football in New Zealand significantly. We identify opportunities in the game were we can support development of Football and to support Football New Zealand in their plight to have more players playing Football.

OUR HONORARY PATRON

Sir Eion Edgar speaking at the 125th Anniversary of New Zealand Football. Copyright Photo: Shane Wenzlick

The New Zealand Football Foundation are proud to have Sir Eion Edgar as the Honorary Patron of the Football Foundation.

Sir Eion Edgar is a man who’s made a big difference in New Zealand, both as a visionary business man and as a philanthropist in sport, education, youth, arts, sports and health. And those contributions are still on-going.

Sir Eion is also a generous benefactor, having donated $500,000 to the Foundation.

OUR PATRON

Ryan Nelsen launches The New Zealand Football Foundation at a function at Sky City in Auckland. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/PHOTOSPORT

The New Zealand Football Foundation are proud to have Former All White Captain Ryan Nelson ONZM as the Patron of the Football Foundation.

Ryan is a former professional footballer who not only Captained the All Whites during the infamous undefeated 2010 World Cup Campaign, he also played at the highest level in both the USA and England, most notably for Blackburn Rovers and Tottenham Hotspur

OUR TRUSTEES

Jodi Tong (Chair)

Jodi is a senior marketer with over 25 years experience in marketing, strategy, branding and customer experience. Her passion lies in startups and marketing brands in international markets. She has worked at a senior level for a number of companies in FMCG and the primary industry and is currently employed as GM Sales and Marketing for Artemis Ltd.

Frank van Hattum

34 years’ experience as a Director, senior executive and business leader for a large multinational Oil company as GM Retail and Asset Management. Now a management consultant ( Vanhat Consulting) and a Specialist Advisor for Advisian, a major international consultancy company. Advisory board Chair and director roles in several small start-up companies. Passionate Football tragic, Former International, 41 games, Inaugural Chair of Capital Football Federation, past chair and director of NZ Football. Former Executive member of OFC and a former member of FIFA associations committee and chair of Transparency and compliance committee. Honorary Life Member NZ Football.

Rakesh Naidoo

Rakesh is a recognised authority on working in partnership with diverse communities with over 25 years’ experience. He has developed award-winning programmes on responding to ethnic diversity within NZ Police and NZ Human Rights Commission. He is an Executive Committee member of NZ Football, a National Manager with NZ Police, and on the NZ Law Society National Standards Committee

Lucy Pomeroy

Lucy has an extensive background in health research across the private and public sectors. Lucy is currently Head of Research Investments and Contracts at the Health Research Council of New Zealand. She is internationally recognised for her work reducing bias in investment systems. Lucy has many sporting passions and is a former New Zealand beach volleyball and indoor volleyball representative. Lucy is the current chair of Volleyball New Zealand and is engaged in community sport as a parent and coach.

Aliesha Staples

Aliesha is the founder and director of StaplesVR an emerging technology company and the co-Founder of Click Studios a creative coworking space designed to enable creative tech companies to rapidly scale by providing facilities and resources to aid project development. Aliesha is highly sought after both locally and abroad as a producer of AR/VR/MR/Technology content and has produced projects for studios and television networks including Warner Brothers, Paramount Pictures, TVNZ and ABC. Her work in digital health has been a particular passion and is also a keen footballer.

David Bell

David has over 20 years experience in senior finance and investment-related roles. He is currently a Partner and CFO at Oriens Capital, a private equity fund based in Tauranga, with previous roles including Barclays Investment Bank in London, and KPMG in the UK, Russia, and NZ. David is a Chartered Accountant and member of the Institute of Directors. He is Vice-Chair of the New Zealand Private Capital Association, and a member of the Investment Committee of the Bay of Plenty Community Trust. David played national league football for a number of years, and more recently has become active in football governance as a director of Waikato Bay of Plenty Football Federation, and as a coach of various junior and youth football teams.

Garth Gallaway

Garth is a litigation partner at Chapman Tripp, based in Christchurch. He Chairs the Arts Foundation and the Maia Health Foundation and he is a Board member of the Arts Council of New Zealand. Garth has been a member of Radio Sport’s cricket commentary team for over 20 years and he is Honorary President of NZ Football.

CHIEF EXECUTIVE

Melanie Longdill

Our CEO, is a highly effective Senior Executive Leader with significant International experience in Leadership, project management, strategy development and coach and programme development. Melanie has a detailed sport science and athlete development background, and has been an invited international speaker to talk about the structure, operations and overall success of programmes she has created and managed.