12 Oct 2016

New Zealander appointed FIFA Chief Women's officer

7:16 am on 12 October 2016

Football's world governing body FIFA has appointed New Zealand's Sarai Bareman as its first ever Chief Women's Football Officer.

Sarai Bareman has been appointed as FIFA's first ever Chief Women's Football Officer.

FIFA's first ever Chief Women's Football Officer, Sarai Bareman. Photo: FIFA

Bareman will lead the newly created Women's Football Division as part of FIFA's management board.

Bareman, a former Samoa international and deputy secretary general of the Oceania Football Confederation, brings a background in finance and football administration to the role.

In a statement, FIFA said she's already a strong player in football administration.

"As the only female member of FIFA's 2016 Reform Committee, Sarai was a strong advocate for change within the organisation, in particular calling for concrete requirements on women in leadership positions at FIFA," FIFA said.

"Sarai has worked at national association level as the CEO of the Samoan Football Association, where she was responsible for overhauling its financial management and carrying out strategic rebuilding.

"She then took up a role at confederation level, initially as Operations Manager at the Oceania Football Confederation, before being promoted to the role of OFC Deputy Secretary General."

Bareman will take up the role next month.

- AAP, RNZ