The twenty-third Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Football Australia Limited was held (12.00pm AEST) on Thursday, 28 May 2026 at Football Australia’s offices at Moore Park, Sydney and via videoconference. The AGM coincided with the release of the Football Australia 2025 Annual Report.
During the AGM, members received and reviewed Football Australia’s Annual Report, which covered 12 months to 31 December 2025. Members also considered the Annual Budget for FY26 and discussed the organisation’s activities during the period.
An election was held, where Mr. Paul Bittar, proposed by Adelaide United FC and seconded by Natalie Matich, was elected to the Football Australia Board for term of office expiring at the 2029 Annual General Meeting.
Ms. Kelly Rourke was ratified as a member and the Chair of the Women’s Football Council, taking over from Ms. Deidre Anderson AM following her dedication and commitment to the role since 2024.
Constitutional reform was passed by the Members that will see Football Australia adopt Australian Sports Commission’s requirements for National Sporting Organisations, increasing the number of Appointed Directors from three to four; replacing Football Australia’s current ‘40/40/20 Principle’ with a ‘50/50 Principle’, which requires Football Australia’s Board and committees to comprise 50% women and/or gender diverse people; and adjusting the eligibility requirements for Football Australia’s Deputy Chair by allowing any Director – Appointed or Elected – to be elected as Deputy Chair.
Following the AGM, the Board convened and unanimously re-elected Mr. Anter Isaac as Chairman and Ms. Rachel Wiseman as Deputy Chair.
In his AGM address, Chairman Isaac unveiled an important reform agenda for Australian football.
Quotes attributable to Football Australia Chairman, Mr Anter Isaac:
“There is genuine optimism at Football Australia about where we take this organisation and the game next, because the future of Australian football will depend on three things. Three things we are focused on and committed to delivering; alignment, sustainability and excellence.
“Major tournaments alone do not create lasting legacy. Institutions must also build the capability and systems required to fully capitalise on those opportunities over time.
“Such realisations require a shift in mindset. From scarcity to abundance. From fragmentation to alignment. From protecting individual territory to building collective capability, because the future of Australian football will depend less on who can identify problems and more on who is willing to help solve them.
“It requires belief. A genuine belief that if Australian football works together to shape a clearly defined future, this game can become one of the most powerful sporting ecosystems in this country.
“Accordingly, Football Australia has identified key reform areas requiring national attention and cooperation.
“Not theoretical reforms. Practical reforms. Structural reforms. Long-term reforms. Reforms designed to help ensure Australian football becomes more aligned, more connected, more sustainable, and more capable nationally.
“Some reforms will move faster than others and in the coming months, we will establish focused working groups for each.
“Small groups. Carefully selected people with the right expertise and experience. Clear practical scopes and each tasked with mapping what good looks like and how we realistically move towards it over the coming years.
“Some of these reforms will focus on aligning the football ecosystem itself. Mapping competition structures, aligning football calendars for four years, understanding and improving participation experiences, regulations, aligning governance frameworks and creating club development pathways through 10-year club licensing and development pathways; because football should feel connected nationally, not fragmented by unnecessary inconsistency.
“Other reforms will focus on strengthening football capability through education and development across clubs, accreditation, technical leadership, leadership, and organisational capability; because strong football nations do not simply develop players, they develop capable football ecosystems.
“Separate reforms will focus on defining the future DNA of Australian football itself across players, coaches and referees; delivering national philosophies, consistent development identity, and higher long-term standards.
“We will also focus on modernising the business and infrastructure of football itself. Technology, commercial alignment, digital systems, servicing capability and long-term organisational sustainability; because Football Australia must increasingly operate as a modern, aligned, service-oriented organisation capable of supporting the entire football ecosystem.
“And finally, we will continue strengthening the football experience itself for participants, for families, for fans and supporters, and for communities; because football should not only be the country’s biggest participation sport. It should strive to deliver the country’s best participation and football experience.
“This reform agenda is not being driven through negativity. Not through blame. And not through division. It is being driven through cooperation, alignment, practical thinking, and long-term responsibility; because Australian football has too much potential to remain limited by fragmentation, misalignment, and inconsistency.
“Ultimately, this work is about building a more connected, aligned, and sustainable football ecosystem under a shared long-term vision for the future of Australian football.
“Football matters deeply to millions of Australians. Not simply as a sport but as community.
"As identity. As belonging. And as aspiration. And that is why the work we are undertaking, and the decisions we are making, matter.
“We are not rebuilding for the next quarter. We are rebuilding for the next decade. We are rebuilding for the next generation.
“The work continues. But so too does our belief in the future of Australian football.”
During the AGM, Mr. Isaac also acknowledged several members of the Australian football community.
“On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank retiring directors Sam Ciccarello, Spiro Pappas and Catriona Noble for their significant contributions to Football Australia during their time on the Board. I would also like to acknowledge and thank Christine Holman who recently resigned from the Board. We wish them all the very best with the future.
“I’d also like to mention John Sugunananthan who will be retiring as a member of the Women’s Football Council after six years - thank you John for your important contributions to the Women’s Football Council.
“Since the AGM held in May 2025, there have been significant changes within our Member Federations where I would like to make special mention to Antonella Care who retired as President of Football Victoria; Jane Rathjen who recently retired as President of Football South Australia; Mike Parsons who was Chair of Northern NSW Football for the past three and a half years, where he continues to contribute as Deputy Chair; Angelo Konstantinou who retired this month as President of Capital Football after a decade in the position; and Bob Gordon who stepped down this week as President of Football Tasmania after eight years. Thank you so much for your service and for all you’ve done.”
Following the AGM, the Football Australia Board comprises the following members:
- Anter ISAAC – Chair
- Rachel WISEMAN – Deputy Chair
- Paul BITTAR
- Joseph CARROZZI AM
- Angela MENTIS
- Catriona NOBLE (until Sunday 31 May 2026)
Football Australia’s 2025 Annual Review, which includes financial and strategic updates, can be accessed HERE.
