New Zealand Football has announced the appointment of Jane Patterson as the Project Director for the Initial Operating Phase of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023.
Jane Patterson has had a 27-year career in sports administration and has experience in managing large events.
Patterson has worked on a number of major events including the World Netball Championships, IRONMAN triathlons and the UCI BMX World Championships.
During her time at IRONMAN she became the Chief Operating Officer of IRONMAN Asia Pacific. Patterson’s previous job was at UK Sport where she worked as a Major Events Consultant.
The Initial Operating Phase covers the initial set up of the tournament – during this time, a corporate entity will be established while planning around staffing structures and event budgets will be undertaken.
Patterson was made a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the New Year’s Honours in 2016, in recognition for her service to sport.
“We are delighted to have someone with Jane’s experience on board to help lay the foundations for 2023, the biggest event ever hosted in New Zealand,” NZF CEO Andrew Pragnell said in a statement.
“We are determined, with co-hosts Australia, to make this tournament the best ever FIFA Women’s World Cup and it is great to see planning get underway.”
Last month Football Federation Australia appointed Jane Fernandez as the Head of Women’s World Cup 2023 Office.
Fernandez had previously helped Australian and New Zealand’s bid to host the tournament as General Manager of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 Bid team.
“Jane’s appointment, following our successful announcement as co-hosts of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023, is an early step of many we will be taking in pursuit of our objective. We are pleased to begin realising this as an important legacy of hosting the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2023,” FFA CEO James Johnson said of the appointment.
“Jane is an excellent ambassador for our game and we hope that her example will inspire women and girls across football in Australia and beyond.”
The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup will be held across Australia and New Zealand in July/August 2023.