Dr Johanna Wood, of Palmerston North, CNZM for services to football governance
Dr Johanna Wood was Chair and a Board member of Central Football. She is the first female President of the New Zealand Football Executive Committee, having previously served as Vice President. In her first year of leadership, the Board achieved 40 percent female representation for the first time, which has since been maintained. She was appointed as the Oceania representative to the FIFA Council, and was re-elected for a second term. She led the bidding for the hosting rights of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023, with New Zealand co-hosting the tournament with Australia. She has been a member of the Red Sox Club in Manawatu and is a Life Member of Central Football. Dr Wood was the inaugural Chair of FIFA’s first World Cup Legacy Committee.