NRF Board

Gina Mills - Chair - Appointed 2019

Head of Leadership and Culture at Southern Cross Health Insurance

Gina is deeply committed to fostering inclusive organisations where people can belong, perform and thrive. She has a track record of driving business impact through people-centric strategies, especially for her work in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Her background in global business transformation, change management, strategy execution, tax, and accounting complement her strong focus on people and culture.

Having played football from an early age, she is motivated to support NRF to be strategic, sustainable and successful as part of a healthy, active and inclusive future for New Zealanders.

Gina is a Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors in New Zealand and a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales.

Darren White - Appointed 2024

Darren has recently established his own business consulting practice after a career of 35+ years with Ernst & Young, where he was most recently the country leader for the Private Enterprise team.  He is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand and member of the Institute of Directors.

Darren has played for North Shore United AFC for many years, where he has also been a junior and youth coach and referee for girls' and boys' teams, and member and treasurer of the club committee.

David Williams - Elected 2024      

A 20 year member of Birkenhead United, including serving as President between 2019 and 2023, David led United through the COVID pandemic and as a FIFA WWC 2023 training base for the Italian team, leaving a legacy of facility upgrades for the club. 

David has worked professionally in the venue and events business, nationally and internationally, for over 35 years. This includes production of some of NZ’s top local and international festivals for more than twney years, developing strong mediation and business skills, including negotiating with international promoters and professional football clubs to achieve profitable and sustainable commercial outcomes.

Haider Khan - Co-opted 2024

Head of Professional Services – Kambium Consulting Ltd

Haider brings extensive governance experience to the NRF Board, having served on multiple boards across various sectors. With a strong background in strategic planning and leadership, Haider has been instrumental in driving organizational success and fostering sustainable growth. 

He holds an LL.B Honours degree from The University of London, Queen Mary College, and has completed numerous professional development courses in governance and leadership. Haider is also actively involved in community service, demonstrating a commitment to social responsibility and ethical governance.

Hone Fowler  - Appointed 2021

Co-founder, Chairperson, overseeing club governance and general management of Manukau United Football Club and Senior advisor community engagement.


Hone is committed to making football accessible to all and creating elite pathways in the sport. As a player, Hone was centre back and captain for Manukau United FC.

Jennifer Pickering - Re-elected 2025

 Club Secretary and Administrator at Paihia Football Club

Jennifer Pickering, Ngāpuhi/Ngāti Wai descent of Te Tai Tokerau, is very passionate about her culture, people, community and a proud Northland representative.

Involved in the code for 26 years, Jennifer has held a number of roles behind the scenes from Treasurer, President, and Committee Member to Administrator and Secretary for Paihia Football Club and Bay Cosmos FC. She commenced coaching in 2011 and advocates strongly for grassroots programs in Mid-Far North.

Jennifer has progressed through the grades currently coaching High School first 11 for Bay of Islands College, U17 Mixed for Paihia and Women’s for Paihia for the 2023 season. She has also started coaching at a national level through Aotearoa Māori Football with the u16 North Island Girls in January 2023 and U18 NZ Māori Girls who will be competing in Auckland vs Hawaii, Kanaka Powawae in the Clash of the Cultures in July 2023.  

Jennifer is a Ford Football Women in Leadership Program-graduate and was nominated for the Ford Football Women Coaches Program in 2022. Jennifer is also a busy mum of four and works in community education through Ngāti Hine Health Trust, creating programs for tamariki and whanau.

Jennifer was recognised recently as Te Tohu Kaiwhakahaere (Sports Administrator Award) in March 2023 and is a panel member representing Māori on the Sisters of Country, Whanau by sea and sky for the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2023. 

Jo Redfern-Hardisty - Appointed 2023       

 Communications & Marketing Manager · Aktive - Auckland Sport & Recreation

Jo works as a communications specialist for Akitive, a key strategic partner of Sport NZ, Auckland Council and major grant makers and funders, after several years in corporate roles, including McDonalds NZ and Westpac. She supports her daughters' school and club football teams as a parent and manager. 

Maia Jackman | Elected 2025

Māia Jackman MZNM is originally from the Far North (Kerikeri) and  is of Ngā Puhi, Ngāti Wai, Ngāti Whātua, and Tainui descent.

Māia brings unmatched insight and leadership to the game on and off the field of play.

In her over 40 years of experience, 19 of them spent as a Football Fern (including time as captain), Māia has represented New Zealand on the world stage. Highlights include playing at the FIFA World Cup and being selected for a FIFA World All Stars team.

In addition to her time playing, Māia has been an impactful figure in advancing equity and visibility for women and girls in football, serving as a FIFA Ambassador for the 2023 Women’s World Cup and overseeing the women’s game in NZ Football administration.

Since retiring from playing, Māia has worked extensively in media as a pundit, commentator, and TV host. Along the way, she’s contributed her expertise to major events such as the FIFA Women’s World Cup draw.

Currently, Māia is a sports physiotherapist at Mt Albert Grammar and works alongside a premier women’s football team and mum to 10-year-old Kaea.

She is passionate about connecting with people from all backgrounds and hopes that her diverse skills and lifelong commitment to football continue to shape the future of sport in Aotearoa.


Sarah Redding | Co-opted 2025 

Senior Associate, MinterEllisonRuddWatts
 
Sarah is an experienced commercial lawyer with particular expertise in sports law and the ‘business of sport’. Sarah is a trusted advisor to a wide range of clients in the sports and major events sector, both in New Zealand and internationally.
 
Sarah is a member of the Australian and New Zealand Sports Law Association.

Simon Hilton - Deputy Chair | Co-opted 

Executive Director, Oxygen Global Ltd

An Entrepreneur and experienced Executive Leader, with a career of establishing, building and growing companies both domestically and internationally.  Working primarily in Engineering, Marketing, Loyalty and Payments.

Simon managed the NZ Mens U17s Team in 2017 and was All Whites Manager from 2019-2022.  Currently Simon is the Eastern Suburbs AFC Chairman.

Terry Hobin - elected NRF President 2025 

Bio to come