NRF Board

Bob Patterson - President | Elected 2023

Bob has been involved in Football throughout NZ for many years at Federation, National and A-League level. 

He has extensive coaching experience but moved into administration side through the 1999 FIFA  Under 17 World Championship, the first FIFA tournament to be allocated to New Zealand. Bob became NZF CEO through this period, and recently served on the NZF ExCo. 

Gina Mills - Chair | Appointed 2019

Director, Ernst & Young

Gina is a Chartered Accountant with more than 20 years of international experience in tax, innovation, strategy and transformation. She has a passion for people and culture and is an award-winning advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion.

Alvin Cheung - Elected 2021         

Regional ActivAsian Lead at Harbour Sport

Alvin is a member of the Asia New Zealand Foundation’s Leadership Network.  He is heavily involved in engaging with the Asian communities and upskilling the Play, Active Recreation and Sport sector on cultural intelligence and ethnic engagement.  Alvin was recognised by the Asia New Zealand Foundation in 2019 for being one of the top 25 aspirational leaders who works tirelessly to better the relations between New Zealand and Asia.

Alvin plays for Albany United and is the Senior Committee Chair.

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.

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 - Elected 2022    

 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. 

Keith Maddison - Elected 2022

Professional Quantity Surveyor working with professional firms in London UK and Wellington & Auckland NZ and Director at Vinjam Holdings. 

Keith has led projects like Council social housing, housing and facilities for special needs elderly and disabled people and schools, including new builds and refurbishment.   

Keith has been a player, coach, referee, administrator and committee member at Western Springs AFC and supported the clubroom construction project.

Nathalie Harrington - Co-opted 2023         

Senior Solicitor - Public, Regulatory and International Trade Law, MinterEllisonRuddWatts

Nathalie works in the mergers and acquisitions, large scale procurement, overseas investment, compliance and corporate governance field, as well as in general commercial law in information communications and technology, oil and gas, transport, financial investment and government services.

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.