Moya Dodd AO

Moya Dodd AO is a trailblazer whose achievements on and off the soccer pitch have had a remarkable impact. She was Vice-Captain of the Matildas and played for Australia in the first ever FIFA women’s football tournament, the 'Pilot World Cup', in 1988. She has been an active and engaged advocate for players and the sport.   

Image William Yang

Later, she contributed to the administration of football through positions and leadership roles on committees of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), Football Australia and the Asian Football Confederation.  Ms Dodd has played an invaluable role in lifting the status of football played by women in the past twenty years.     

“The most high-profile outcome of work I was involved in was reforming FIFA's statutes, in the wake of the FIFAGate crisis, to include gender equality and to prioritise women's football. In Australia, that led to Football Australia now having a board of almost 50% women. It's had an impact elsewhere too. In some ways, I hope I never hear about the biggest impacts, because that would mean the ripples of change have really gone far and wide.”     

On the need for change to be ongoing, she says, “It's very important that people can question the status quo, ask how it got that way and have a say in how to improve it. In sport, it's important to ensure that it is safe and well-run - but also to enable sport to leverage its enormous capacity to improve society.”     

“I was very surprised to receive this nomination and am grateful to those who made it possible.”    

 "My thanks to my family who gave me the best possible start in life; to my partner Sandy and kids Oscar and Zoe for their inspiration and support; and all those who have given me the opportunity to make a difference.”    

Ms Dodd is a partner at Gilbert + Tobin lawyers.