AFLW boss Nicole Livingstone has announced she will finish up her role as general manager of women’s football following this weekend’s grand final.
After six seasons in the position, Livingstone informed the 18 AFLW club captains on Monday that she would be stepping down.
AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon congratulated Livingstone on all she had achieved during her time in the role and acknowledged her leadership and advocacy.
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“Nicole has been not only an important person in our AFL team, but within the whole industry,” he said in a statement.
“She has been able to deliver and get expectational outcomes for our AFLW competition, our clubs, our players and our fans, which has AFLW and women’s football in the strongest position it has ever been.
“When Nicole first joined the AFL, we had just completed one season with eight teams, a seven-game season and only one final, we had a groundswell of support and Nic turned that energy into a growing, sustainable and successful national women’s competition that we see today.”
Livingstone joined the AFL in November 2017 and has since overseen large-scale and rapid growth of the AFLW and its flow-on effect to women’s football around the country.
Under Livingstone, the AFLW has seen all 18 clubs implement an AFLW program, significant increases to the length of the competition, several pay rises for players across multiple collective bargaining agreements, the addition of 12-month contracts and a world-class pregnancy policy, and the signing of AFLW-only partnerships.
Livingstone was also a driving force in the introduction of Workplay, the AFL’s industry-first careers platform that connects AFLW players with flexible employment opportunities, careers and educational resources.
A former professional swimmer before moving into sports administration, Livingstone reflected on the opportunity to influence a sport that means so much to so many people.
“After six years and on the eve of the completion of our best AFLW season to date, the time feels right for me to step away and support the AFLW competition from a different perspective,” Livingstone said in a statement.
“Australian Football looks different from when I started. Women involved in all areas of our game are now normal and no longer a pleasant surprise.
“My support and advocacy for AFLW won’t change, and I’m looking forward to what the future of the competition brings.”
Following the conclusion of AFLW season eight, the AFL will begin the process of appointing a new general manager of women’s football.